The Sport HSC (ATAR)
Get an ATAR without the pressure cooker
The ATAR version of our Sport HSC is a great choice for sporty students who want to obtain an ATAR without the traditional HSC pressure-cooker experience. We’ve taken our unique lower-pressure, sport-first approach and made a few key adjustments that provide full ATAR eligibility, giving you the best of both worlds.
Our ATAR is different. It’s based in vocational education and still delivers the GOAL College difference – balancing a sport-focused curriculum with a lot of fun. 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.
Please note: Our ATAR pathway is currently only available for on-campus students and is not offered via Distance Education.
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.
What our students say
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Believe that moving to GOAL has made a positive difference in their life
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What our parents say
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Find their child now really likes going to school
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Feel that GOAL is meeting their child’s needs really well
How the ATAR works at GOAL
Extra TAFE Course
Our ATAR stream is a lot like our Non-ATAR stream, with the main difference being that you’ll pick up one extra VET course that’s delivered through TAFE. Not all TAFE courses are eligible to contribute to an ATAR, and we have to manage the TAFE enrolment for you – you can find a list of the eligible courses below.
TAFE Enrolment Deadlines
To have the best chance of getting into your first-choice course, you’ll need to apply in Round 1 which we close on 1 September when you are in Year 10. We can accept Round 2 applications until 15 January, although many popular subjects will already be full at this point. We cannot enrol new students into our ATAR pathway once Round 2 has closed.
The Study Load
To make room for your extra TAFE workload, you’ll drop Sport and Lifestyle Recreation (SLR) in Year 11. This ensures you have dedicated time to focus on your TAFE work without being overwhelmed by too many subjects.
Standard Mathematics
Studying Standard Maths is a mandatory requirement for every student in our ATAR stream as it provides the necessary units for ATAR eligibility. It’s a step up in academic load, so it’s important that you enjoy maths and are ready to focus on this subject.
HSC Exams
Students in our ATAR stream need to sit all of their HSC exams to be eligible for an ATAR (even for subjects where the exam is optional!). If you find exams stressful or don’t perform your best under exam conditions, our Non-ATAR Sport HSC may be a better fit 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!
Our Vocational ATAR HSC Curriculum
To make all of these experiences possible, we take a streamlined approach to our subjects. Our ATAR students complete the core HSC subjects that our Non-ATAR students study, including our in-house Vocational Education, and add one extra vocational subject delivered through TAFE that provides ATAR eligibility.
| Year 11 (12 Units) | Units |
|---|---|
| Health and Movement Science | 2 units |
| English Studies | 2 units |
| Standard Mathematics | 2 units |
| Sport, Aquatics and Recreation | 2 units |
| Business Services | 2 units |
| Externally Delivered TAFE Course (choose from options below) | 2 units |
| Year 12 (12 Units) | Units |
|---|---|
| Health and Movement Science | 2 units |
| English Studies | 2 units |
| Standard Mathematics | 2 units |
| Sport, Aquatics and Recreation | 2 units |
| Business Services | 2 units |
| Externally Delivered TAFE Course (choose from options below) | 2 units |
TAFE Course Options:
- Automotive Vocational Preparation Certificate II
- Construction Pathways Certificate II
- Electrotechnology (Career Start) Certificate II
- Accounts Administration Certificate III**
- Allied Health Assistance Certificate III^
- Health Services Assistance (Assisting in Nursing in Acute Care) Certificate III^
- Nursing Certificate III **^
- Information Technology Certificate III
- Events Certificate III
- Tourism Certificate III
** These courses have an extra load in Year 12 and are 3 unit subjects in that year of study.
^ Incurs an additional fee
- Important note on TAFE course selection:
While we’ll do our best to help, course offers are made at TAFE’s discretion, and we cannot guarantee a place in your preferred Year 11 TAFE course or at your desired TAFE campus location. We recommend applying for a place in three to four courses so that you have back-up options.
The first round of applications closes in early September (of the year when you are in Year 10), and TAFE typically makes its first round of offers for Year 11 commencement in mid-November.
A second round opens late in Term 4, although places available in this round are more limited. We are able to accept applications for the second round until the end of the year, and second round offers are made by TAFE in February.
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.
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.
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
- Your External TAFE VET Course (provides ATAR eligibility)
- 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 Vocational 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 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 Extra TAFE Course (Time may vary) | Friday Work Placement |
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?
