Year 7 

Introduction

The curriculum at Bendigo South East College follows the Victorian Curriculum F – 10. This curriculum, developed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), “is the common set of knowledge and skills required by students for life-long learning, social development and active and informed citizenship.” The Victorian Curriculum F – 10 also incorporates the Australian curriculum, whilst reflecting the key priority areas and standards for Victorian students.

Bendigo South East College also offers a small range of Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Vocational Educational Training (VET) based subject offerings for Year 10 students. Teachers follow the subject specific study design published by the VCAA to construct learning centred upon the set knowledge and skills described. VET subjects knowledge and skills is derived from following the relevant industry-based training package regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).

As students move into Years 7 and 8, Bendigo South East College curriculum and subject offerings have a focus on students experiencing a broad range of subject areas and building key knowledge and skills across these offerings. Within Year 9 and 10 students are provided with increasing opportunities to exercise choice. We encourage students to consider their Year 10 program as a strong grounding for their last two years of senior secondary education.

Learning and Student Attendance

Bendigo South East College expects students to maintain a strong attendance record. There is significant research that indicates students who miss 5 – 10% of days in any given year will have significantly lower levels of performance in Literacy and Numeracy. In future years the gaps in knowledge and skills are rarely made up. Strong attendance provides continuity in student’s learning.

Bendigo South East College will work with parents to provide support for a continuation of essential student learning if a student has some short-term absence (up to approximately 2-3 weeks) as a result of illness or injury. For absences that extend beyond this period, student needs are considered on a case-by-case basis, but parents need to be aware that the school is not equipped, nor able to support an “at-home” learning program for students for any great length of time. The school does not provide an individual learning program as part of the student’s absence due to holiday during the term.

Year 7 Course Selection

Year 7 students study subjects from all Learning Areas. Students select their language option. ‘Technologies’ and ‘Arts’ are broad terms given to the taster program run, which involves students rotating through a range of technology and arts related subjects during the year, as listed below. For more details about these, please click on the links below. 

The subjects studied by a student in Year 7 are:

• English or English as an Additional Language – full-year course taught in a co-teaching environment 

• Mathematics – full-year course taught in a co-teaching environment

• Science – full-year course taught in a co-teaching environment and the Science Lab

• Humanities – full-year course taught in a co-teaching environment

• Health and Physical Education or Athlete Development Program – full-year course taught in a co-teaching environment

• Chinese – full year course studying Chinese

• Technologies – full-year course with a rotation every term to provide students with experiences in foods, textiles, materials & systems,  and digital technologies.

• The Arts: One of Arts Tasters or 7 Academy of Creative Arts or 7 Music – full-year course with rotations.