Scotch College

Introduction

Introduction

The Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) is responsible for the administration of the two year Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). The VCAA’s objective is to give access to education of the highest quality to all students seeking to undertake studies leading to the VCE. 

The VCE has divided knowledge into broad areas called Key Learning Areas. Within each area there is a range of studies intended to provide comprehensive coverage of the field. Each study (subject) is divided into half year (semester) Units involving class work and homework. Units 1 & 2 approximate Year 11 level of difficulty, while Units 3 & 4 approximate Year 12 level of difficulty. At Scotch College over half of the Year 11 cohort study one Units 3 & 4 subject.

Each Unit of Study has a course developed around the concept of Unit Outcomes, which must be achieved for Satisfactory Completion of the Unit. Achievement of the Unit Outcomes is based on the Class Teacher’s assessment of the student’s performance on assessment tasks designated for the Unit. In Units 1 & 2 the instruments for assessment are Outcomes, as specified by Heads of Department, based on guidelines from the Study Design. In Units 3 & 4, the instruments of assessment are School-Assessed Coursework (SACs) and School-Assessed Tasks (SATs). Results of the SACs and results of the SATs will be reported by the VCAA.  Students must demonstrate that they have achieved the Outcomes not just completed the set work.

Scotch College offers a range of VCE Units. Students are encouraged to consider all Units offered, based on their performance in previous years (as a basis for determining strengths and weaknesses) as well as interests and the post-secondary direction they are likely to take. Advice should be accepted from Heads of Departments, the Head of Year, Tutors and Course and Career Services.

It is not the automatic right of any student to attempt a Unit 3 and 4 study as a Year 11 student. Analyses of past results indicate that students without a strong academic record in Years 9 and 10 achieved poor results in Unit 3 and 4 studies. Premature enrolment in Unit 3 and 4 studies may have such a negative impact on their Unit 1 and 2 studies in that the foundations are not established for the Unit 3 and 4 studies in which they subsequently enrol in Year 12.  A student’s ranking within the year group can be significantly affected. Therefore, only students with a 7.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), (or better) overall, as well as in the relevant subjects, in Year 10, will be allowed to attempt a Unit 3 and 4 study. Bridging courses may be required for all Year 11 students enrolling in Unit 3 and 4 studies. All students must enrol in at least five subjects in Year 12.

This Guide is intended to provide all Year 10 and Year 11 students with information regarding each VCE subject offered at Scotch College in 2010. Details of the Rationale, Course Structure and Assessment of Performance can be found for every subject offered. Please note that there is a VCE planning grid appended to the end of this Guide.

Program of Studies

Students expecting to complete their VCE in 2010 will be required to complete the equivalent of 16 units, including three units from the English group (English, English Language, Literature) and three pairs of units at 3/4 level other than English.  For a student program to be approved by the VCAA and Scotch College, it will usually consist of at least 22 Units (undertaken for Years 11 and 12).

At Scotch, students will study 12 or 14 Units (six or seven subjects respectively) in Year 11 and 10 Units (five subjects) in Year 12. Each student will be required to plan a coherent two year course before entering Year 11 (see planner) and in so doing, he must take into account interests, academic strengths and tertiary pre-requisites. Scaling should not be regarded as a factor.   There will be limited opportunities to change Unit choices for the Year 11 Semester Two and at the beginning of Year 12.

Assessment

VCAA Assessment & Reporting 

To qualify for the VCE, a student must satisfactorily complete at least 16 Units, including at least three Units of English, (Literature or English Language Units 3 & 4 may be studied instead of English Units 3 & 4) and at least three sequence pairs of Units 3 & 4 of studies other than the English group.

At Year 11 judgement of satisfactory completion is made internally. Scotch will report S (satisfactory completion) or N (non-satisfactory completion) to the VCAA for each Unit. The VCAA will issue a statement of results to each student at the end of each year. For all VCE studies a Unit is satisfactorily completed if all Unit Outcomes have been achieved to the satisfaction of the relevant academic department.

It is important that Unit Outcome tasks, that is, projects, essays, assignments, etc. are submitted on time. Permission to submit work late will depend upon a number of factors including attendance, past application to work and the number of Outcomes that remain to be completed. It should be noted that while delay of an S/N decision might be permitted for a short period after the end of Semester One, such a delay cannot occur at the end of Semester Two because results must be communicated to the VCAA at that time. Outcomes will largely be attempted during class time through activities, tasks, quizzes and tests.  Overdue work will seldom be accepted.

Scotch College Assessment and Reporting 

Level of performance in Units 1 & 2 (Year 11) is not reported to the VCAA. For advice to students and parents, level of performance will be assessed in one or more areas in each Unit. Such an area may be the product of one or more Unit Outcomes, or an examination where a time limit is appropriate. Each assessment will be awarded on an 11-point scale: A+, A, B+… E+, E, UG.

A+ is the highest level of achievement and UG represents ‘ungraded’. NA, representing ‘not assessed’, may be used, for example, for assignments which are submitted after the due date. Results will be reported to parents once per term (interim) and once per semester for Year 11 and one Parent/Teacher Interview Evening will be held in Term 2. Global interim grades for ‘application’ as well as ‘level of performance’ will be reported.

Parents will receive descriptive reports during Year 12, near the beginning of Term 2 and Term 3. Year 12 Parent/Teacher Interview Evenings will be held in Term 1 and Term 3, the latter in lieu of a further written report.

A Year 11 student must achieve an aggregate GPA of 5.0 or higher in at least five studies including English in order to develop a course for Year 12.

Administration

Entry

Each student entering for first and second semester Units (or only first semester Units) next year must complete an entry form near the beginning of the School year. Only the student can withdraw his entry. ‘Confirmation of Entry Advice/Change of Entry Information’ forms will be completed by students early in Semester Two. Only notification of change of name and/or address will be permitted at a later stage.

VCAA Regulations 

At the beginning of Year 11 each student must sign an agreement to abide by the VCAA’s regulations.  In order to complete a Unit satisfactorily, a student must submit work that is clearly his own. Apart from reference to appropriate text and source material that is subsequently documented, no part of a student’s work may be copied from any other person’s work. Furthermore, a student may not accept undue assistance from teachers, parents, paid tutors or anyone else, in the preparation and submission of work. Any assistance must be acknowledged in detail.

Any case of lost or damaged work must be reported through the Principal to the VCAA. A student who has lost or damaged work will need to complete a Statutory Declaration form signed by persons authorised under The Evidence Act (1958) and submit this to the Head of Year. 

Breach of Rules

Attendance 

All VCE students must attend 100 per cent of classes in which they are enrolled.

Student Transfer 

Any student intending to exchange overseas or to travel interstate/abroad next year should, with his parents, discuss possible implications with the Head of Year.

Special Provision 

If a student experiences difficulties completing the VCE, the VCAA may approve special arrangements for internal assessments and/or examinations. A Derived Examination Score may be calculated if a student is absent from an examination. If a student has a documented history of learning difficulties and if the VCAA deems these difficulties sufficiently severe to prevent the student from performing to his best ability, Special Provision may be provided for internal assessments and/or examinations. This may take the form of extra reading and/or writing time, a scribe, use of a computer or other technical aids. Professional documentation of a student’s learning profile must be provided to support an application for Special Provision.  Special Examination Arrangements may also be made if a student suffers a physical injury just prior to the examination/s, has a chronic relapse of a long-standing illness or has suffered severe environmental difficulties such as a death in the family.  Applications must be made through the Head of Year and the VCE Administrator.