VCE Extension Studies

Extension Studies

The college ensures that curriculum offerings provide challenge for all students, including students who are highly able. Such students and their parents have the option of developing an Individual Education Plan, which can provide guidance and assist in developing long-term mentoring relationships. In addition to this, Castlemaine Secondary College offers activities and programs aimed at extending our highly-able students, some of these are:

Instrumental Music

Students studying instrumental music have numerous opportunities to extend themselves through participation with the various college ensembles, the regional schools’ orchestra or band and performances around the district. Students are also encouraged to undertake AMEB grade examinations.

Virtual Schools Victoria

If a unit is not available at school, it may be possible to study the unit through Virtual Schools Victoria (VSV). It is advisable that any student considering this mode of study be aware of the difficulties associated with it. Advice should be sought from the VSV Coordinator or VCE Coordinator before a decision is made. 

Studying Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Units at Year 10

The opportunity exists for students to study a VCE unit as part of their Year 10 program. Benefits include:

• The challenge to work at a higher level;

• The extension of particular skills or interests;

• The opportunity to complete a VCE Unit 3–4 in Yr 11;

• The ability to complete an extra (6th) Year 12 sequence – 10% of any 6th subject is added to the calculation for a student's Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

The workload involved in VCE units is greater than expected for Year 10 units. Students who are considering taking 1 or 2 VCE units in Year 10 should seek advice from the VCE Coordinator and other relevant teacher(s). If you are interested in undertaking VCE units in Year 10, you will need to complete the endorsement section of the online Course Selection form.

VCE Extended Investigations

The VCE Extended Investigation enables students to develop, refine and extend knowledge and skills in independent research and carry out an investigation that focuses on a rigorous research question. The investigation may be an extension of an area of curriculum already undertaken by the student or it may be completely independent of any other study in the student’s VCE program. Through this study, students develop their capacity to explore, justify and defend their research findings in both oral and written forms to a general, or non-specialist audience.