Tapping into accelerated learning
Horsham College is in its second year of an innovative program that allows year-nine students to study a Victorian Certificate of Education subject.
It is an opportunity available in only a couple of schools across Victoria.
The pilot program started in 2017 with a handful of yearnine students each starting a year-11 VCE subject.
In 2018, the program has expanded and 15 year-nine students are now studying year-11 VCE subjects, while year-10 students Darcie Colbert, Isabelle Oman and Katianna Grosser, are completing VCE year-12 subjects.
They will sit their first external VCE exams in November.
Students who participate in the program can choose to study a range of subjects such as business management, psychology, art, dance, health and human development, visual communication and food science, depending on their interests and timetables.
College Transitions and Pathways head Caroline O’donnell said students who undertook VCE subjects during years nine and 10 developed an early understanding of the requirements of the VCE and had more time to embed good study habits.
She added that scores achieved for these subjects could eventually be used for the calculation of students’ Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, ATAR, and help them meet prerequisites for more university courses.
“We are in a position to offer a program that private Melbourne schools won’t offer because they are afraid that having 15-year-olds doing year-12 subjects will bring down their average exam results and affect their rankings in a highly competitive market,” she said.
“At Horsham College we are more focused on helping each individual student to achieve their potential.
“We know that, even if school averages are affected, our advanced students might be able to achieve better individual ATARS as a result.
“For us, this is more worthwhile.”
Year-10 student Darcie Colbert is studying year-12 business management.
She said doing a VCE subject two years early had been a good way to see what year 11s and 12s go through.
“I can make sure I am prepared,” she said.
• Horsham College is the largest school in the Wimmera with senior and junior students, who previously studied on separate campuses, now using modern buildings and assets on one site as a result of a dedicated multi-million-dollar development program.
The college’s former senior campus, previously Horsham High School, is now the home of design-specific Horsham Special School and the two schools work collaboratively on a variety of programs and projects.
A two-storey wing at the former senior site is home for specialist study areas and also provides a Horsham and broad Wimmera base for Warracknabeal disability-service provider Woodbine.