VCE
The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the Certificate awarded by the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) upon completion of secondary schooling and is recognised as such throughout Australia. It can be used as a pathway to University, TAFE, training or employment.
About the VCE
Geelong High School is committed to ensuring all students realise their potential by carefully planning and supporting their efforts in the later years of high school. In addition to providing outstanding academic opportunities, students also have access to a broad range of sporting, cultural, artistic, social and leadership opportunities. This strongly supports our core value of developing resilient and global citizens who are well prepared for the rigours of life beyond high school.
With the involvement of highly experienced Careers and VCE Leaders, students are extensively counselled in subject choices which maximise the achievement of future pathway goals.
VCE Subject Choices
The Geelong High School VCE program provides diverse pathways to further study or training at university or TAFE and to employment. In order to maximise these opportunities and outcomes for students, Geelong High School strongly supports students completing a full VCE program that may include programs from Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. Geelong High School VCE policies are carefully planned in accordance with Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) requirements to enable successful completion of VCE.
For further information visit the VCAA website at:
VCE students at Geelong High School are required to study a minimum of 22 units which must include 4 units of English. Of these units, 12 are to be studied at Year 11 (6 per semester) and 10 are to be studied at Year 12 (5 per semester).
A Year 10 student may apply to be considered to complete a VCE subject as an advanced or accelerated study. In this case, students will be required to complete a normal VCE program during Years 11 and 12. Attempting a VCE study in Year 10 will not reduce the number of units students will be required to attempt in Years 11 and 12, as it is intended to give students access to an additional study in order to maximise their ATAR. (Australian Tertiary Admittance Rank).
The accelerated VCE study (for Year 10 students) will replace two units of the electives, as students will be expected to complete both semesters of their VCE unit. Students will not work a reduced program in Year 10, 11 or 12.
Some Year 12 students, having completed an accelerated study, have the opportunity to further extend their studies by undertaking Higher Education Studies. These are extension studies of university subjects which contribute to a student’s ATAR score.
www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/studiesextension.html
The diverse cross-section of subjects that our students can study include:
- Art – Art Making & Exhibiting
- Biology
- Business Management
- Chemistry
- Computing (Software Development)
- English
- English Literature
- Foods Studies
- Health and Human Development
- History
- Legal Studies
- Languages - Japanese
- Mathematics - Foundation 1, 2, 3, 4
- Mathematics – General Maths 1, 2, 3, 4
- Mathematics - Methods 1, 2, 3, 4
- Media
- Music Performance 1, 2
- Music Inquiry 3, 4
- Outdoor & Environmental Studies
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Production Design & Technology
- Psychology
- Theatre Studies
- Visual Communication & Design
VCE VM
- Vocational Major
Scored VET Offered by Geelong High School
- Dance (VCE/VET)
- Music Sound Production (VCE/VET)
VCE Attendance Policy
The VCAA (Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority) mandates strict attendance requirements for students to successfully complete VCE courses. It is therefore a requirement at Geelong High School that students attend all timetabled classes so that teaching and learning opportunities can be maximised. Attendance in class provides opportunities for student work to be authenticated by teachers. Work that cannot be authenticated will not be accepted for assessment and will be awarded ‘N’, or Not Satisfactory.
When the student has reached four absences without a medical certificate in any study, an absence notification will be filled out and sent home by the class teacher and a copy is to be provided to the administration office where it will be forwarded to the student’s teachers and VCE coordinator. When eight absences without a medical certificate have accrued in any study, ‘N’ will automatically be recorded as the unit result.
Approved Absences
In order for teachers to confirm an approved absence on their attendance records the student must present a copy of the appropriately dated Medical Certificate to the Administration Office, which will then be communicated to all class teachers. The original medical certificate will be passed on to the VCE Coordinator and filed for safe keeping. This is necessary in the event of an audit by the VCAA and also facilitates the application process for Special Provision, should this become necessary.
Other absences may, in some instances, be converted to approved absences by using subject credits. This enables students to keep up with work demands of classes missed while still pursuing other enriching school based interests.
Subject Credits
Other School Approved Absences may be granted at the discretion of the VCE Coordinator and/or House Leader. These absences may include leave to attend a funeral or for an interstate/overseas family holiday. In such a situation, credits must be sought and any classwork must be completed PRIOR to any absence. NOTE: Credits will not be approved for holidays for Year 12 students.
VCE/VCE VM Attendance Credits:
Each semester, VCE students are granted eight credits per Unit, per Semester. Students may designate how they wish to use them. However, the following restrictions apply:
- These Credits Can Only Be Used For School-Endorsed Activities
- The Credit Form MUST Be Completed At Least Two Days Prior To The Activity
- An Alterations To The Timeline Must Be In Consultation With The Student, Class Teacher And VCE Coordinator
- No Credits Will Be Granted Once The Activity Has Occurred
- Work Must Be Completed By No Later Than One Week After The Activity Or Credit Will Not Be Granted
The classroom teacher has the right to disallow the use of credits for their subject if there are specific concerns in relation to the student's progress. This must be done in consultation with the VCE Coordinator and House Leader.
Credit Forms can be obtained from the VCE Co-ordinator or House Leaders or downloaded from the VCE documentation folder, located in School Resources on Compass.
For further information:
Contact: Abby Graham – Senior Years Leading Teacher