The Sport HSC (Non-ATAR)
Overview
The Non-ATAR Sport HSC is our original course offering, and it’s a fan favourite for a reason.
This pathway is a great choice for sporty students who are looking for a lower-pressure way to finish Year 12. We integrate your love of sport into every aspect of your HSC, and when you add all of our Game-Changing Experiences to your week, you’ve got a fun, action-packed and anything-but-boring way to finish school.
Our Sports
Before we jump into what you’ll study, we know switching schools is a big deal. No one wants to leave their friends behind!
But imagine starting Year 11 surrounded by other students who love your game too. When you apply, you’ll choose your sport, and we’ll place you in a class with other students who are just as into it as you are. We’ve got your new team sorted before you even set foot in the classroom!
So, what’s your sport? Here are the ones we offer:
- AFL
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Football (Soccer)
- Hockey
- Netball
- Rugby League
- Rugby Union
- Touch Football
- Volleyball
Does this all sound great but can’t see your sport? Play multiple sports? That’s totally fine, give us a call and let’s have a chat about what will work best for you.
Game-Changing Experiences: Your Backstage Pass
We put you inside the action. Forget reading about the sports industry: come and see it up close.
Along with your HSC, you’ll get a backstage pass to a huge range of unforgettable experiences: sessions with elite athletes, sporting facility tours, checking out pro training sessions, game-day excursions and more!
What our students say
93%
Believe that moving to GOAL has made a positive difference in their life
84%
Trust teachers more since moving to GOAL
86%
Feel better understood at GOAL
What our parents say
84%
Find their child now really likes going to school
90%
Feel that GOAL is meeting their child’s needs really well
Our Non-ATAR HSC Curriculum
Our Non-ATAR HSC is our most popular sports-based pathway. It’s designed to relieve the pressure of the traditional HSC, and gives both elite athletes and casual players a fun and active way to finish school.
We fit so many fun things into our students’ weeks that we need to have a really streamlined and practical approach to what we include in our curriculum. That’s why our course features core subjects combined with integrated Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Unlike a typical school where you’ll have subject selection in Year 10, all of our Non-ATAR HSC students study the same, sport-relevant subjects.
From 2026, we’re excited to introduce a new option for sport students: the Vocational ATAR HSC. This pathway still delivers our unique, lower-pressure approach but also provides eligibility for an ATAR. You can learn more about this new option here.
| Year 11 (12 Units) | Units |
|---|---|
| English Studies | 2 units |
| Business Services | 2 units |
| Health and Movement Sciences | 2 units |
| Sport, Aquatics, and Recreation | 2 units |
| Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation | 2 units |
| Numeracy or Standard Maths | 2 units |
| Year 12 (10-12 Units) | Units |
|---|---|
| English Studies | 2 units |
| Business Services | 2 units |
| Health and Movement Sciences | 2 units |
| Sport, Aquatics, and Recreation | 2 units |
| Work Studies | 2 units |
| Standard Maths (optional) | 2 units |
More Than Just an HSC: Extra Qualifications
Why graduate with just an HSC when you can get more out of school?
We go beyond the traditional HSC, integrating Vocational Education and Training (VET) and specialised sport coaching qualifications, first aid and more into your school certificate – all at no extra cost to you.
When you graduate, these extra qualifications will give you a really clear advantage over graduates from other schools. Whether you’re applying for jobs, going on to further study or looking into coaching opportunities, you’ll have a leg up over other applicants your age.
Key Extra Qualifications
- Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics & Recreation
- Certificate III in Business
- Coaching and Refereeing Qualifications in your chosen sport
- First Aid Qualifications including CPR
Sample Timetable: Your Week at a Glance
We’ve told you what you’ll study, but everyone wants to know what their week will actually look like. While we’ve got a saying that there’s no ‘typical’ week at GOAL, here is a sample timetable for a Year 11 Non-ATAR student.
You’ll see dedicated class time for academic subjects, and the coloured blocks indicate core weekly practical sessions that are discussed further below.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Period 0 8:00 - 8:40 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday Standard Maths | Friday |
Period 1 8:40 - 10:15 | Monday HMS | Tuesday Business | Wednesday Clinic Day / Sport & Rec | Thursday Numeracy or Standard Maths | Friday Work Placement |
Period 2 10:45 - 12:20 | Monday English | Tuesday HMS | Wednesday Clinic Day / Sport & Rec | Thursday Sport & Rec Theory | Friday Work Placement |
Period 3 1:15 - 2:45 | Monday Weekly Training | Tuesday English | Wednesday Clinic Day / Sport & Rec | Thursday SLR | Friday Work Placement |
Practical Sessions: Keeping You Moving
Weekly Training
Every Monday afternoon, we set aside time to get out of the classroom for weekly sport training. These sessions are your chance to train with all of the other students in your chosen sport. The best part? Once a term, your training session will be run by your class’s elite Sports Mentor.
But we also mix things up! To keep it fresh you’ll rotate through alternative sports like ultimate frisbee, European handball, beach volleyball, and disc golf. It’s all about maintaining your fitness, improving your game, and trying something new with your classmates.
Primary School Sporting Clinics
You’ll kick off Year 11 by getting qualified as a coach in your chosen sport, and clinic day is your real-world coaching day. Once you’re skilled up, your class gets to plan and run weekly sporting clinics at primary schools across Sydney.
This is a really fun day where you’re outside the classroom, leading the action. You’ll not only develop your coaching skills, but also build essential skills like communication, time management, and professionalism, all while sharing your sport with the next generation of players.
Sport, Lifestyle & Recreation (SLR)
The SLR curriculum is a great fit for our school because it requires us to teach our students about a range of sporting activities.
SLR is a fun and active subject, and a favourite for our Year 11s. Classes typically go off-site to experience a huge variety of different sports. Think mixed martial arts, yoga, pilates, boxing, visiting the driving range at Moore Park, trips to places like the BOUNCE trampoline park, and much more. It’s an active part of your week that keeps you moving, exploring new physical skills, and might help you find your next sporting obsession!
Work Placement
Work Placement day is your chance to step out of the classroom and test-drive different roles in a range of businesses. Work Placement goes way beyond the simple, hands-off approach of Year 10 work experience. We encourage you to find a placement each term where you get to contribute and see what it’s really like to work in an industry that interests you. This gives you a chance to figure out what you really do (and don’t!) enjoy. You might be surprised!
Work Placement does way more than just build your resume; it builds your confidence and your work skills. When you leave school, you’ll have skills and experience that other school graduates simply don’t have.
Ready to take it to the next level?
Apply now to join GOAL Sports HSC and discover a world of possibilities beyond the classroom.
Career Paths
Our Non-ATAR HSC opens a huge number of doors to future careers and further study in sport and beyond, and you can read more about them on our Post-School Pathways page.
Our graduates are studying and working in a broad range of industries, including:
- Strength and Conditioning
- Game Development
- Sport and Exercise Science
- Sport Coaching
- Sport Management
- Personal Training
- Event Management
- Fan and Community
- Teaching & Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Business
- Trade Apprenticeships
- Defence Forces
- Policing
- Special Education
- Marketing and Media
- Overseas College Sport Scholarships
Want to find out more about post-school pathways or learn more about what our graduates are doing?
