YEAR 9 PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Y E A R 9
OVERVIEW
THE WHY
This program reflects the educational goals for young Australians outlined in the Melbourne Declaration, 2008:
Goal 1: Australian schooling promotes equity and excellence
Goal 2: All young Australians become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and, active and informed citizens.
Our approach in developing this innovative, future-focused program draws on consultation with parents, students and education experts, and, reflects current literature and the Education State Targets. It was amazing to see the synergy between what the key stakeholders wanted from a Year 9 Program and the current literature on effective pedagogy for the pathway stage of learning and we cant wait to see it come to life in our purpose built flexible learning spaces.
What we found:
Students want more excursions and 'hands-on stuff'
Families asked for community engagement
Teachers link student choice with student engagement
Our new learning spaces impede traditional classroom tasks
Student-focused pedagogies play a crucial role in the effective teaching and learning alliance (Hattie)
Pathway Years should develop future-focused capabilities (VCAA)
What this led to:
Community Partnerships
Project-based
Student Agency in learning tasks
Linking Pathways to VCE subjects
Future-focused skills and capabilities
Getting students out of the traditional classroom environment
THE YEAR 9 PROGRAM
Year 9 Program Subjects
The Year 9 Program at Footscray High School allows all students to choose a range of subjects that suit their individual interests as well as comprehensively covering the key skills and knowledge as defined by the Victorian Curriculum.
Subjects in the Year 9 Program curriculum are drawn from the 8 Learning Areas of the Victorian Curriculum (English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, the Arts, Technology, Health/Physical Education and Languages) as well as incorporating the four Cross Curricula Capabilities of Critical/Creative Thinking, Ethical, Intercultural and Personal/Social education.
Year 9 presents an opportunity for students to individually choose a large part of their course, so they should take care to think not just about interests, but also areas of strength and potential.
The information contained in this handbook should be read carefully by students and subject selection must also be discussed with parents/guardians.
CORE UNITS
COMMUNITY INQUIRY PROJECT - Select one theme
ARTS EXTENSIONS - Select at least one
TECHNOLOGY EXTENSIONS - Select at least one
INDIVIDUAL PATHWAY EXTENSIONS - Students select four Individual Pathway Extensions, including a minimum of one art and one technology Pathway Extension.
Year 9 to 12 Learning Pathways
Pathways in English, EAL, Languages, and Literacy
Pathways in Mathematics and Humanities
Pathways in Health and Physical Education and Science
Pathways in The Arts
Pathways in Technology
