Year 11 & 12 Curriculum Outline

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)

To be eligible for the award of VCE, students must satisfactorily complete 16 units, including at least 3 units from English 1 & 2, English 3 & 4, Literature 3 & 4 or English Language 3 & 4.

1. VCE Studies

Unit 1 & 2 Sequences

Year 11 students choose 6 subjects across Units 1 & 2, or 5 subjects of Units 1 & 2 in conjunction with a Year 12 Unit 3 & 4 sequence.

Units 3 & 4 Sequences

Each Unit 3 & 4 study must be taken as a sequence. Accordingly, because students at Montmorency Secondary College have undertaken 12 units at Unit 1 & 2 level in one calendar year, they will normally take only 10 units in the second year (i.e. 5 sequences).

2. Career Guidance

The Careers Teacher will see all students to ensure that they have some idea of a career suited to their interests and abilities. Careful consideration will be given to prerequisite and recommended subjects, so that a wide range of career options is catered for.

3. Course Selection

When choosing their preferred area of study, students should carefully assess not only the subjects related to a particular career, but also their own academic strengths and weaknesses.

4. The Subject Selection Process
  • Information Night, for parents and students, will be held in the College auditorium early during Term 3. General information about the organisation of the VCE and VCAL will be provided and teachers, representing each subject area, will be available for interview. This Information Booklet should be brought along to this meeting.

  • Students/parents should read the details of the VCE studies carefully to ensure that studies selected are correct and appropriate.

  • Parents/students who experience difficulty selecting subjects should discuss these problems in early August and arrange to see the Head of Senior School, Year 12 Coordinator, Year 11 Coordinator or the Careers Counsellor.

 

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)

YEAR 11 — INTERMEDIATE VCAL

YEAR 12 — SENIOR VCAL

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a senior school certificate that is based on applied learning and offers an alternative pathway for senior students. It is a ‘hands on’ approach that aims to develop skills which can assist a student to get ready for further education, training or employment. As part of their learning program, students may undertake VET (TAFE) subjects at facilities other than Montmorency Secondary College.

What types of subjects make up VCAL?

Students, who undertake the VCAL, will develop a learning program, with the VCAL Coordinator, which is tailored to suit the individual’s needs, by selecting units for each of the VCAL strands.

STRAND 1 – Literacy and Numeracy

Your VCAL learning program must include literacy and numeracy. The program includes VCAL Literacy Skills and VCAL Numeracy Skills.

STRAND 2 – Industry Specific Skills

Your VCAL learning program must include industry specific units from Vocational Education and Training programs at Certificate II or III levels. (VET or VCE VET or FE units), or complete a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBAT)

These parts of the VCAL course will be provided by Registered Training Authorities (RTO’s) E.g. TAFE’s. This could include a full day once a week or a block release at the end of term or in the school holidays.

There are many options available to Montmorency Secondary College students when choosing a VET or SBAT. Examples include: Electrical, Building and Construction, Hair and Beauty, Plumbing, Childcare, Hospitality (Chef), Automotive, Community Services, Refrigeration and Air conditioning, Multi-Media, Engineering, Shop fitting, Bricklaying, Retail, Sport and Recreation, Landscaping and even Equine Studies.

NOTE: Undertaking VET/TAFE studies will incur additional costs. Parents/guardians will be responsible for the payment of these costs.

STRAND 3 – Work Related Skills

Your VCAL learning program may include VCAL Units in work placement and skills, related VCE Units 1 - 4 and other modules in preparing for work.

STRAND 4 – Personal Development Skills

Your VCAL learning program must include a VCAL unit in Personal Development Skills based around local and community-based projects and structured activities to help develop selfconfidence, teamwork and other skills important for life and work. It may also include related VCE Units 1 – 4 in your personal interest areas.

As the VCAL course is very individualised, students applying for this course must see the VCAL Coordinator for assistance with the selection process.