VCE

Vocational education and training (VET)

.Introduction

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) was established as the certificate offered to all students in their final years of secondary schooling. The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is responsible for the development of the VCE. The VCE is formed around a range of “studies”. Each study consists of at least four units, with one unit representing one semester of work. Generally, Units 1 and 2 are undertaken at Year 11 and Units 3 and 4 at Year 12.

SATISFACTORY COMPLETION
While a typical VCE program usually consists of 20 to 24 semester units, the minimum requirement to obtain your VCE is to satisfactorily complete 16 units.

These must include the following:

Three units of English Units 1, 2, 3, and 4

Three sequences of Units 3 and 4 studies in addition to the sequences chosen for your compulsory English. These sequences can be from VCE studies and/or VCE VET programs. You need to be aware that VTAC places restrictions on certain combinations of VCE and VET studies. If you intend applying for an Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER) at the end of your VCE, you will need to be aware of these restrictions. See the VCAA website www.vcaa.vic.edu.au for more information.

.Vocational Education And Training (VET)

VET in the VCE program combines general VCE studies with vocational training and experience in the workplace. Schools are able to offer senior secondary students programs selected from the range of industry areas approved by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Successful completion of a VET in the VCE program provides students with:

two qualifications: a Victorian Certificate of Education issued by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and a VET Certificate issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO),
two Statements of Results issued by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority giving details of units completed in the VCE and modules/units of competence completed in the VET qualification,
an enhanced Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER) which can improve access to further education,
the ability to articulate into further vocational education and training courses,
workplace experience including structured workplace training.

Delivery of a program is undertaken by an RTO, (TAFE institute, private provider or school), or by a school under the auspice of an RTO, in accordance with the requirements as detailed in industry approved training documents, accredited curriculum and/or training packages as they are approved.

Students value the VET in the VCE program because it:

allows them to combine general and vocational studies which for many, provides a practical focus
gives them direct experience of business and industry, which employers value in selection

Mountain District Christian School offers students the opportunity to study Certificate II in Horticulture (Nursery) at MDCS. As a member of the Yarra VET Cluster, MDCS is able to offer students the possibility of a number of other VET studies at other schools within the cluster.

The Horticulture Growing Area

Please note that:

Most VET studies within the Yarra Valley VET cluster occur on Wednesday afternoons.
There are additional costs associated with VET studies.
Students may miss some other classes if undertaking a VET course.
Transportation to and from VET studies is the responsibility of parents.

.Choosing a VCE Course

Mountain District Christian School is a small Christian school which looks to cater for the learning needs of its students. Our aim is to grow spiritually, academically, emotionally and socially mature students who are aware of their own unique abilities and skills and who have a sense of their calling to serve God, their neighbour and to be stewards of His creation. VCE subject offerings are determined by a number of factors including: providing students with opportunities to continue to study beyond Year 12, and teacher availability. In addition to English, Mountain District Christian School makes Unit 2 of the VCE Text and Traditions course compulsory for all students in Year 11. This course invites students to see how the bible is foundational for the issues that students may face in their life beyond school.

Where small class sizes do not allow MDCS to offer a class, efforts are made to ensure the students affected can still undertake the subject. This includes the possibility of completing the subject by Distance Education with a school appointed supervisor. In some cases, MDCS benefits from relationships with other schools such as Mount Evelyn Christian School and Belgrave Heights Christian School. This allows some subjects with small class sizes to be combined.

Principles in choosing a course

Students should look to have a balanced course, keeping as many options open for as long as possible.
Students should be realistic about their subject choices.

When selecting subjects, students should take into account:

interests
subject strengths
future employment
preparation for further training or tertiary courses

.Acceleration Procedures

Year 10
Students in Year 10 are required to undertake a VCE subject, VET program or Work Placement as part of the Wednesday Senior School Program. Under exceptional circumstances students in Year 10 are permitted to undertake an additional VCE subject.
Year 11
The choice of subjects in Year 11 often includes VCE studies or VET programs initiated in Year 10. As such, students have the advantage of accelerating their program through the completion of at least one VCE or VET sequence by the end of Year 11. The advantages of this approach include the easing of pressure on students in Year 12 and familiarisation with the SAC and/or SAT assessment processes. The disadvantage of this approach is that students can focus too heavily on the Year 12 subject at the expense of his/her other subjects and that it involves more pressure than a normal Year 11 program.

VCE

Introduction