Class structure
The Senior School accommodates approximately 600 students from Years 7-12. There are approximately 100 girls per year and the overall student:staff ratio across the school is less than 10:1.  Class sizes in Years 7-10 rarely exceed 18-20 students.  In Years 11 and 12, most classes are between 10 and 15 students, which enables every teacher to know each girl well.

Form classes
Each year group is divided into small non-streamed form groups, each with a home room and Form Teacher. The Form Teacher meets the girls for twice daily roll call and closely monitors their academic progress and welfare. The Form Teacher pays a vital role, as he or she assists and supports each girl to resolve any organisational difficulties, works with the Year Co-ordinator and other staff to ensure the well being of every girl, and can be easily contacted by parents if they have any concerns.

Curriculum
Years 7 to 10
English, Mathematics, Science, Geography (Australian and Elective), History (Australian and Elective), Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Latin, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Technology, PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education).

Years 11 and 12
English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Ancient History, Modern History, Economics, Geography, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Latin, Drama, Music and Visual Arts.

A unique feature of Ascham’s Dalton timetable is the ability to accommodate every girl’s individual choice of subjects.  Girls can freely select their preferred combination of subjects and the timetable will be designed to suit all choices.  Subjects are taught to all levels described by the NSW Board of Studies.

HSC subject choice
The school’s Director of Studies, Mr Ludo Onstein, spends time with each girl in Year 10 and her parents to provide personalised assistance in subject decisions for the final two years of school. Such support is essential to help each girl make the most appropriate subject choice and receive the best advice on matters such as study programs, career paths and subject options, as she progresses to the Higher School Certificate in Year 12 and beyond.

Assignments and studies
Under the Dalton Plan, each student in the Senior School has a weekly assignment for each subject. The weekly timetable includes lessons and study periods.  Each girl decides how and when to complete the week’s work, and chooses accordingly with which teacher to spend her studies.  Girls can choose to work in studies either independently or with a teacher, individually or in small groups. How and where a student spends her studies may vary each week depending on work demands, needs and priorities for that particular week.

Special Dalton features
The Dalton Plan allows each girl to receive genuine individual attention from each of her teachers. Over the years, it has proven itself as a learning method which develops outstanding habits of study and organisational skills, preparing Ascham girls for tertiary study and later life. That all teachers have their own classrooms is a key to the success of the Dalton Plan.

The Dalton Plan equally successfully supports students wishing to be accelerated and those needing extra help. It is tailored to the needs of each girl, in each subject, and at each stage of her schooling. The Dalton Plan is an approach to learning and timetabling that offers unique flexibility.

Educational extension and support
Girls keen to extend their studies can take advantage of a variety of options including the Maths Enrichment Club, Tournament of the Minds, competitions in language and literature, problem solving competitions, a Mind and Morality course at the University of Sydney (with credits for University courses) and Sydney schools’ Da Vinci Decathlon competitions.