Learning at St Bede’s College
St Bede’s College aims to ensure that all students achieve success in their pathway to the future and in the development of the skills and attributes necessary for adult life. As a Catholic school in the Lasallian tradition, we strive to:
● Provide an engaging, rigorous and cohesive curriculum.
● Utilise a variety of instructional approaches which take into account the subject content and the needs of the students.
● Use rich, authentic assessment practices that provide opportunities for learning.
● Live our belief that each student can grow in their knowledge and skills.
● Use all the academic and non-academic information we have available to improve student learning.
Students are supported in their studies by highly qualified, experienced and committed staff. Special programs operate to support each student as he moves through his final years of schooling. These include a comprehensive Careers Program, an affirming House System and a range of Senior Leadership opportunities within the College Community.
Senior Pathways
Students completing Years 11 and 12 need to consider their preferred learning approach and career pathway beyond their secondary schooling when choosing a pathway. Whilst there are two distinct pathways, statewide reforms from 2024 offer greater choice for students in designing their learning program in their final years of Secondary Schooling.
As a general guideline:
● Students who aim to pursue an area that requires a university qualification should pursue the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education)
● Students who find that they learn best via through applied learning- that is a more hands on, project based, and team oriented approach- and whose goals immediately after secondary school do not include university should pursue the applied learning pathway, the VCE Vocational Major (VCE-VM).
Below summarises the two Senior Pathways available to students and how they might be undertaken. Please note that VETDSS is an essential part of the VCE-VM, however can form an optional part of the VCE (as a subject). Further details for each pathway are provided later in the handbook.
● Pathway to University
● Students may receive an ATAR Score
● Usually undertaken across Years 11 & 12
● Examinations are an essential part of the assessment
● VETDSS (Vocational Education and Training delivered to Secondary Students) is an option and can be undertaken as part of VCE
See Where to Now? 2027 – VCE and VCE Vocational Major
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/student-guides/where-now/where-now
● Applied Learning
● Pathway to further training including:
o TAFE and/or traineeship
o Apprenticeship
o Workforce
o Some University courses after TAFE
● Standalone certificates completed over 2 years at the appropriate level
● VETDSS is a compulsory aspect of VCE Vocational Major (VCE-VM)
See Where to Now? 2027 – VCE and VCE Vocational Major
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/student-guides/where-now/where-now
Year 12 VCE at St Bede's College
It is a College requirement that all Year 12 students undertake a full VCE program which consists of an English Unit 3-4 and four other Unit 3/4 sequences.
All students will also study House RE.
Individual students who are unable to meet these requirements will need to provide medical and/or other evidence to support their case.
An interview with the VCE Panel, the student and his parents/guardians will be organised to discuss the situation.
Resources to Support Subject Selection
This wedsite should be used in conjunction with the following resources:
● VTAC Year 11 Guide
https://vtac.edu.au/guides/y11guide
● Where to Now? 2027
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/student-guides/where-now/where-now
The senior curriculum at St Bede’s College is determined by student choice, this allows us to maintain flexibility while offering a range of subjects. There are occasions where a course does not have sufficient student numbers to run. Should this be the case, students will be contacted well in advance to make an alternative choice.
When making a choice you should consider studies that:
Interest you
You are good at
Lead to a career that interests you
Prepare you for further training or tertiary courses.
Students will be sent an email indicating that the Subject Selection Portal (SchoolData) is now open.
Students access SchoolData using the link in SIMON: Landing Page > School Links > Student Links > SchoolData
To view copy of the Year 12 2027 - SchoolData "How to guide", click here.