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 they move 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 senior pathway. Whilst there are two distinct pathways, previous statewide reforms 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 (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 VM, however can form an optional part of the VCE (as a subject).
● 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? 2026 – 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 (VM)
See Where to Now? 2026 – VCE and VCE Vocational Major
https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/student-guides/where-now/where-now
Looking for information regarding VETDSS? Click here
Resources to Support Subject Selection
This website should be used in conjunction with the following resources:
● VTAC Year 10 Guide
https://vtac.edu.au/guides/y10guide
● Where to Now? 2026
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.
VCE Acceleration
Our Unit 3/4 VCE acceleration offer for 2026 has now closed.
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 emailed an "Access Guide" which will contain a link to the Subject Selection Website called Web Preferences.
Using the information in the handbooks and the online instructions students will complete their selections.
A "How to guide" is included in each of the Year Level pages and will be provided to students separately.
Should you wish to undertake VCE Vocational Major (VM), a VET Subject or an Accelerated Unit 3/4 subject in Year 11, be sure to complete the applications forms.
These links are below.
To view copy of the Year 11 2026 - Web Preferences "How to guide", click here.
Tuesday 29 July 2025- Senior Pathways Expo and Subject Selection Evening 2025, 5.30 pm - 8.30 pm, St Bede's College Mentone Campus Sports Stadium
Wednesday 30 July 2025- Unit 3/4 VCE Acceleration Applications, VCE-VM and VET Applications open. nb. Acceleration Applications do not have to be completed by students who are already enrolled in Unit 1/2 of the same subject.
Wednesday 30 & Thursday 31 July 2025- Students complete Senior Pathways intentions form (access via email)
Monday 4 August- Benilde and Lasalle House Senior Pathways Interviews (Resource Centre)
Wednesday 6 August 5.00 pm- Unit 3/4 VCE Acceleration Applications close
Wednesday 6 August- McCristal and Solomon Senior Pathways Interviews (Resource Centre)
Thursday 7 August- Subject Selection Web Preferences portal opens
Monday 18 August- Subject Selection Web Preferences portal closes