Year 10 is a significant year in schooling and there are several important choices that need to be made for subject selection. These choices can support student transition into VCE, VCE Vocational Major or the Vocational Pathways Certificate, so we ask that families talk together about what pathway fits best for the student. The first choice that should be considered is which Year 10 stream students will engage with. These are:

• Year 10 Mainstream

Year 10 Mainstream follows a similar trajectory to Year 9, with students being required to complete English/EAL, Mathematics and choose a selection of subjects from the other learning domains. Students in mainstream will be able to consider “enhancing” into a VCE subject giving them a taste of expectations and workload of a VCE subject in Year 10. This stream is most suitable for those considering studying VCE or are undecided about where they are going in Year 11 and 12.

• Year 10 Applied Learning Program

Year 10 students will also be offered the option of joining the Applied Learning Program as an alternative to the mainstream program. This course is designed to support students intending to go into the Vocational Major (VCE-VM) pathway in Years 11 and 12, by building their core English and Mathematics skills. Students will also have structured Health/PE lessons and an elective, in addition to sessions focused on personal development and pathways planning. The Applied Learning Program will require students to attend three days of on-site learning at school every week, and undertake a Certificate II in Horticulture, held off-site, for the remaining two days of the week. This program is most suitable for those who are certain that they will be entering VCE-VM in Years 11 and 12.

The breakdown for both of these streams are as follows:

Year 10 Mainstream

Year 10 Mainstream students will choose eight electives. In elective sections, students must choose at least one elective from each of the following domains:

• Humanities                    
• Science   
• Physical Education/Health
• The Arts                          
• Technology

This allows students to maintain a broad range of studies to keep their options open for VCE studies, whilst also allowing them a choice in their studies. Students may elect to study multiple subjects from within a domain as long as they have chosen one from all the learning areas above.

Year 10 Mainstream students may also choose to enhance into a VCE Unit 1/2 subject as one of their elective choices. This will allow them to complete a VCE Unit 1/2 subject in Year 10 which will allow them to engage in a VCE Unit 3/4 subject in Year 11. This can be helpful for students intending to complete VCE, as it gives them a chance to experience the rigours of VCE in Year 10 and if they complete a Unit 3/4 subject in Year 11 – that will count to their VCE Study Score.

Year 10 Applied Learning Program

The Year 10 Applied Learning program includes two days off-site, completing a Certificate II in Horticulture. Places are limited for Year 10 Applied Learning Program. The program will only run if there is sufficient interest within the Year 10 cohort.