St Hilda's Options

STAR at St Hilda's

STAR (Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource)

Each year the School provides a number of courses run by outside providers through STAR. These courses have a twofold purpose:

• To provide opportunities for senior learners to study for and receive Unit Standards towards a course that interests them, and commence their vocational training while still at school.
• To allow learners within Year 13 to study one university level paper in their final year at school. Please refer to the section below for more detail of the "Criteria for University Study while enrolled at St Hilda's Collegiate School".

All groups have the advantage of not activating their study rights (i.e. tertiary loan). Learners may select a STAR course that is additional to their study programme for part of the year or choose STAR as a full year option. In this case the course/s must total 120 hours for the academic year to qualify the student as full time, and fulfil the requirements of University Entrance if the course is in an approved subject or domain.

Prerequisite for joining a STAR course

A learner who wishes to study STAR at the senior level as an option must have already demonstrated proven task commitment and independent study skills.

Prior knowledge required

Entry to full year STAR courses is on a yearly basis in consultation with the Deputy Principal, the Careers Advisor and STAR Co-ordinator and the Year Level Dean.

Criteria for University Study while enrolled at St Hilda’s Collegiate School

The purpose of tertiary study is to extend learners within any Year 13 cohort. Historically 1-2 learners each year study a paper at University level. Some years no learners will be studying at this level as they explore the board range of subjects on offer at St Hilda’s and or pursue scholarship level study in one or more Level 3 subjects. Learners are invited to express interest in tertiary study at option selection time. Selection of learners for tertiary study during their Year 13 year, happens late in the year when as much achievement data as possible has been gained on the learner. Learners will be informed as to whether they have been successful in gaining a STAR place in late November. Study at tertiary level maybe eligible for STAR funding.

The following are taken into consideration prior to final selection. Consultation always occurs with senior staff.

• The learner has already completed highly successful study in one or more courses at Level 3 prior to entering Year 13.
• A learner must have proven ability, as the learner is required to study five courses at St Hilda’s at Level 3 as well as one course at University at Level 4, to ensure they meet the schools full time study requirement for the entire year.