VET

Vocational Education and Training (VET) and TVET (delivered through TAFE) courses are practical subjects that can be studied alongside traditional subjects. All VET and TVET courses count towards the HSC and can lead to a nationally recognised qualification from TAFE NSW or NESA. Some VET and TVET courses developed by NESA also contribute toward an ATAR. 

VET courses are: 

• Designed to meet industry training needs 
• Supported by industry, who help with curriculum design and course delivery 
• Based on the national training curriculum 
• Designed to meet national training standards
• Assessed on competency 
• Designed to provide clearly defined pathways through to the workplace 
• Accredited by both NESA and ASQA (dual accreditation). 

ATAR pathway 

Preliminary Course (Year 11) 

To progress to Year 12, students must successfully complete a minimum 12 units of study, from subjects including:  

• A minimum of 2 units of English
• A minimum of 8 units of Board Developed courses which includes approved TAFE courses
• A commitment to sit optional exams of relevant Board Developed courses which includes TAFE courses

HSC Course (Year 12) 

To qualify for the HSC with an ATAR via the VET pathway, students must complete a minimum of 10 units, from subjects including:

• 2 units of English 
• 8 units of Board Developed courses which include approved TAFE courses
• Completion of optional exams of relevant Board Developed courses which includes TAFE courses
• Successful completion of chosen VET (Internal) or TAFE (external) courses at Certificate II or Certificate III level. 

Non-ATAR pathway 

Preliminary Course (Year 11) 

To progress to Year 12, students must successfully complete a minimum 12 units of study including: 

• A minimum of 2 units of English

• 10 units of any combination of Board Developed courses, Board Endorsed courses, and/or TAFE courses which includes VET (in schools) or TVET (external) courses 

HSC Course (Year 12) 

To qualify for the HSC, students must successfully complete a minimum 10 units of study including:

• A minimum of 2 units of English
• A minimum of 8 units of any combination of Board Developed courses, Board Endorsed courses, and/or TAFE courses which includes VET (in-school) or TVET (external)
• Successful completion of chosen VET (internal) or TAFE (external) courses at a Certificate II or Certificate III level. 

All VET courses require students to complete 70 hours of work placement. Of this, 35 hours will be completed in school time and 35 hours will be completed during school holiday time.

Newington College has a structured workplace learning program to help students meet their workplace requirements.

Subjects offered for 2025

Need to know: 

• To qualify for the HSC, the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) requires students to complete a minimum of 12 preliminary HSC units in Year 11, and 10 HSC units in Year 12.   
• Newington College strongly recommends all boys students entering Year 11 select at least 13 units and all boys starting their HSC have a minimum of 11 units in their course.   
• The only compulsory subject is English.  

• While VET subjects are assessed on competency, they may still include examinations.  

Students should discuss their preferred subjects and the workload of each subject with Heads of Department and Head of House to ensure they have the ability and capacity to fulfil course requirements.  

Most students get the subjects they want in their initial free choice subject selection but some do not. This is especially the case when a subject has only a small numbers of students and appears in only on in one group in the timetable. Impacted students will be contacted by their Head of House to make new selections so they get at least 12 units.  

• Assessments
• Career learning and vocational education and training
• University recognition