Internationally Recognised Learning Programs
The size, scale and resources of Pymble Ladies’ College deliver a significant academic advantage: the ability to partner with international organisations to offer additional subjects and courses that sit outside the standard NESA curriculum. These include a bespoke Biotechnology course, Cambridge IGCSE courses, and an elite athlete program recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
Biotechnology elective
Pymble’s Biotechnology course for students in Years 9 and 10 is an example of our unique and agile curriculum.
Developed in partnership with the Center for Curriculum Redesign in Boston, the course is unique to Pymble and gives students the opportunity to learn and hone laboratory and science skills.
As a fast-growing and highly successful industry in Australia, biotechnology offers strong future career prospects for our students.
Cambridge IGCSE courses
Pymble is recognised as a Cambridge International School, allowing us to prepare students for global qualifications, beginning with International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) courses.
- IGCSE Mathematics — offered in Years 9 and 10.
- Cambridge Global Perspectives — a humanities-based elective in Years 9 and 10 exploring Change in Culture and Communities; Development, Trade and Aid; Political Power and Action; Values and Beliefs; Social Identity and Inclusion; and Globalisation.
- Cambridge Global Perspectives for Primary School — incorporated into our Years 5 and 6 DREAM Diploma, a two-year course building skills in analysis, collaboration, research, communication, evaluation and reflection that carry into the Secondary School years and beyond.
Elite Sportswomen’s Program (PESP) elective
In addition to the Pymble Elite Sportswomen’s Program (PESP) for selected elite athletes, PESP is now available as an elective for students in Years 8, 9 and 10. Students who compete at national level or higher have six allocated PESP periods per fortnight to study or train, depending on individual needs, an important part of Pymble’s commitment as a designated Olympic Pathway School.
PESP is one of the longest-standing and most comprehensive school-based student-athlete programs in Australia, aligned with the Foundation, Talent, Elite and Mastery (FTEM) framework created by the Australian Institute of Sport. The FTEM framework has since been recognised internationally, including by the International Olympic Committee, and adopted by most national sporting organisations.
“What excites me most is the opportunity to explore real-world applications of science and medicine, and to better understand how biotechnology can improve lives and shape our future.”
GRACE, YEAR 9