Learning and Teaching 

Examinations

You would be well aware that this time of year sees many of our students undertaking final assessments in their 2021 subjects. This time marks the end of formal secondary education for many of our Year 12s, with those in VCE completing their exams on site over about a three-week period. These exams have, for the most part, gone very well. In spite of the challenges that students faced, many have appeared ready and willing to engage in the exam process and, in turn, count down to the end of their time as a St Bede’s College student. This is a rite of passage for our Year 12s, and they have acquitted themselves very well throughout the exam period. We certainly look forward to celebrating their achievements in the coming weeks and months.

For our Years 9, 10 and 11, their exam period will commence in the coming days; Year 11 begin on Friday, November 12, with Years 9 and 10 in the week of November 15 – 19. These exams are a culmination of their learning this year, however also serve to prepare students for the final VCE exams that they may be undertaking in the future. With the external VCE exams the only assessment used to moderate senior students against others in the state, their importance for individual and collective achievement cannot be understated. 

In 2021, we have endeavoured to provide explicit guidance and an approach to the exams that reflects their importance. Years 9 and 10 focused on Exam Technique and Timing at the end of Semester 1; for Semester 2, the focus is on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will allow them to perform at a high standard. For our Year 11s, entering an exam period that assesses one year of learning presents a challenge, particularly on the back of the interruptions caused by the pandemic. When exams are viewed as a formative experience, however, reflection will identify areas where improvement can be made, as opposed to and end point in learning. We encourage all parents and students to engage in these conversations as a means to improve in 2022.

Flying Start Program

Tuesday, November 23 sees St Bede’s College commence the 2022 school year with the Flying Start Program getting underway. The learning programs will commence; all students will be given timetables for the new school year, their new teacher will take the class (where possible), and the relevant learning activities will commence. The time will also be used to introduce students to the new culture of their relevant year level; what is expected, what levels of responsibility will be granted, and where the challenges lie within the year ahead should all be explored. As parents, we encourage you to engage in conversations regarding what they are seeing and experiencing that is different as this will assist students in making sense of it as well as deciding how to respond. We look forward to what lies ahead.

Brenden Mair

Deputy Principal

Teaching and Learning