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Message SECONDARY CURRICULUM PATHWAYS CRICOS CODE: 018421J PRIMARY COURSE CODE: 0ONDSE
Page | 1 Secondary School The Secondary Years at Alphington Grammar School will continue to build on the learning and experiences your child encountered in their Primary Years. We expose Years 7 and 8 students to many curricular and co-curricular opportunities as they transition to Secondary School and discover more things about themselves and the world around them. While every student is extended and expected to Aspire to Excellence, during Years 7 and 8 we also run an Advanced Learning Program for High Achieving students (The ALPHA Initiative). This program promotes higher order thinking skills, creativity, independent learning skills and ultimately paves the path to other accelerated learning opportunities. The social and emotional development of our students is underpinned by our wellbeing curriculum delivered in partnership with our external providers; The Resilience Project, Consent Labs, Gameplan, Elevate Education, Reach Foundation and The Man Cave. In the Years 9 and 10 the students also participate in the Global Gateways Program which will help them to understand new cultures and appreciate cultural diversity. By the time they enter the VCE years, students will have been exposed to a breadth of learning areas and experiences to ensure they are selecting an academic program that ignites their passions and enhances their abilities. They will have also completed several workshops with our external exam preparation partners, Elevate Education. The broad education offered at Alphington Grammar School aims to develop all students into young people who will be work-ready and able to actively engage with the world they will help shape. We trust it will be a rich and rewarding educational journey.
Page | 2 Years 7 and 8 During Years 7 and 8 all students follow the same broad curriculum, providing a solid base for learning across a range of disciplines. The timetable operates on a 10-day cycle, with the periods of study per subject shown in brackets. The subject areas are listed below. Year 7 Year 8 English (9) English (9) Maths (9) Maths (9) Science (9) Science (9) Humanities (8) - History, Geography, Civics & Citizenship, Economics & Business Humanities (8) - History, Geography, Civics & Citizenship, Economics & Business LOTE: Greek (7), Chinese (7) LOTE: Greek (7), Chinese (7) Physical Education (4) Physical Education (4) Digital Technologies & Design (4) Digital Technologies & Design (4) Art (4) Art (4) Music (4) Music (4) Drama (4) Drama (4) EISM Sport (6) EISM Sport (6) Assembly (1) Assembly (1) Health and Wellbeing (2) Health and Wellbeing (2)
Page | 3 Year 9 As the students’ progress into Years 9 and 10, alongside the CORE subjects studied by all, they are given the opportunity to choose from an increasing range of electives across the two years. Core Subjects English (9) Digital Enterprises: Robotics (5) EISM Sport (6) Health & Physical Education (5) Humanities (8) - History, Geography, Civics & Citizenship and Economics & Business LOTE: Greek (7), Chinese Second Language (7) Maths (9) (students allocated into General Maths or Maths Methods streams from the beginning of the year). Science (9) – Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology Elective Subjects (all students select 2 subjects per semester) Art (5) Creative Writing for Publication (5) Drama (5) Entrepreneurship and Innovation (5) Media (5) Music (5) Visual Communication Design (5) Please note: All electives are offered subject to sufficient interest and
Page | 4 Year 10 As students progress into Year 10, alongside the CORE subjects studied by all, they are given the opportunity to complete an accelerated VCE subject. This is designed to expose students in Year 10 to the rigour of VCE subjects before they enter Year 11. It is also designed to reduce the subject load when in Year 12. Core Subjects English (9) Humanities (9) - History, Geography, Civics & Citizenship and Economics & Business Maths (9) - General Maths or Maths Methods streams start at the beginning of Term 3 Science (9) - Biology, Chemistry and Physics Sport (6) - EISM Elective Subjects Art (9) Chinese Second Language (9) Drama (9) Exercise Science (9) Greek (9) Media (9) Music (9) Visual Communication Design (9) Students select two (2) electives and one (1) accelerated subject. Accelerated VCE Elective Subjects Applied Computing Units 1 and 2 (9) Business Management Units 1 and 2 (9) General Maths Units 1 and 2 (9) – (Entry requirements of 90% in Maths) Health and Human Development (9) Legal Studies Units 1 and 2 (9) Psychology Units 1 and 2 (9) All electives are offered subject to sufficient interest and enrolment.
