Newsletter 

EDUCATION

Deakin Accelerate webinar 

Want to boost your ATAR and get a head start on your uni studies during Year 12?

 

Deakin Accelerate is a distinctive VCE extension studies program designed to challenge high-achieving students with university-level learning opportunities.

 

Join their upcoming webinar on Wednesday 13th October to learn about Deakin Accelerate.  Find out how you can complete two units of a first-year university subject at the same time as your Year 12 studies, at one of Deakin’s four campuses in Burwood, Geelong (Waterfront or Waurn Ponds) or Warrnambool or through our premium online learning platform.

 

Hear from a past Deakin Accelerate student and find out about the benefits of the program, study areas, and the selection and enrolment process.

 

Secure your spot

 

Don't miss the opportunity to learn more about your study options through Deakin Accelerate by clicking the link below:

 

https://www.deakin.edu.au/student-life-and-services/events/deakin-accelerate-webinar

 

Consideration of Educational Disadvantage 

Consideration of Educational Disadvantage for VCE and scored VCE VET Unit 3-4 studies

 

Information for Parents/Guardians/Carers

 

The VCAA recognises that some students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 studies have experienced particularly difficult circumstances this year as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).  This includes health and wellbeing challenges, financial stress, extra home responsibilities and family stresses. 

 

To ensure fairness for all students, Consideration of Educational Disadvantage (CED) will be considered for all students.  In support of this process, all students can submit a Student Statement.  The Student Statement is a simple tick box exercise which will inform the process of CED.  No supporting evidence is required.  However, the school can ask for clarification if needed.  Our students will be invited to a Google meet assembly on Wednesday, 1st September at 12:30pm to be guided through this process. After this session the student statements will be emailed to students. 

 

As part of the process, it is important to understand that number of boxes ticked does not equate to a change in study score.  This information will complement what the school already knows about students, for example previous assessment scores.  The school will use documented evidence about the student’s achievement when undertaking the CED process, with the normal VCAA processes ensuring fairness within and between schools. The student statement will remain with the school.  It is not provided to the VCAA.

 

The VCAA will consider the information submitted, and other external assessments including the student’s General Achievement Test results, so that each student’s final VCE and VCE VET results are fair and reliable. 

 

As in previous years, students can apply for a Derived Examination Score (DES) if they are prevented from sitting one or more VCE examinations, or if they are significantly affected during an examination, for example because of illness.  In addition, students applying for tertiary places in 2021 should submit a Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) application to the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC), if they have been severely impacted by factors including COVID.

The VCAA is a statutory authority established under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. All personal information collected by the VCAA is handled in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and, where applicable, the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic).

 

Please continue to encourage your child to stay focused and work hard towards their VCE examinations. 

2021 After School Tutoring Program

This program is designed to benefit students by clarifying understanding, gaining more literacy and numeracy skill, seeking assistance in foil subjects, staying up to date on tasks, and giving more time to achieve set outcomes.

 

When back on site, all students are invited to attend either Tuesday and Thursday (Maths and Creative) or Wednesday  (Maths and English)  from 3pm until 4pm.

Senior Secondary Certificate Reform

Victoria is transforming the delivery of senior secondary education with the introduction of a single senior secondary certificate that will offer greater access to quality vocational and applied learning pathways for all students. The senior secondary education reforms aim to provide access to education and training that is relevant, engaging and that delivers in-demand skills for the future world of work, ensuring that students can access education that leads to employment.

 

Next year students will still be able to enrol in either the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) or the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). The following year, in 2023, VCAL students will be enrolled in the new VCE Vocational Specialisation or the new Foundation Pathways Certificate which will be introduced to replace Foundation VCAL.

The VCE Vocational Specialisation will be recognised internationally, be valued by employers and will build on the strengths of VCAL including providing:

  • flexible timetables that allow students to study at school, TAFE and work
  • opportunities to experience real-life workplaces
  • subjects that will build students skills and prepare them for life after school
  • greater access to high quality VET learning, either in school, a neighboring school or a local TAFE

The new certificates are part of a suite of 38 reforms recommended in the Review into Vocational and Applied Learning Pathways in Senior Secondary Schooling (the Firth Review) to lift the quality and perception of vocational education and help more students access high-quality applied learning programs.

 

Course selection in 2022

We are supporting all students in their course selections for 2022 and are providing the following advice and information to students considering a VCAL pathway.

If students are studying VCAL in 2022 they will transfer into the VCE Vocational Specialisation with credit for completed VCAL subjects in 2023. In 2023, students will continue to study Senior VCAL subjects in the new certificate as part of the implementation process.  At the end of 2023, these students will be awarded the VCE Vocational Specialisation if they meet the requirements.

 

Students who are studying Foundation VCAL over multiple years, including in 2022, will transfer into a new foundation pathways certificate in 2023 with credit for completed subjects. These students will study the new foundation subjects and graduate with the Foundation Pathways Certificate.

 

This approach provides assurance and clarity to current Year 10 students some of whom will be among the first cohort to receive a VCE Vocational Specialisation Certificate in 2023.

 

If you would like to talk further about these changes please contact, Luci Reuben (Luci.Reuben@education.vic.gov.au). To learn more about Victoria’s senior secondary certificate reform, you can visit this website.