Teaching & Learning
Term 2 has seen the students and staff at Greater Shepparton Secondary College be extremely adaptable in effectively transitioning in and out of Remote and Flexible Learning. The change in learning environments has not impacted the large range of teaching and learning experiences offered to our students throughout the term and our student’s engagement with new eLearning tools to support their learning is exemplary.
In Term 3 we will commence Subject Selections for all Year levels for 2022. Parents/Carer’s are encouraged to have rich discussions and assist their children in selecting appropriate subjects from the Subject Handbooks that will be brought home. There will also be the opportunity for parents/carers to view specific Learning Area videos online and attend Subject Counselling sessions at certain Year Levels. Key dates for the Term 3 Subject Selection Process include:
Monday 19th July – Tuesday 20th July
Year 8 into 9 Subject Selections
Wednesday 21st July – Thursday 22nd July
Year 10 into 11 Subject Counselling and Subject Selection interviews with parents/carers
Monday 2nd August – Friday 6th August
Year 9 into 10 Subject Counselling and Subject Selection interviews with parents/carers
Important information about the senior secondary reform, regarding the future delivery of senior secondary education, is explained below.
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 neighbouring 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.
The following diagram sets out the senior secondary pathways for students commencing the VCE or VCAL in 2022.
School Holiday Reading
We encourage our students to borrow books of interest from the campus libraries for school holiday reading. The Campus Librarians are very happy to assist students with recommendations and provide guidance.
7H have been using their time in the library responsibly and respectfully, in line with our school values. They were warm, cosy and happily reading.
Megan Michalaidis
Associate Principal of Teaching & Learning