Benowa State High School is a community of learners driven by an excellence that encompasses academic, cultural and sporting achievement. The student population includes approximately 60 international students from Asia, Europe and the Americas, each of whom adds to the school’s celebrated intercultural diversity.
The school is a proud member of the Council of International School and offers academic programs in the middle and senior phase of learning that are national lauded, with sporting achievements that rank on both the Australian and World stage.
Subjects/Electives Years 7 to 10: Core learning areas are English – English, ESL Support Classes, Access English; Mathematics – Mathematics, Extension Mathematics, Support Classes, Access Mathematics; History – History, Access History; Science – Science, Access Science, Science Research Technology (compulsory elective for STEM students); Health & Physical Education.
Electives include The Arts – Dance, Music Excellence, Music, Drama, Art; Business – Business Enterprise Education, Business Information Technologies; Hospitality – Food Studies; Physical Education – Sports, Excellence in Touch, Volleyball, AFL; Industrial Technology and Design – Practical Woodwork, Industrial Technology & Design, Graphics; Languages – Italian, Japanese, Spanish; Science – Science Research & Technology.
Subjects/Electives Years 11 and 12: Year 11 and 12 core subjects include Communications, Mathematics HOD, English, English Extension, and English Communication.
Elective subjects include Mathematics A, Mathematics B, Mathematics C, Prevocational Maths, Biological Science, Chemistry, Physics, Marine Science, Marine Aquatic Practices (new name in 2015, Aquatic Practices), Modern History, Ancient History, Geography, Tourism, Certificate III in Active Volunteering, Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Art, Music Extension, Multi-media Studies, Drama Studies, Music Industry Skills, Photo-imaging Studies, Visual Art Studies, Accounting, Economics, Business Management, Business Communication & Technologies, Legal Studies, Certificate II Business, Certificate III Business, Diploma of Business, Physical Education, Health Education, Recreation Studies (new name in 2015, Recreation), French, French Extension, Japanese, Graphics, Early Childhood Studies, Engineering Studies, Furnishing Studies, Hospitality (new name in 2015, Hospitality Practices).
Sport: Cross country, Volleyball, AFL, Rugby Union, Swimming carnival, Inter-school sport, Ski trip, Athletics carnival.
Extracurricular activities: School production, Gold Coast eisteddfod, Instrumental music, concert and big bands, debating and public speaking, mooting competition, drama festival, string ensemble, jazz ensembles, school choirs, LOTE speech contest, maths competitions, science competitions, accounting competitions, Gold Coast junior council, traineeships/apprenticeships, work experience, overseas student exchanges, reef and island trips, Gold Coast schools business ambassador.
Welfare and personal development: Guidance officers, school health nurse, first aid officer, Care teachers, Year level co-ordinators, Heads of Department, Homestead co-ordinators, literacy and numeracy tutors, International Co-ordinator, youth support officer, International homestay co-ordinator, individual student profile program, transition program, Careers liaison officer, nutrition support program, Responsible Thinking program, Access department, sexual harassment officers, Chaplain.
Special features: Support for interntional students – senior schooling, university pathways program, middle schooling program, study abroad programs (3 months, 6 months, 12 months), student exchange program; Excellence programs – Academic French Immersion Program, Academic STEM Excellence, Dance Excellence, Music Excellence, Sports Excellence, Waldorf Education Program, Year 7 Scholarships.