An important feature of the curriculum at St Joseph’s College is a 3 Year Old Programme to Year 12 approach that facilitates a cohesive view of the total span of each student’s schooling. By providing a sound basis for continuity and consistency, it enables students to progress smoothly throughout their entire education.

The College offers a diverse and balanced curriculum designed to meet the needs of students as appropriate to their stage of schooling. The College curriculum incorporates nine learning areas: Religious Education, Arts, English, Science, Maths, Health and Physical Education, Languages Other than English, Society and Environment and Technology and Enterprise. The Religious Education programme is based on the Archdiocesan Guidelines. The Curriculum is developed using the Curriculum content developed as based on the outcomes of the Curriculum Framework, which reflects contemporary thinking about what students need to learn in order to lead successful and rewarding lives in the twenty-first century. Learning Technologies are an integral part of all curriculum areas.

The St Joseph’s Trade Training Centre offers Year 7 to Year 10 students a variety of courses from Jewellery making to Woodwork and Metalwork: these courses will prepare students for Certificate courses in Year 11 and 12.

The Senior School students have the opportunity to complete Certificate II in the Trades selected courses offered at St Joseph’s College: Metal Engineering, Furnishing and Construction. Students will be advantaged in further education and career prospects.

JUNIOR SCHOOL - Three Year Old Programme to Year Six

The Three Year Old Programme and Pre-primary are based on a sound understanding of young children’s developmental and learning characteristics. Activities are designed to be ‘hands-on’ and fun. Children are encouraged to develop enjoyment of learning, understanding of the world around them and positive relationships with others. In the more formal Junior School years there is an emphasis on literacy skills, effective communication, collaborative learning, problem solving, creative and imaginative thinking and social skills.

To help children work towards achieving the outcomes required at their level of learning, College staff employ a variety of teaching and learning strategies to provide for the complex needs of children in our society. Support staff work together with classroom teachers to enable children to achieve their full potential.

Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports. The children are regularly exposed to a wide variety of cultural and arts events throughout the year by way of visiting performers and artists. There is also a high level of community involvement by the children. The Junior School Choir has earned a reputation of excellence both in Albany and Perth. It participates in eisteddfods and also has a strong association with the Parish and community events.

MIDDLE SCHOOL - Year Seven to Year Nine

In Middle School the curriculum is characterised by an emphasis on integrated, as well as specialised learning. Students are encouraged to develop as independent learners. The Middle School at St Joseph’s “looks and feels” like traditional junior and senior schools in some ways. Students in Year Seven have one core teacher, but are also taught by a number of learning area specialists across the curriculum. Year Eight students are taught by a team of learning area specialist teachers. Year Nine students also have the opportunity to shape their educational programme by making selections from courses offered in specialised learning areas.

Students are required to actively support the ethos of the College through their involvement in co- -based initiatives and fund-raising, curricular activities such as community service, sport, House liturgical celebrations, assemblies and arts performances. Middle School students are assisted to participate in this dimension of College life by developing and employing leadership qualities and collaborative skills within all relevant contexts.

All in all, the structure and ethos of Middle Schooling encourages students to take more responsibility for themselves and their learning as they move through to the next phase of their life

SENIOR SCHOOL - Year Ten to Year Twelve

In Senior School courses of study become increasingly focused and specialised. Year Ten is characterised by semesterised subjects, significant breadth of study and the flexibility to choose courses that appeal to students’ own specific interests, motivation and abilities. Students have the opportunity to develop life skills such as problem solving, analytical thinking, time management, team work and process skills. Students are encouraged to become independent, self-motivated learners with well-developed research skills so as be better prepared for post-Year Ten pathways. Students in Year Ten undertake compulsory studies in the learning areas of Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Society and Environment, Health and Physical Education. Students are able to study subjects of their choice from those offered by the College in the learning areas of Languages Other Than English, The Arts, and Technology and Enterprise. Students in Year Ten are able to undertake work experience.

Students in Years Eleven and Twelve have the opportunity to access a large range of Western Australian Certificate of Education Courses. In addition they can access Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses and participate in @work, the College’s work-place learning programme. Smaller class sizes facilitate greater individual attention for each student. Flexibility is built into a timetable that allows students from a particular year group to access subjects normally only studied by another year group. Students from the College have been very successful in gaining entry to their choice of University, TAFE courses and employment. Students in Senior School have the opportunity to take on College leadership positions. They also have the opportunity to participate in an extensive range of extra-curricular activities.