Curriculum, Teaching and Learning

Gippsland schools offer curriculum choices to students based on the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) in years Prep – 10 and the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and Vocation Education and Training (VET) in the post compulsory years.

VELS
The Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) outline what is crucial for all students to learn from Prep to Year 10. Schools use the Standards to plan their teaching and learning programs, including assessment and reporting of student progress. Further information on the VELS is available on the VELS website. (http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/essential/index.html )

Post Compulsory Education
Students in the post compulsory years can structure courses from a range of options. These include the VCE, VCAL or vocational education and training (VET) units. The VCE is usually completed in Years 11 and 12, but can be started in Year 10. VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) is a hands-on option for Years 11 and 12 students, offering practical work-related experience and learning. Like the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), VCAL is an accredited secondary certificate. Gippsland secondary schools offer a wide range of VCE subjects to meet the diverse needs of students in the region and have been leaders in the state wide implementation of VCAL.

For more information about VCE and VCAL see the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s website.
VCE - www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce
VCAL - www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/VCAL
 

Teaching and learning support in Gippsland

The Gippsland Region has in place a range of initiatives to support schools in continuously improving the quality of teaching and learning. All initiatives are aligned with the Department’s Blueprint for Government Schools. Key initiatives include:

  • Provision of professional learning programs for school leaders, teachers and support staff. See: Professional Learning.
  • The Gippsland Literacy Strategy which provides a systematic approach to improving teaching and learning of literacy in Gippsland schools. See: Literacy.
  • Reading Recovery tutors who support schools in training of Reading Recovery teachers and implementation of Reading Recovery. See: Reading Recovery.
  • The post compulsory strategy which provides support to teachers in the planning and delivery of the VCE and VCAL. See: Post Compulsory Education and Pathways.
  • The Schools for Innovation and Excellence (SIE) coaching initiative which utilises coaches in schools to improve teaching and learning in the areas of Maths, Science and Literacy.
  • The Ultranet coaches initiative. The first stage of implementation of the Ultranet in Gippsland schools will see coaches working with schools across Gippsland to build the readiness of schools for implementation of the Ultranet in 2009 and 2010.
  • Through the provision of project officers to support student learning in a variety of areas including VELS implementation, assessment and reporting, Languages other than English, Literacy and Numeracy.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development provides a range of resources to support schools and teachers in improving teaching and learning. These resources cover areas such as curriculum planning, VELS implementation, the Principles of Learning and Teaching, Assessment and reporting and planning to support the needs of individual students. These resources can be accessed from the Department’s Student Learning webpage. (http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/default.htm)