English Standard
Support to help you plan, program and assess the English Standard course.
English Standard 11β12 Syllabus (2024)
The new is to be implemented from 2026, with planning beginning in 2025. The syllabus will be taught to Year 11 from Term 1, 2026. Schools are to begin teaching year 12 in Term 4, 2026. The first HSC examination for English Standard 11β12 Syllabus (2024) is in 2027.
This 2026 English Standard Stage 6 (2024) Quick Reference Guide (PDF 260 KB) provides an overview of support available to implement the English Standard Stage 6 Syllabus (2024).
The department is supporting teachers to engage with and plan for the enactment of the new senior English syllabuses developed by NESA as part of the NSW Curriculum Reform. This page includes support resources for teachers and leaders:
- enacting the English Standard Stage 6 Syllabus (2017)
- planning for engagement and 2026 enactment of the new English Standard 11β12 Syllabus (2024)
- this syllabus will be taught to Year 11 from Term 1, 2026
- further resources are currently in development and will be released progressively throughout 2025 and 2026.
These resources have been developed to support teachers in planning and programming.
Planning templates and sample documents
These documents identify key requirements for planning and enacting the (2024) and text requirements.
Planning templates
These templates can be used to support teachers in their planning, programming and assessment practices.
- Syllabus requirements planner template β English Standard 11β12 (DOCX 2.9 MB)
- Scope and sequence template β English Standard 11β12 (DOCX 3.1 MB)
- Assessment schedule template β English Standard 11β12 (DOCX 3.7 MB)
- English teaching and learning unit evaluation tool β Stage 6 (DOCX 4.2 MB)
Sample documents
Option 1 and Option 2 below provide 2 sets of sample documents to demonstrate how to use the planning templates. They can be adapted for planning and programming in a specific school context. Published sample teaching and learning resources are available to support implementation of Option 1.
Sample programs and resources
These sample programs and resources are designed to support enacting the (2024). These samples include a teaching and learning program, resources, sample assessment and annotated student work samples for the Year 11 βReading to write: Transition to English Standardβ focus area.
The following resources and supporting slide decks are for the program 'Reading to write: Transition to English Standard' β 11.1.
- Assessment β 11.1 (DOCX 4.9 MB)
- Student assessment samples β 11.1 (DOCX 4.2 MB)
- Core formative tasks β 11.1 (DOCX 4.2 MB)
- Core texts β 11.1 (DOCX 4.2 MB)
- Program β 11.1 (DOCX 3.9 MB)
- Resources and activities β 11.1 (DOCX 6.5 MB)
- Phase 2 β reflective writing β 11.1 (PPTX 3.2 MB)
- Phase 2 β In conversation β Dalton β discursive writing β 11.1 (PPTX 5.3 MB)
- Phase 3a β Text annotations β Dalton β 11.1 (PPTX 4.5 MB)
- Phase 3b β Text annotations β OβNeill β 11.1 (PPTX 33.9 MB)
- Phase 3b β exploring writing β O'Neill β 11.1 (PPTX 3.7 MB)
- Phase 3b β In conversation β OβNeill β paradox β 11.1 (PPTX 4.9 MB)
- Podcast β In conversation with Trent Dalton
- Podcast β In conversation with Lillian OβNeill
- Outcomes tracker β 11.1 (XLSX 42.3 KB)
English Standard Stage 6 Syllabus (2017)
is to be taught until implementation of the new is implemented from 2026.
This 2026 English Standard Stage 6 (2017) Quick Reference Guide (PDF 257 KB) provides an overview of support available to implement the English Standard Stage 6 Syllabus (2017).
Common module β Texts and human experiences
You can adapt the following resources as required.
