Year 8

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.

Subject Availability

While subjects are offered within this Course Selection Guide, BSE will, once students undertake their subject selections, make decisions about running subjects based on the demand for each subject. Subjects selected by a small number of students may be withdrawn. If a subject is withdrawn, students will be notified and back-up subject choices used and/or further course counselling will be undertaken.

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 a holiday during the term.

Subject Fees

Please note: The subject fees shown in this booklet are indicative only and are under review by College Council as part of the annual ratification process. The final list of fees/charges will be included in the 2025 book lists which are distributed later in the year.

Selecting Your Year 8 Program

A Year 8 program at Bendigo South East College seeks to provide subject options that continue to build essential learning skills across a broad range of subject areas. This Course Selection Booklet provides information to assist students to make subject choices for 2025. It is a ‘living document’ and will very likely be updated once the outcomes of the annual ‘Course Selections’ are known.

Subject Selection

Students are expected to draw upon a variety of resources and people that can assist them to select their subjects and learning program. To fully understand the subject content and expectations, it is essential that students and parents carefully read the description of any subject in which a student has an interest.

Core Subjects

In Year 8 students undertake the following program made up of compulsory (core) and elective subject options. Students must undertake two semesters of English, Mathematics, Health and PE (either core or ADP),  Science, Humanities and Careers. Please click on the hyperlinks below for more information about each subject.

Elective Options

Students then undertake four single-semester electives of their choosing drawn from the Arts, Technology, Languages and Multidisciplinary learning areas.

The following needs to be considered:

• Students studying ACA, Music and Languages must be aware these are a full-year subject.  

• Electives that run for a single semester are not able to be repeated

Please click on the hyperlinks below for more information about each subject.