Signature Programs.

Tutorial.

This program has a curriculum designed to provide the students with the skills and strategies they need to move successfully through Senior School and into further study and the workforce. The Tutorial teacher will be an important point of contact for students and will be able to provide support to students, encouraging them to pursue excellence in the individual pathway they have chosen.

The curriculum is structured around four key themes that have been identified as priority areas for students in the Senior School; Study Skills, Wellbeing, Pathways, and Leadership. It has been informed by the Victorian Careers Curriculum Framework incorporating aspects of Self Development, Career Exploration, and Career Management.

The tutor will take a role in monitoring and supporting the students in their learning to set improvement goals around their studies and approach to school.

Enhancement Studies.

Some students entering Year 10 and 11 might consider attempting one unit 1/2 sequence (a Year 11 subject in year 10) or one unit 3/4 sequence (a Year 12 subject in year 11) as well as their other studies. By doing this, students may ultimately allow themselves more flexibility when choosing their Year 12 subjects. The score obtained from the additional Unit 3/4 subject can be used in the calculation of the student’s ATAR. Students must still undertake a full quota of subjects in their Year 12 year.

For example, tertiary course prerequisites may constrain a student’s selections in Year 12 by stipulating a full Mathematics/Science course. By studying a unit 3/4 sequence in Year 11, a student gains the opportunity of undertaking an interest or extension subject. This additional Unit 3/4 sequence also provides additional credit toward the student’s ATAR. It is expected that the study of a 3/4 sequence in Year 11 will not replace studies in Year 12 but, rather, be in addition to studies expected in Year 12.

Guidelines for student inclusion in the Enhancement Program.

Students requesting entry to the Enhancement Program must have demonstrated an outstanding record of achievement in the prior year level e.g. very good and above in all Assessment Tasks and the Victorian Curriculum (F-10) rating placing them at the upper end of the year level appropriate to their current studies. Students must demonstrate well developed abilities in organisation, planning, self-management, attendance, etc. as indicated in the Semester Report to parents. Students must have demonstrated excellent results across all of their subjects for the two preceding semesters.

Students also have the opportunity to include Vocational Education and Training (VET) in their course program. Students can do nationally recognised training through a VCAA approved VCE VET program as an apprenticeship or traineeship or any other VET qualification, and receive credit towards their VCE or VCE-VM. Students who wish to apply for a VET study must also meet the guidelines for student inclusion in the Enhancement Program.

Extended Investigation.

Extended Investigation is a unique subject in VCE as it allows students to pursue a research project of their choice. Students are able to select any area they wish and are provided with the opportunity to develop, refine, and extend their knowledge and skills in independent research. In order to do this students carry out an extended investigation that focuses on a rigorous research question.

This subject emphasises the teaching of skills required in all VCE subjects, and in later academic study, particularly at the university level. It is highly beneficial for any student considering a university pathway. It specifically focuses on developing students’ capacity for:

Critical thinking
Academic writing
Time management
Project management
Independent learning
Reading and note taking
Interpretation and analysis of data.

Across the year students work on an extended investigation which may be an extension of an area of their existing curriculum or completely independent of any school subject being undertaken. Throughout this subject, students develop their capacity to set out, explore, justify, and defend their research to a general audience in both oral and written forms.

Victorian Certificate of Education – Vocational Major (VCE-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 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 empowering them to make informed decisions about the next stages of their lives through real-life workplace experiences.

The VCE-VM is best suited to students looking to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (via non-ATAR pathways), or directly into the workforce.

Students wishing to apply for 2024 will complete a course counselling process in mid-June 2023 followed by a further information session at the VCE Information Night on Tuesday 18 July 2023. Applications will be due in early August.

For more information please contact the Senior School office or visit: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/curriculum/vce/Pages/AboutVCEVocationalMajor.aspx

Higher Education Studies (HES).

Diligent and high achieving students have the opportunity to undertake Higher Education Studies (HES) as part of the VCE through either first-year university studies or advanced standing TAFE courses. Higher Education Studies are first-year university subjects that allow students to potentially gain Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) points and university credits while they are completing their VCE studies.

Students participating in HES programs will remain enrolled at their school and are supported to undertake a course at the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) as part of their overall VCE program. In close partnership with Eltham High School, CHES enrols students in courses for a fraction of their timetable (generally one subject or 20% of their timetable), with the remainder of their timetable reflecting the subjects being completed at their school.

Students accepted into HES can enjoy a wide range of benefits including:

Academic challenge from an extension subject
Credit towards a university qualification
Contribution towards completion of the VCE as a Unit 3-4 sequence, and a subsequent contribution towards the calculation of the ATAR via an increment for a fifth or sixth study
Students who successfully complete an HES will have the title of the study, the year of enrolment, and the university name reported on their VCE Statement of Results
For more information please access the CHES website: https://ches.vic.edu.au/studying-at-ches/curriculum-overview/.