All the Light We Cannot See
- All the Light We Cannot See β sample lesson sequence (DOCX 87.92 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β sample assessment (DOCX 46.98 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β sample assessment photographic essay (DOCX 54.27 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 1a (DOCX 100.42 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 1b (DOCX 36.82 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 1c (DOCX 263.01 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 2 (DOCX 533.72 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 3 (DOCX 53.65 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 3b (DOCX 36.29 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 4 (DOCX 41.36 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 4a (DOCX 38.28 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 4b (DOCX 36.48 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 4c (DOCX 35.72 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 4d (DOCX 41.34 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 4e (DOCX 39.19 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 5a (DOCX 36.83 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 5b (DOCX 75.85 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 5c (DOCX 46.28 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 6a (DOCX 60.39 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 6b (DOCX 53.51 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 6c (DOCX 70.0 KB)
- All the Light We Cannot See β resource 6d (DOCX 53.17 KB)
Billy Elliot
- Billy Elliot β sample lesson sequence (DOCX 77KB)
- Billy Elliot β sample assessment (DOCX 45KB)
- Billy Elliot β resource 1 (DOCX 37.44 KB)
- Billy Elliot β resource 2 (DOCX 37.02 KB)
- Billy Elliot β resource 3 (DOCX 46.74 KB)
- Billy Elliot β resource 4 (DOCX 36.9 KB)
- Billy Elliot β resource 5 (DOCX 37.13 KB)
- Billy Elliot β resource 6 (DOCX 51.98 KB)
- Billy Elliot β resource 7 (DOCX 35.92 KB)
The Boy Behind the Curtain
- The Boy Behind the Curtain β sample lesson sequence (DOCX 82KB)
- The Boy Behind the Curtain β sample assessment (DOCX 54KB)
- Resource 1 β extracts (DOCX 46KB)
- Resource 2 β chapter summaries (DOCX 47KB)
- Resource 3 β links to the rubric (DOCX 49KB)
- Resource 4 β Facebook (DOCX 148KB)
- Resource 5 β Road Safety NSW (DOCX 44KB)
- Resource 6 β connecting chapter table (DOCX 44KB)
- Resource 7 β connecting related texts table (DOCX 44KB)
- Resource 8 β student evaluation (DOCX 44KB)
- Resource 9 β unit evaluation (DOCX 44KB)
The Crucible
- The Crucible β sample lesson sequence (DOCX 118KB)
- The Crucible β sample assessment (DOCX 50 KB)
- The Crucible β resource 1 (DOCX 36KB)
- The Crucible β resource 2 (DOCX 124KB)
- The Crucible β resource 3 (DOCX 221KB)
- The Crucible β resource 4 (DOCX 36KB)
- The Crucible β resource 5 (DOCX 39KB)
- The Crucible β resource 6(DOCX 38KB)
- The Crucible β resource 7 (DOCX 38KB)
The poetry of Kenneth Slessor and other related texts
- Slessor β sample lesson sequence (DOCX 68KB)
- Slessor β sample assessment (DOCX 48KB)
- Slessor β resources 1 (DOCX 739KB)
- Slessor β resources 2 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 3 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 4 (DOCX 82KB)
- Slessor β resources 5 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 6 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 7 (DOCX 205KB)
- Slessor β resources 8 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 9 (DOCX 45KB)
- Slessor β resources 10 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 11 (DOCX 48KB)
- Slessor β resources 12 (DOCX 45KB)
- Slessor β resources 13 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 14 (DOCX 47KB)
- Slessor β resources 15 (DOCX 48KB)
- Slessor β resources 15a (DOCX 46KB)
- Slessor β resources 16 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 17 (DOCX 44KB)
- Slessor β resources 18 (DOCX 43KB)
- Slessor β resources 19 (DOCX 45KB)
Waste Land
- Waste Land β sample lesson sequence (DOCX 65KB)
- Waste Land β sample assessment (DOCX 49KB)
- Waste Land β resource 1 (PPTX 1.8MB)
- Waste Land β resource 2 (DOCX 707KB)
- Waste Land β resource 3 (DOCX 41KB)
- Waste Land β resource 4 (DOCX 41KB)
- Waste Land β resource 5 (DOCX 49KB)
- Waste Land β resource 6 (DOCX 43KB)
- Waste Land β resource 7 (DOCX 42KB)
- Waste Land β resource 8 (DOCX 40KB)
- Waste Land β resource 9 (DOCX 40KB)
- Waste Land β resource 10 (DOCX 319KB)
- Waste Land β resource 11 (DOCX 44KB)
- Waste Land β resource 12 (DOCX 42KB)
Module A β Language, identity and culture
You can adapt the following resources as required.
