Year 10 Core Structure

STRUCTURE 

The curriculum structure for Year 10 students provides the best possible educational opportunities for students and a seamless transition from the Middle School to the Senior School. Year 10 can be seen as an introduction to VCE in which students build on and develop the skills they will need to apply during their VCE years. 

Year 10 students are also able to access TAFE subjects and to enroll in electives that develop competencies and skills that will help them to achieve their career aspirations.  

In the Year 10 structure, most subjects operate for 8 periods per fortnight and are timetabled in conjunction with Year 11 and 12 subjects.  In addition to this, Year 10 students have one extra Mathematics and English period per fortnight.  In other words, all Year 10 students will complete 50 periods (each for 60 minutes) per fortnight.  

Due to this structure, students in Year 10 can apply for Advanced Studies which are Year 11 subjects (i.e., VCE Units 1 & 2 or TAFE units) without timetable difficulties or ramifications.  (Similarly, it allows students in Year 11 to apply for or enroll in Year 12 subjects i.e., VCE Units 3 and 4 or VET units.) The success of this application is subject to course counselling, Year 9 assessments consistently 'Above the Expected Level' and teacher recommendation. 

ADVICE TO YEAR 10 STUDENTS 

You are all participating in pathways sessions where job investigation will help you decide on what studies you need to undertake to achieve your goal, together with work experience, Learning Area leaders talking to you, the information in the handbook and the information night will help you with the process. These are all an important part of the process that assists you to identify your personal strengths, interests, career paths, future study, set goals and plan for the future. 

Students will complete a Career Action Plan (CAP) on Compass. This plan will help you to identify your strengths and career interest areas. You will also be completing Career Voyage, a career program online that also helps you identify career interest areas. The VTAC website will also be used, and students are required to undertake course preference practice. 

It is important that you choose the program that is “tailor made” for you, providing motivation and the greatest opportunity for success. It should not be to follow your friends or to do what you think others expect of you. The program must be something that inspires, motivates and offers the best chance of success, increased confidence and self-esteem. 

Research all Courses and Careers 

Consider your career interests and aspirations.  You may wish to consult the latest edition of the "Job Guide” available online. 

Through your personal investigations and pathways sessions, you will be researching identified careers and what they involve.  Try to identify University or TAFE courses that will provide the type of training you will need to enter the career areas that interest you.  Read the following section on “Vocational Education and Training Programs.”  

Prerequisites 

Identify any specific pre-requisites for the Tertiary and TAFE courses you have identified.  These pre-requisites are normally for Year 12 subjects, but this directly influences your subject choices in Year 11. This information can be accessed on the VTAC website (www.vtac.edu.au). 

You will notice that some subjects now attract bonuses from some tertiary courses to indicate to you the value they place on that subject(s) as preparation for the course. 

Research Information on the VCE Studies Available 

To undertake a course in VCE, it is essential that you have successfully completed appropriate studies in the previous year. 

Even though many tertiary and TAFE courses do not require any Mathematics subject as a pre-requisite, choosing a Mathematics subject appropriate to your level of ability will give you a greater range of options. Discuss appropriate Mathematics selections with your teachers and remember that a successful Year 10 assessment and recommendations from your Mathematics teacher are essential for entry into some Mathematics courses. 

Read the Unit (subject) descriptions contained in this Handbook and gather unit advice sheets distributed by the different learning areas at the VCE Information Evening. 

Discuss your program with people. These may be your teachers, current VCE students and your parents. You may wish to discuss your program with the Pathways Counsellor and get more detailed information on the courses and careers that interest you.