It is a BSSS requirement that all students complete a course in English (English T, Essential English A/M, Literature T or EAL A/T).

English (T)

English T is for students who wish to continue their studies at university level. To study at this level, students should have demonstrated strengths and a record of achievement in English at High School. Assessment tasks ask students to respond, create and investigate, commonly but not exclusively in the form of essays, short stories, poetry, oral presentations and podcasts.

The study of English develops students’ ability to become effective users of language and producers of texts. English T focuses on developing evaluative, analytical, and creative thinking skills through a study of a diverse range of texts.

Essential English (A/M)

The Essential English course is for students who do not wish to continue their studies at university and may prefer a more practical English course. It is designed to develop students’ language, literature and literacy skills, which enable them to interact confidently and effectively with others in everyday, community and applied learning contexts including further education, training and the workplace.

Assessment tasks ask students to respond, create and investigate in a variety of forms including short responses, essays, creative responses such as short stories, visual or multimodal responses, and speaking activities such as interviews, oral presentations and podcasts. The course aims to build students’ confidence and skills to empower them to succeed in a wide range of post-secondary pathways.

Bridging Literacy (A/M)

Bridging Literacy is designed to support senior secondary students in achieving the benchmark of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) Level 3. This course is grounded in disciplinary literacy and authentic experience, aiming to empower students to engage with texts and tasks across diverse subjects and real-world contexts. Students develop fundamental skills in reading, writing, listening, and oral communication.