The Castle
- The Castle β sample lesson sequence (54KB)
- The Castle β sample assessment (40KB)
- The Castle β resource 1 (DOCX 36KB)
- The Castle β resource 2 (DOCX 36KB)
- The Castle β resource 3 (DOCX 339KB)
- The Castle β resource 4 (DOCX 35B)
- The Castle β resource 5 (DOCX 67KB)
- The Castle β resource 6 (DOCX 39KB)
- The Castle β resource 7 (DOCX 36KB)
- The Castle β resource 8 (DOCX 37KB)
- The Castle β resource 9 (PPTX 1.2MB)
Henry Lawson
- Henry Lawson β sample lesson sequence (DOCX 64KB)
- Henry Lawson β sample assessment imaginative (DOCX 43KB)
- Henry Lawson β sample assessment multimodal (DOCX 41KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 1 (DOCX 41KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 2 (DOCX 57KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 3a (DOCX 41KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 3b (DOCX 33KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 4 (DOCX 43KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 4a (DOCX 39KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 4b (DOCX 36KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 5 (DOCX 46KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 5a (DOCX 44KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 5b (DOCX 43KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 6 (DOCX 39KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 7 (DOCX 41KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 7b (DOCX 50KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 8 (DOCX 37KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 9a (DOCX 48KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 9b (DOCX 44KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 9c (DOCX 40KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 10 (DOCX 49KB)
- Henry Lawson β resource 11 (DOCX 14KB)
- Henry Lawson β Stan Grant extra resource (DOCX 50KB)
Pygmalion
- Pygmalion β sample lesson sequence (97KB)
- Pygmalion β sample assessment (48KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 1 (DOCX 43KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 2 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 3 (DOCX 45KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 4 (DOCX 42KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 5 (DOCX 142KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 6 (DOCX 56KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 7 (DOCX 89KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 8 (DOCX 494KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 9 (DOCX 158KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 10 (DOCX 46KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 11 (DOCX 47KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 12 (DOCX 45KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 13 (DOCX 3MB)
- Pygmalion β resource 14 (DOCX 30KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 15 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 15a (DOCX 46KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 16 (DOCX 282KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 17 (DOCX 45KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 18 (DOCX 455KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 19 (DOCX 140KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 20 (DOCX 119KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 21 (DOCX 64KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 22 (DOCX 53KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 23 (DOCX 48KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 24 (DOCX 45KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 25 (DOCX 48KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 26 (DOCX 57KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 27 (DOCX 47KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 28 (DOCX 46KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 28a (DOCX 81KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 29 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 30 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 31 (DOCX 45KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 32 (DOCX 43KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 33 (DOCX 45KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 34 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 35 (DOCX 47KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 36 (DOCX 48KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 37 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 38 (DOCX 43KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 39 (DOCX 43KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 40 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 41 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 42 (DOCX 45KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 43 (DOCX 218KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 45 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 46 (DOCX 43KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 47 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 48 (DOCX 45KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 49 (DOCX 44KB)
- Pygmalion β resource 50 (DOCX 44KB)
Note: There is no resource 44.
Module B β Close study of literature
You can adapt the following resources as required.
Oodgeroo Noonuccal
- Oodgeroo Noonuccal: Sample assessment (DOCX 48 KB)
- Resource 1 β Investigating our past (DOCX 36 KB)
- Resource 2 β Example reading extract (DOCX 45 KB)
- Resource 3 β China Woman PETAL (DOCX 35 KB)
- Resource 4 β The past research Aboriginal identity (DOCX 35 KB)
- Resource 5 β Contextual research China Woman (DOCX 38 KB)
- Resource 6 β Lotus digram China Woman (DOCX 37 KB)
- Resource 6a β Lotus diagram template (DOCX 34 KB)
- Resource 7 β Bingo grids (DOCX 36 KB)
- Resource 8a β Venn diagram (DOCX 44 KB)
- Resource 9 β Entombed warriors β Cornell notes (DOCX 35 KB)
- Resource 10 β Entombed warriors poetry surgery (DOCX 35 KB)
- Resource 11 β Coding activity (DOCX 45 KB)
Module B βEngagement with module ideas and concepts
You can adapt the following resources as required.
