SACE Research Project to remain a Year 12-level subject, at least for now

SACE was set for big changes next year — until now, with reforms announced earlier in the year scaled back. And the workload to complete the Research Project will be reduced.

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The contentious research project will remain a compulsory Year 12-level subject – albeit one many students complete while in Year 11 – in a partial backflip on changes announced early this year.

But the workload to complete the subject will be reduced.

The State Government will today announce a $5 million grant for the SACE Board to deliver a range of reforms to the senior secondary certificate.

While the board says it is satisfied with that amount, it will have to scale back the reform agenda it made public in March.

That includes putting plans for new industry-driven subjects in areas such as space, cybersecurity and advanced technologies on the back burner. The research project will remain a compulsory, half-year Stage 2 (Year 12-level) subject.

The previous proposal was to give students half-year options to do it at either Stage 1 (Year 11-level) or Stage 2, as well as a full-year Stage 2 option.

There will still be changes from 2022 that will make it easier for students to find a relevant topic for their project by giving them more clearly defined choices tied to their vocational courses, entrepreneurial or social enterprise ambitions, or university aspirations.

“There’s a bit too much work for 10 credits (a half-year subject) at the moment. We’ll reduce the workload a bit,” SACE Board chief executive Martin Westwell said.

To fulfil an election commitment, the Government had Glenunga International High School principal Wendy Johnson conduct a review of the SACE last year.

The SACE Board delivered its response in March but has been waiting on funding for implementation.

“The investment allows us to push forward with recommendations in the review, but it doesn’t allow us to do everything, so we are prioritising,” Prof Westwell said.

SACE will not introduce new, separate subjects – where industry would directly provide the content – into the curriculum but is looking at introducing topics such as cybersecurity in other ways.

The SACE personal learning plan subject, done in Year 10, will be reviewed to make sure it focuses on students’ genuine career interests.

Education Minister John Gardner said the $5 million funding would ensure the SACE met student needs. “The SACE also remains critical in supporting flexible learning pathways that allow young people to transition into work, further education or training,” he said.