Senior School

Curriculum with a difference

Designed to meet the needs of students seeking an education focused on academic success, the curriculum is based on the Victorian Curriculum standards and, within individual classrooms, there is an emphasis on differentiation to meet the individual needs of the students so they can each achieve their full learning potential.

Our curriculum provides the opportunity for all our students to reach their full potential. The curriculum prioritises literacy and numeracy and is influenced by some of the latest research and best practices in Learning and Teaching and by the Victorian Department of Education’s policies on Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting.

Professional Learning is important at Blackburn High School. Staff participate in a continuous Professional Learning Program that ensures their professional practice is always current and they are engaged in the changing methodologies in teaching and learning.

Blackburn High School has five periods a day. Each period is 58 minutes. Students learn in a two-week cycle and the day begins with House Mentor Group from 8:35am to 8.55am.

Year 10

Year 10 students begin a specialist program, selecting from a wide range of subjects. Students have the opportunity for acceleration through early enrolment in a VCE subject. In Year 10 students select subjects to build up a VCE program that will lead to varied pathways: University, TAFE or the workforce. English, Mathematics and a Science subject are compulsory at Year 10 level.

Read the Year 10 Course Selection Handbook Here

Year 11 & 12

At VCE level Blackburn High School offers a wide range of studies in the areas of English, Arts, Humanities, Languages Other Than English, Mathematics, Physical Education and Health, Music, Science and Technology.

SCHOOL-ASSESSED COURSEWORK ABSENCES

If a student is absent for any reason (illness, sport, excursion, etc) and this results in not completing a VCE SAC (School-assessed coursework) then the following procedure must occur:

•Students must complete the SAC in the first lesson after the absence
•If the absence is for a non-school based reason (e.g. illness), for students to receive a mark, they must produce appropriate documentation, for example, medical, dentist, specialist, etc certificate. No written notes will be accepted.
•Statutory declarations can only be used if approved by the principal or delegate, and under exceptional circumstances.
•Appropriate documentation should be handed directly to the House office on the first day they return to school. If appropriate documentation is not produced within a week of the student’s return to school their absence will not be approved.
•If a student does not have the appropriate documentation, then they can only receive a satisfactory (S) or non-satisfactory (N) result. For Unit 3-4 subjects, this will have a significant effect on their study score.
•It is the student’s responsibility to talk to their classroom teacher to organise to complete the SAC on the day they return

Read the VCE Course Selection Handbook Here