Later Years 

VCE and VCAL

The new VCE Vocational Major (formerly VCAL)

Victoria’s senior secondary education is changing. From 2023, the new VCE Vocational Major will replace Intermediate and Senior VCAL. 

This means the VCE will recognise different students equally. From 2023, more students will study the VCE. That is because the VCE will include the Vocational Major, a 2-year program that sits within the VCE. There will also be the Victorian Pathways Certificate for those who need flexibility in their learning. The VPC is a modified learning program derived from the Vocational Major Study Designs and will be available to students in consultation with the Later Years Team.

A new information and awareness campaign, Many Talents, One VCE began last week explaining the changes. The changes are a result of the Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling (the Firth review). The review found we needed to improve vocational learning in schools. 

As we already have an established and highly successful VCAL program, we anticipate that the switch to VCE Vocational Major is not going to be a significant change, however there will be some differences and improvements that students and parents need to be aware of.

The GAT (General Achievement Test) – 7th September

One of the significant changes will occur this year and will impact our current year 12 VCAL students. This year, for the first time, year 12 VCAL students will be required to sit the GAT.

The GAT will be different to previous GATs with an additional Literacy and Numeracy section. This means the GAT will be longer than in previous years and students will be given a lunch break between Section A and Section B. VCAL students will only need to complete Section A however, all Unit 3/4 VCE students will need to complete Sections A and B.

VCE (including Vocational Major and VPC) Information Sessions - Thursday 21st July

For more information about VCE, including Vocational Major (VM) and Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), we encourage you to attend Curriculum Information Night. The Later Years Team will be conducting targeted information sessions giving you an opportunity to ask questions and find out more about these significant and exciting pathways.

VCE VM and VPC will give our students more education choices, a higher-quality curriculum and better workplace experiences – preparing them for further study, training at TAFE, work and pathways beyond school. For more information, go to vic.gov.au/oneVCE

Carrie Wallis

Assistant Principal of Later Years