Teaching & Learning – Carrum Downs Secondary College

Subjects & Courses

At Carrum Downs Secondary College we are passionate that every student grows. We aim to enhance the intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of all students, and we strive to create and maintain a positive, caring and safe learning environment in which all students are provided with the opportunity to achieve success. We provide students with a balanced and flexible learning program in line with the Victorian Curriculum, which allows students to foster talents and interests, and tailor their learning program towards pursuing a range of potential career pathways.

Our Curriculum Structure is organised into 6 Learning Areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Health & Physical Education and Arts & Technology. Teachers at Carrum Downs Secondary College are allocated into a learning area based on their teaching allotment, and teachers work in teams to deliver our curriculum and plan collaboratively to ensure that we are meeting the needs for every student.

Our students undertake Pastoral Care for one period per week at Carrum Downs Secondary College. Our Pastoral Care curriculum focuses on respectful relationships, resilience, building positive connections, incursions and excursions.

We recently opened our new STEAM centre at Carrum Downs Secondary College! STEAM Education is an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. STEAM is for students to work creatively and collaboratively to develop the multidisciplinary skills necessary to research, design, produce, and communicate solutions to real world problems in community and global contexts.

It is the goal of Carrum Downs Secondary College that all students have a successful pathway to university, TAFE or full-time employment. It is essential that students transitioning to the senior years plan carefully and make informed decisions that enable them to fulfil both academic and personal goals.

The best advice is to choose studies:

which the student enjoys
in which the student is likely to achieve success
that the student may need for future study (prerequisites) or work
which maintain and develop the student’s special skills and talents

Year 7-10

YEAR 7

Core (full year):
English
Mathematics
Humanities
Health & PE
Science
STEAM
Pastoral Care

Specialist (2 per semester):
Art
Drama
Digital Technology
Design Technology (Wood)

YEAR 8

Core (full year):
English
Mathematics
Humanities
Health & PE
Science
Pastoral Care

Specialist (2 per semester):
Art
Food Technology
Japanese
STEAM

YEAR 9

Year 9 at Carrum Downs Secondary College is an exciting opportunity for students to further explore their interests and passions by selecting from a range of elective subjects. It is a time when we encourage students to consider their upcoming years of education and possible future careers. Students will engage in careers focused assemblies, Morrisby profiling, Course Counselling and Pastoral Care activities that will prepared them to consider options for Year 10.

YEAR 10

The focus of our Year 10 program is to provide students with as much choice as possible. We aim to provide an enjoyable, relevant, broad and rigorous teaching and learning program that provides both preparation for Year 11 and 12 as well as the training and guidance for future careers. There is an opportunity for students to accelerate their studies with a VCE or VET subject.

Year 11-12

11-12

VCE OR VCE VM?

The College supports our young people to make informed decisions; setting them up to achieve the most out of their education. Students have the choice of 2 streams to complete their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) – VCE or VCE Vocational Major. Both streams will give students a year 12 VCE completion certificate. They differ in terms of the program structure and goals catering to each student’s desired pathway.

VCE

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is a 2-year academic program offering a broad selection of subjects that provide pathways to further study at University, Technical and Further Education (TAFE), Apprenticeships, Traineeships and employment. The VCE Certificate covers both Years 11 and 12 and involves four semesters of work completing one unit per subject each semester. Over these four semesters students will undertake a total of 22 units.

VCE VM

The VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) is a 2-year program offering students the opportunity to develop both academic and practical skills. The certificate provides core subjects that build on the knowledge and attributes supporting students to make informed choices about education and employment pathways. It opens pathways to Technical and Further Education (TAFE), Apprenticeships, Traineeships and employment.

VET & SBAT

VET

SBAT

VET

As part of VCE courses a Vocational Education and Training (VET) subject can be chosen. This means that the student will be undertaking training in a specific vocational area, for instance hospitality, agriculture, information technology or engineering. As part of a VCE Vocational Major program it is compulsory to elect a VET subject. A VET program contributes to the VCE or VCE VM in the same way that other studies contribute, however only scored VET programs with exams contribute towards an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) score.

SBAT/HEADSTART

Another way for vocational training to contribute towards a VCE certificate is through a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBAT). This is a part-time apprenticeship/Traineeship program where the student’s timetable is tailored to ensure that there is a suitable mix of necessary core subjects as well as an ability to accommodate the employment requirements of the SBAT. These opportunities are only available in certain vocations and students will need to meet certain attendance and academic requirements to be considered.

Carrum Downs Secondary College

Where Every Student Grows