Subject Selection for the Senior Years of Schooling: A Case Study of a Rural Comprehensive High School in NSW

Abstract

This study sought to identify the major influences upon students' choice and reasons why they chose the subjects they did for their final two years of secondary school. Influences include government and education policy, the rules and regulations governing the Higher School Certificate in NSW through the Board of Studies, gender, socio-economic status, ethnic background, Aboriginality and family support. The reasons for subject selection explored in this study included; intrinsic, interest and enjoyment of the subject; extrinsic, needed for future work and/or study; instrumental, the student's ability in the subject, gaining a Tertiary Entrance Rank; organisational, curriculum constraints, school factors; significant others, family, friends and teachers. ... The findings suggest that students in the case study have similar patterns of subject selection to students elsewhere in Australia. A broader consequence of the research is that schools need to be conscious of the needs of their students and attempt to cater for their needs through the provision of a curriculum that will meet the requirements of the varying post school pathways :hat students may choose to pursue.