At Padua College, our wish is to enable every student to:

• Recognise and utilise their God given talents
• Be the best that they can be
• Make a positive impact on their world

Our syllabus works together with the House System to build positive relationships as a basis for each student’s six-year journey through the College.

To find out more, please see the relevant webpages in this section of the website, which outline the curriculum at each stage/year level and outlines the various courses that are available as students move up to the Senior Campus.

The Curriculum Handbooks on each webpage are available as downloads and comprehensively describe the subjects available to your student.

Please feel free to contact the college should you require any further information.

Curriculum Year 7-8

At Padua College, our curriculum reflects our core values. To welcome and affirm, the syllabus aligns with the House system to build positive relationships as a basis for the students’ six-year journey through the College. All Year 7 and 8 students undertake a common, integrated curriculum that provides a strong foundation, a love of learning and a sample of the array of subjects offered in the subsequent years of schooling. In addition, to scaffold the higher-order and critical thinking skills built through the primary school model, all students participate in the STEAM Cup (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths). This encourages interdisciplinary connections while problem solving through group inquiry. Deep learning is fostered as students take their individual subject skills and apply these in unfamiliar contexts. A comprehensive list of the units offered in Year 7 and 8, in each of the nine Key Learning Areas, is available here in the Year 7 and 8 Curriculum Overview.

Aspire9 Program

2023 marks the fifth year of the Aspire9 Program at Padua College. A dedicated Year 9 Centre on each campus provides a learning environment that is supportive and tailored to the needs of adolescents.

The aims of the Padua College Aspire9 program are to:

• Educate the whole person.
• Build strong relationships that enhance a positive and supportive learning environment.
• Develop self-aware learners who are active in the community and the wider world.
• Foster a range of 21st Century skills including innovation, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity.
• Provide an inclusive program that engages and extends all students.

The Year 9 Curriculum consists of the following core subjects: myLife, English, Numeracy, Science, Health & PE, Geography and History, plus 6 semester-based electives (three in Semester One, and three in Semester Two).

Students are encouraged to select a minimum of one Arts subject and one Technology subject in either Year 9 or Year 10. Please note, this does not apply to students studying two semesters of Italian or French. Whilst many units are offered for selection, subjects will only run if there are enough to form a viable class. In some classes, there will be a limit on numbers due to staffing and resources.

A key component of our Aspire9 Program is the dedicated learning blocks or Focus Weeks. Students rotate through two week-long units, specifically aimed at developing a range of skills and providing relevant learning experiences.

In addition to this, students spend one day a fortnight participating in Aspire9 experiential learning days. In 2023, our Aspire9 days will provide opportunities for students to explore areas that they are passionate about through intensive elective units.

Mark De Fazio
Director of Aspire9

For comprehensive information on subjects and electives available, please download the Year 9 Curriculum Handbook here:

Year 9 Camp Guides

For comprehensive information on Year 9 Camps, please download the Selection Booklets here:

Curriculum Year 10

Students come together at the beginning of Year 10 from the Padua College Tyabb, Rosebud and Mornington Campuses to start their first year at the Year 10-12 Senior Campus.

Located on the Mornington site, the Year 10-12 Senior Campus allows our Year 10 students the flexibility to undertake a wide variety of elective subjects, or to begin their VCE pathway through undertaking a Unit 1/2 Accelerated Subject. The Year 10 course consists of a number of Core and Elective subjects, as outlined below.

Core Subjects

Religion

English

Mathematics (three levels available)

Commerce

Science (General Science or a Year 10 Specialist Science)

Humanities (at least one History or Geography subject)

Electives

A wide variety of electives is available from the faculties of English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Health and PE.

In addition to the subjects listed above, students also have the ability to undertake the following:

Applied Learning Program

This is a specialised program designed to allow students to investigate and experience a variety of work industries and to determine whether VCE or VCAL is the right senior pathway option for their interests.

VET Course

Vocation Education and Training (VET) courses are nationally accredited courses in a variety of industries that are hands on and practical in nature. VET courses can contribute towards a student’s future VCE or VCAL certificate.

Unit 1/2 VCE Accelerated Subject

Subject to meeting eligibility requirements, Year 10 students may undertake one Unit 1/2 (Year 11) subject as part of their course, which will contribute to their VCE ATAR score.

For comprehensive information on subjects, electives and courses available, please download the Year 10 Curriculum Handbook here.

Curriculum Year 11-12 VCE

Padua College is proud of its facilities, excellent teachers and support staff members who are committed to helping the students reach their goals. The College offers wonderful opportunities, and our VCE students have a wealth of subjects from which to select. Year 12 VCE students usually undertake five Year 12 subjects plus one unit of Religious Education (RE) while our Year 11 VCE students usually undertake six Year 11 subjects and one unit of RE.

The Year 11 and 12 VCE and VCAL Curriculum Handbook (see link below) provides you with general VCE information; plus a full description of each subject offered at Padua College at this level and our subject selection processes.

Year 11 - 12 Curriculum Guide, Calendars & Policies

For comprehensive information on subjects, electives and courses available, please download the Year 11-12 Curriculum Handbook here.

Official VCE Exam Timetable

Please see the latest information, which outlines exam dates for 2023:
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/Key-dates/Pages/VCE-exam-timetable.aspx

For useful information regarding length of exams, materials permitted, content covered and past exams please visit:
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/exams/timetable.aspx

Curriculum Year 11-12 VCE VM

From 2023, VCAL will begin transitioning into the Victorian Certificate of Education - Vocational Major (VCE VM) pathway. This option prepares students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (via non-ATAR pathways) or directly into the workforce.

The VCE Vocational Major (VM) is a vocational and applied learning program and is designed to be completed over a minimum of 2 years. Learning in the VCE VM happens through practical activities and projects delivered in a ‘real world’ contexts. The VCE VM Curriculum is developed around student interests and learning is constantly related back to workplace and employability skills. It gives students greater choice and flexibility to pursue their strengths and interests and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life.

The purpose of the VCE VM is to provide students with the best opportunity to achieve their personal goals and aspirations in a rapidly changing world by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, values, and capabilities to be active and informed citizens, lifelong learners, and confident and creative individuals (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), n.d.)

Selection Process for the 2023 VCE VM program

• Students must select the VCE VM option and choose a VET program when completing their 2023 online course selection.
• Students applying for the VCE VM program must attend a VCE VM selection interview to assess their suitability for VCE VM pathway at the end of Term 3, 2022. Students who are unsure about VCE VM as an option can apply to do VCE but still request a VCE VM interview online.

VET Programs

The VET programs are nationally recognised vocational certificate programs that allow students to include vocational studies within their Year 10, VCE or VCAL Certificate.

VET programs may be undertaken in a variety of settings and offer our students the opportunity to:

• Combine general and vocational studies
• Explore career options and pathways
• Undertake Structured Workplace Learning (SWL)
• Undertake applied learning in an adult learning environment
• Gain a nationally recognised qualification that contributes to the VCE or VCAL
• Develop skills that will equip them for the workforce

The College will endeavor to organise student access to a VET course, subject to student interest and availabilities at the specific institutions. Please note that there are additional costs involved for all VET courses.

Further information on VET Courses can be found in the Year 11-12 Curriculum Guide.

Hands on Learning Program

Hands on Learning (HoL) is an innovative education program that caters to the different ways that young people learn.

Artisan teachers work collaboratively with small groups of students on authentic building projects that provide a platform for students to engage, grow in confidence and achieve success at school.

HoL fosters strong, long-term relationships that help young people develop the skills and abilities they need to succeed in work and life, such as collaboration, problem-solving, communication, resilience, and empathy.