Page | 5 A VCE program includes several different VCE studies (or subjects). These units can be completed over the two years, with a unit representing one semester or half a year of work. Units 1 and 2 are typically undertaken in Year 11, while Units 3 and 4 are usually completed in Year 12 What is the VCE? The VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) is a course undertaken to complete secondary education in Victoria. It is conducted under the guidance of the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority). It is the basis for attaining an ATAR (Australian National Tertiary Admissions Rank) for tertiary selection. What must I include in my VCE program? To obtain the VCE, students must satisfactorily complete (attain ‘S’ outcomes) in at least: • 3 English units (a unit is half a year’s study of a subject) • 3 Sequences of units 3 and 4 • 7 further units • 16 units in total What are the attendance requirements for the VCE? All VCE units require 50 hours of class time, which equates to 93%. How is the VCE assessed? In Unit 1 and 2 VCE studies, students are assessed on their coursework and are awarded ‘satisfactory completion’ if they meet the requirements of each unit. In Unit 3 and 4 studies, students undertake formal graded assessments, including school-based coursework and at least one examination (written, oral or performance exams according to the study), which are set and marked by VCAA. A study score shows how well students have performed in a study at Unit 3 and 4 level, compared to everybody else in Victoria who took that study. The maximum study score is 50. Each year, and for every study, the mean study score is set at 30. A score of between 23 and 37 shows that you are in the middle range of students; a score of 40 or more indicates that you are in the top 9%.
Page | 6 Students are encouraged to seek advice regarding their choice of subjects from the Careers Practitioner. The Assistant Principal - Head of Secondary is also available for consultation. Points to Consider • Many students are unsure about which subjects to choose. The most important thing is to pick subjects that you're interested in and capable of doing. Never choose a subject because it scales well. • Think about your interests and career aspirations. • Talk to your family, friends and teachers about your plans and get feedback from people you may know who work in your area of interest. • Explore the web and printed material for information on career choice, pathways, and courses.
Page | 7 VCE Common Study English At Alphington Grammar School the study of English branches at Years 11 and 12 into two subjects: English and Literature. The Study of English or Literature is a compulsory component of a student's VCE program. Students thus are presented with three possible pathways: Pathways of study for English: Students must achieve an overall score of at least 85% in Year 10 English to be able to qualify for Literature Units 1 and 2. Approval for all pathways is subject to the approval of the Head of English.
Page | 8 Mathematics Recommended pathway through to mathematics Entry into VCE Mathematics Before their VCE subject selection process, all students in Year 10 will receive a recommendation regarding the Mathematics that they are most suited for. These will be largely based on students' test scores and examination results from Semester 1 using the following criteria: Please note that each student is considered individually, and recommendations are made at the teacher discretion in consultation with the Head of Math. Entry into VCE Science Students must achieve an overall score of at least 60% in Year 10 Science to be able to qualify for a VCE Science subject. Approval for all pathways is subject to the approval of the
Page | 9 Head of Science. Students considering an early entry VCE Science subject require a minimum aggregate of 75% in Science to be eligible for any early entry Science subject. Recommendation Criteria No VCE Science Test average and exam below 35% in Year 10 Science VCE Early Entry Minimum of 75% average for tests and examinations in Year 10 Science VCE Science Test and exam average above 60% in Year 10 Science
Page | 10 Year 11 As they progress into Years 11 and 12, students begin their VCE studies. Units 1 and 2 are studied during Year 11. Units 3 and 4 are studied in Year 12. Where relevant it may be necessary to complete all 4 units in sequence. The subject areas are listed below. All subjects offered in the Expression of Interest stage are listed below. Please note that subjects offered will have to reach minimum number to run. Unit 1 and 2 EHASS Australian and Global Politics (9) Accounting (9) Business Management (9) Economics (9) English or EAL (9) English Language (9) History (9) Legal Studies (9) Literature (9) Media (9) STEM Applied Computing (9) Biology (9) Chemistry (9) General Maths (9) Maths Methods (9) Specialist Maths (9) Physics (9) Psychology (9)
Page | 11 LOTE Chinese Second Language (9) Greek (9) Health and PE EISM Sport (6) Health and Human Development (9) Physical Education (9) Music and Arts Art Creative Practice (9) Drama (9) Music (9) Visual Communication Design (9) Please note: All subjects are offered subject to sufficient interest. All students must study English, English Language, EAL or Literature. Enrolment in Literature will only be approved in consultation with the Head of English.
Page | 12 Year 12 Units 3 and 4 EHASS Accounting (9) Australian and Global Politics (9) Business Management (9) Economics (9) English or EAL (9) History (9) Literature (9) Legal Studies (9) Media (9) STEM Biology (9) Chemistry (9) Data Analytics (9) General Maths (9) Maths Methods (9) Specialist Maths (9) Physics (9) Psychology (9) Software Development (9) Specialist Maths (9) LOTE Chinese First Language (9) Chinese Second Language (9) Greek (9)
Page | 13 Health and PE Health and Human Development (9) Physical Education (9) Music and Arts Art Creative Practice (9) Drama (9) Music (9) Visual Communication Design (9)