New years 11-12 Arts and Social Sciences syllabuses released to community

Marking another milestone in the rollout of a once-in-a-generation Curriculum Reform program, new syllabuses for Economics, Legal Studies, Drama and Music 11—12 were released by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

The new Drama and Music syllabuses emphasise creativity and performance, in line with community feedback.

In Music, students take part in performance, composition, listening, and analysis, supported by syllabus content that offers choice, builds technical skills, and deepens their understanding of music theory and practice.

In Drama, students grow as creative artists and thoughtful audience members, exploring imagined roles, ideas and stories while developing, refining and shaping dramatic works that express emotion and create meaning for audiences.

The new Legal Studies 11–12 syllabus teaches students how law develops, how it connects to justice and society, and how effective it is for individuals, groups, and the wider community.

An elective option in Year 12 also gives students the opportunity to look at human rights and relationships within the global community.

The new Economics 11—12 syllabus continues to emphasise the core economic principles that shape modern economies, ensuring the content stays relevant.

In response to feedback received during consultation, syllabus content ensures students have access to the essential content of the discipline and mathematical tools needed to analyse real world problems, make predictions and evaluate policy impacts.

The new syllabuses will be taught in NSW schools from 2027 and examined for the first time in the 2028 HSC. 

NESA will also provide teaching advice and support materials to help teachers understand and deliver the new content.

Visit NSW Curriculum to access the new syllabuses and support materials.

NSW Education Standards Authority CEO Paul Martin said:

“I’m delighted to announce the release of this new suite of 11-12 syllabuses, after a year of rigorous consultation with education and industry experts. 

“The existing syllabuses are nearly 20 years old. We’ve kept what works and updated the rest to ensure the best learning outcomes for all students.

“As with all our syllabus reform, these updates are based on research, evidence, and the  feedback we received. 

“The new syllabuses provide purposeful, specific and clear content to help all students build strong discipline-based knowledge and skills.

“Consultation is a key part of the NSW Curriculum Reform program and every one of the 67 syllabuses released so far has been revised in response to the feedback.”