VCE / VCAL

Bayview College is committed to providing the best opportunity for our students to succeed in their senior years. Bayview College,  in line with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority Guidelines,  has produced a set of policies and procedures that clearly outline expectations for completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education and of the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning.

THE SENIOR YEARS ARE ABOUT MORE THAN JUST STUDY!

We appreciate that the Senior years are important in all students’ lives: we are confident that our smaller classes and the opportunity for additional help provided by our staff are significant advantages. It is also important, however, for students to appreciate that they should be involved in other activities. This time of developing maturity is one where students should take the additional opportunities school and the community offers, particularly in the area of student leadership and community service, as well as sport, recreation and part-time paid employment.

In an increasingly competitive environment for both employment and tertiary courses, it is the student who has clearly been involved in a wide range of activities who will have the edge and who will generally perform better at University/TAFE or in work. Completing secondary education and gaining a VCE or VCAL Certificate is the normal expectation required in our society today. It is expected that students will show the required commitment to their school work, and in order to achieve their best results, students should be completing an average of at least 3 – 4 hours of homework per night at VCE level. VCAL has fewer demands in relation to homework, however, students need to balance school requirements, TAFE requirements and Work Placement.

The VCE is a two year course based on units in different studies leading to the award of the Victorian Certificate of Education.

UNITS 1 AND 2 are Year 11 equivalent, that be taken earlier, (for a student demonstrating skills and competencies) or in Year 12. They are assessed within the school and the result of (S) Satisfactory or (N) Not Satisfactory is reported to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA).

UNITS 3 AND 4 are Year 12 equivalents and they are substantially more difficult than Units 1 and 2. Unit 3 and 4 must be taken as a sequence or pair.  Satisfactory or Not Satisfactory completion of a unit is assessed within the school and the result (S or N) is reported to VCAA. VCAA conducts end of year examinations in all Unit 4 studies.

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE VICTORIAN CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION

To graduate with the Victorian Certificate of Education students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 units, however most students undertake more units to ensure that they have greater breadth in the course.

These must include:

  • three units from the English group (English, Foundation English, Literature, English Language)
  • at least three pairs of Units 3 and 4 other than English.

THE VCAL PROGRAM

The Victorian Certificate for Applied Learning (VCAL) gives students in Years 11 and 12 the chance to choose the qualification option that best suits their interests.

Just like the VCE, the VCAL is an accredited senior secondary school qualification. Unlike the VCE, which is widely used by students as a pathway to university, students who do the VCAL are more likely to be interested in going on to training at TAFE, doing an apprenticeship, or going straight into the workplace after completing Year 11 or 12.

VCAL learning programs focus on “applied” learning, aiming to give students “hands-on” practical work – related skills and experience that are important for further education, training and employment.

OUTLINE OF VCE AND VCAL PROGRAMS OFFERED AT BAYVIEW

ENGLISH

  • English
  • Literature

THE ARTS

  • Drama or Theatre Studies
  • Studio Arts
  • Visual Communication Design
  • Music Performance

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

  • Health & Human Development
  • Physical Education
  • Outdoor Education

HUMANITIES

  • Business Management
  • Legal Studies
  • Geography
  • History

LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH (LOTE)

  • Japanese

MATHEMATICS

  • Foundation Mathematics
  • General Mathematics
  • Further Mathematics
  • Mathematics Methods
  • Specialist Mathematics

SCIENCE

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Psychology

TECHNOLOGY

  • Computing
  • Product Design Technology – Wood or Textiles
  • Food Studies

VCAL

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy (Foundation Mathematics)
  • Personal Development
  • Work Related Skills

Students can elect to undertake other studies in a supported environment via Distance Education Victoria or the Victorian School of Languages. Students in both VCE and VCAL can access a range of Vocational Education & Training (VET) courses with South West TAFE (which Bayview works in Partnership with) or another provider.

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