Year 10

Our Year 10 students complete five core subjects in Year 10, studied for the full year. These subjects are:

• Religious Education
• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Physical Education and Health.

A broad range of elective subjects are offered to complement the core academic program and enable students to specialise in subjects the enrich their learning, develop their creativity and explore core subjects more deeply.

Students must choose six elective subjects and each are studied for one semester. To ensure students select subjects that offer a broad pathway into their senior subject selection, electives must include two units of Humanities subjects and one unit from the Arts stream of subjects.

Acceleration into VCE subjects is offered to some students on the basis of their results during the Issoudun year.

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)

Our senior school curriculum has been developed in the context of two important principles:

• that we value and celebrate the unique gifts of all our students
• that we aim to provide a comprehensive curriculum that nurtures and challenges these gifts.

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) program includes 24 to 25 units, including Religious Studies and English. To obtain a VCE, students must satisfactorily complete 16 units, including:

• At least three units of English
• Three sequences of Unit 3 and Unit 4 studies in addition to English. These sequences can be from VCE or VET programs.

VCE Baccalaureate

The VCE Baccalaureate encourages more students to include languages and higher-level mathematics in their senior secondary program of study.

To be eligible for the VCE Baccalaureate, students must satisfactorily complete the VCE and:

• satisfactorily complete a Unit 3 & 4 sequence from English or English Literature or English Language with a minimum study score of 33
• satisfactorily complete a Unit 3 & 4 sequence in either Mathematics Methods or Specialist
• satisfactorily complete a Unit 3 & 4 sequence in a VCE Language.

These students will receive a VCE (Baccalaureate) certificate in addition to the VCE Certificate.

VCE Vocational Major (VM)

The VCE Vocational Major (VM) is a vocational and applied learning program within the VCE designed to be completed over a minimum of two years. The VCE VM gives students greater choice and flexibility to pursue their strengths and interests and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life. In 2023, this Certificate replaces the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).

It prepares students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (via non-ATAR pathways) or directly into the workforce.

The purpose of the VCE VM is to provide students with the best opportunity to achieve their personal goals and aspirations in a rapidly changing world by:

• equipping them with the skills, knowledge, values and capabilities to be active and informed citizens, lifelong learners and confident and creative individuals; and
• empowering them to make informed decisions about the next stages of their lives through real life workplace experiences.

To be eligible to receive the VCE VM, students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 units, including:

• 3 VCE VM Literacy or VCE English units (including a Unit 3 and Unit 4 sequence)
• 2 VCE Foundation Mathematics units
• 2 VCE VM Work Related Skills units
• 2 VCE VM Personal Development Skills units, and
• 2 VET credits at Certificate II level or above (180 nominal hours)

Students must complete a minimum of three other Unit 3 and Unit 4 sequences as part of their program. Units 3 and 4 of VM studies may be undertaken together over the duration of the academic year to enable these to be integrated.

The VCE VM can be tailored to the needs and interests of the student, to keep them engaged while developing their skills and knowledge. Students can also include other VCE studies and VET, and can receive structured workplace learning recognition.

There are no examinations in VCEVM unless a student chooses to complete a scored VCE subject. Students are also able to choose to undertake an unscored option for a VCE subject.

The Senior Years Pathways handbook provides more information about the VCE program, subject selection, examinations and extension opportunities.