Teacher advice
The Stage 6 phases project has been developed to support teachers in the structuring of teaching and learning activities for Stage 6 units. In the typical eight-week timeframe of a unit, a teacher may employ a range of these phases in order to meet outcomes, cover content and prepare for assessment.
The term βphaseβ helps to focus planning by identifying the specific purpose of each section within a teaching program. The phases are closely aligned to the English textual concept βlearning processesβ of understanding, engaging personally, connecting, engaging critically, experimenting, and reflecting. As such each phase focuses teacher and student attention onto the learning intentions of each sequence of lessons.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time β Haddon β Teacher resource (DOCX 80KB) β Student resource (DOCX 349KB)
Unpacking the module requirements
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time β Haddon β Teacher resource (DOCX 174KB) β Student resource (DOCX 178KB)
Introduction to the prescribed text
A Midsummer Night's Dream β Shakespeare β Teacher resource (DOCX 177KB) β Student resource (DOCX 164KB)
Engaging critically with texts
The poems of Oodgeroo Noonuccal β Noonuccal β Teacher resource (DOCX 180KB) β Student resource (DOCX 171KB)
Module C β Connecting phase
You can adapt the following resources as required.
Teacher advice
The Stage 6 phases project was developed to support teachers in the structuring of teaching and learning activities for Stage 6 units. In the typical eight-week timeframe of a unit, a teacher may employ a range of these phases in order to meet outcomes, cover content and prepare for assessment.
The term βphaseβ helps to focus planning by identifying the specific purpose of each section within a teaching program. The phases are closely aligned to the English textual concept βlearning processesβ of understanding, engaging personally, connecting, engaging critically, experimenting, and reflecting. As such each phase focuses teacher and student attention onto the learning intentions of each sequence of lessons.
Each phase lesson sequence is structured as a case study utilising a module and a prescribed text. However, the teaching and learning activities within the case study could be easily adapted to any Stage 6 unit.
Connecting phase β Luka Lesson
Module C β The craft of writing
In this unit, students will develop their understanding of the The craft of writing.
- The craft of writing β sample lesson sequence (DOCX 73 KB)
- The craft of writing β sample assessment (DOCX 42KB)
- Resource 1 β Journal checklist (DOCX 38 KB)
- Resource 2 β Editing stages checklist (DOCX 36 KB)
- Resource 3 β The craft of writing(DOCX 38 KB)
- Resource 4 β Glossary (DOCX 44 KB)
- Resource 5 β Statement of intent exemplar (DOCX 36 KB)
- Resource 6 β Statement of intent (DOCX 64 KB)
- Resource 7 β Writing activities (DOCX 38 KB)
- Resource 8 β Rhetoric (PPTX 57 KB)
- Resource 9 β Analysing Rowlings persuasion (DOCX 40 KB)
- Resource 10 β Language forms and features (DOCX 38 KB)
- Resource 11 β Bradburys thematic concerns (DOCX 36 KB)
- Resource 12 β Luka Lesson (DOCX 36 KB)
- Resource 13 β Performance poetry (DOCX 39 KB)
- Resource 14 β Luka Lesson analysis (DOCX 37 KB)
- Resource 15 β Form and structure of a comparison (DOCX 39 KB)
- Resource 16 β Significant language features in a comparison (DOCX 43 KB)
- Resource 17 β Checking your understanding of a comparison(DOCX 39 KB)
- Resource 18 β Responding to the inquiry question (DOCX 89 KB)
In this lesson sequence, students will construct a narrative in response to a stimulus.