Curriculum 10 - 12
Sale College Macalister Campus aims to provide a range of curriculum flexibility to enable our students to "Dare to Dream".
The ability to choose from a wide variety of course options gives students opportunities that will lead to a lifetime of learning and success.
Year 10
At the Macalister Campus we offer
• A wide range of units, both at Year 10 and VCE
• A senior campus atmosphere
• The opportunity for students in Year 10 to select VCE Units
• Flexible programs, including Vocational Education and Training (VET) Programs, School Based Apprenticeships (SBA) and access to university studies (see below)
• Individual counselling to ensure that student programs meet career goals, tertiary aspirations and abilities. The emphasis is on the selection of a course of study for each student that will provide the maximum opportunity for success
• Maximum support for students in these critical years of study, with staff experienced in providing academic, career and personal guidance.
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
What is a VCE Program?
A VCE Program is a set of semester units taken over a minimum period of two years. This program is designed by you to meet your needs within the rules laid down by VCAA and within College policies.
Counselling is available to ensure that you choose the program which best meets your needs.
We generally advise students to complete 22/24 units over a two/three year period. This would usually involve 6 units per semester in Year 11 and 5 units per semester in Year 12.
BOARD OF STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
To be awarded your VCE you must satisfactorily complete at least 16 units which must include: - 3 units of English - 3 Unit 3 & 4 sequences (other than English). This may include VET Sequences.
CHOOSING A PROGRAM
Take advantage of the counselling available and the expertise within the college. All discussions you have should be guided by the need to identify your interests and abilities and link these with appropriate work/career choices. - Talk to: parents, careers teacher, VCE coordinators, other teachers and friends.
Read the information on Curriculum Flexibility below for options offered by Sale College.
Read the information on Pathways in the 10 -12 handbook (p.51) to get ideas on how to select a VCE program that leaves open your options for University, TAFE and further training and employment. If you are interested in VET programs, see information on p42.
Navigating to specific pages within the 10 -12 Handbook
The Sale College 10-12 Course Handbook is in PDF format. When it opens click the icon depicting two overlapped pages that appears in the left margin. It will open thumbnail images of the pages in the handbook. These are numbered. Click on the page you want.
ASSESSMENT OF VCE UNITS
Students are assessed in two ways.
* Satisfactory completion In order to satisfactorily complete a unit you must demonstrate that you have achieved each learning outcome which makes up the unit. You must be able to show that the work is your own and you must meet the attendance requirements of less than 6 absences. S - Satisfactory N - Not Satisfactory
Each Unit 1 & 2 sequence will have at least two assessment grades reported by the school to the students. Students are required to complete a semester exam for each unit.
VCE Units 3 & 4 studies can have 3 types of assessment.
School Assessed Coursework (SAC) (done in class), School Assessed Tasks (folio or production items) and all units have at least 1 examination.
Each Unit 3 & 4 sequence will have three assessment grades reported to students from these grades, a study score is determined for each sequence by VCAA.
Curriculum Flexibility
At Sale College our aim is to provide a wide range of options and to assist you to select a program which best meets your individual needs. You should carefully consider the following options and challenges in selecting your individual program of study:
YEAR 10 STUDENTS STUDYING VCE UNITS
While the VCE is thought of as a two year program, it is quite common for students to complete it over three years. All Sale College students have access to VCE units which may enhance their options and provide greater program flexibility. Including a sequence of VCE units in a year 10 program provides a challenge and the opportunity to broaden studies.
YEAR 11 STUDENTS STUDYING UNIT 3 & 4 SUBJECTS
Students entering Year 11 have the opportunity to include a Unit 3 & 4 subject in the first year of their VCE program. This should be seriously considered by all students considering university or high level TAFE for the benefit it provides to ENTER scores.
This option provides greater flexibility within the VCE and has greater benefits for students by:
- providing extra challenges;
- providing experience in meeting the demands of Learning Outcomes;
- providing the opportunity to increase the ENTER score.
In the past, Sale College students have been very successful in completing Unit 3 & 4 subjects in the first year of their VCE.
VCAL VICTORIAN CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED LEARNING
This allows students the opportunity to gain credit for community and work based learning
See page 7 for more details. This option will not easily lead to an ENTER score.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING: (VET IN THE VCE)
VET Programs allow students to simultaneously complete their VCE and obtain a TAFE certificate. Many of the programs incorporate structured Work Placements involving on the job instruction. Sale College offers a wide range of VET in the VCE programs.
SCHOOL BASED NEW APPRENTICESHIPS (SBNA)
Students can complete training in a variety of part-time apprenticeships and traineeships as part of either a VCE or VCAL program. The work component may be completed outside school hours or sometimes will take as much as two days a week. SNBA's cannot be selected but need to be negotiated with employers.
UNIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Students have the opportunity to extend their VCE program by studying a University subject in Year 12, through Monash University. This is an exciting and challenging option for very capable and motivated students. Further information is available from the Careers Advisors.
WORK EXPERIENCE / WORK PLACEMENT
For some students a mix of work and VCE studies is an option. Generally this will involve an ongoing Industry Placement organised by the College. Work Experience Placements provide many students with a link between school and their future in the workplace.
VCE students are also encouraged to undertake Work Experience during their VCE. Students are expected to integrate their work experiences and VCE studies. The VCE Study Industry and Enterprise incorporates a workplace activity into its work requirements.