2026 Stage 5 Elective Selection

Your learning journey, your choice.

Ensure that you are well-informed; this is something you need to think about.

Dear Year 8

Choosing elective subjects for Years 9 and 10 is an exciting milestone, as you now have the chance to decide what you’d like to study alongside the core subjects of Biblical Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Australian History and Geography, and PDHPE.

At RJ, we offer a broad range of elective subjects, recognising that each of you has unique interests and aspirations. We are fortunate to have dedicated, experienced, and passionate staff committed to providing enriching learning experiences across these elective courses.

Selecting subjects can be challenging. If you already have a potential career path or a university course in mind, choosing electives aligned with these interests may be helpful preparation for future HSC choices. However, many students your age aren’t yet sure what they want to pursue post-school, and that’s perfectly okay. Our advice is to choose subjects that genuinely interest you and that you’ll enjoy studying. You don’t need to be skilled in these areas from the start; the courses will teach you the necessary skills as you go. Being open to learning and ready to take on new challenges is key—sometimes, selecting a subject that piques your curiosity can be more rewarding than choosing one where you already excel.

In 2026, we are excited to introduce a fully online subject as a third elective option for all Year 9 students. This initiative is designed to help students strengthen their independence as learners and gain experience with the kind of online study environment they may encounter at TAFE or university. We believe that building strong digital literacy skills is essential as students prepare to complete their secondary schooling and transition into their next stage of learning beyond Year 12. Please take some time to read the letter I have sent to your parents, which outlines further details about this pilot program for the Year 9 cohort.

If you’re uncertain about your options or have questions about any of the courses, don’t hesitate to speak with the subject teachers or Faculty Leaders—they’re always willing to help you make informed choices. Additionally, talking with older students who have taken these subjects can give you helpful insights into the content and expectations.

This decision should not be made lightly. This CANVAS page contains advice on choosing the right subject, NSW Education Standard Authority (NESA) requirements and credentialing, as well as mandatory and elective course information, including course contributions. Please take the time to read through the parts of the CANVAS page carefully before making your considered choices.

We wish you well with your selections and look forward to supporting you in this next phase of your learning journey.

Kind regards,

Mr Dawson

2025 Mandatory courses

These are the courses that all students will study

Electives

You will choose:

Two 200-hour courses from:

One 100-hour online courses:

What you need to know