Our curriculum philosophy at Years 9 and 10 is one of guided choice, with increasing room for challenge.

Coupled with an increasing number of VCE options at Year 10 level and the Beyond Boundaries program there is plenty of scope for individual choice and enrichment.

Students are able to choose subjects as well as choose pathways within subjects but they are also required to choose widely, to complete subjects from a range of areas and to keep all options open. These aren't years of pure specialization but years when students are given opportunities to test themselves, to find out what really excites them and to open their eyes to a broad range of experiences.

At Toorak College we place a significant emphasis on consolidating skills and acquiring knowledge that will ready the students for future learning. All Year 9 students study a core program of English, Mathematics, Science, Personal and Physical Education, Civics and Citizenship, Financial Literacy, Australian History, Geography and at least one LOTE (German or Japanese) for a semester.

Students choose from a range of learning options including: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, the Sciences and Food Technology.

• Year 9 students will also have the opportunity to engage in week long special learning experiences in each term.
• In Year 10 a core and elective approach offers a great deal of choice in student subject selections.
• The core programs are year-long, the electives are most often semester or units.
• The core subjects undertaken all year are English, ESL, Mathematics and Physical Education.
• The semester length options that may be chosen from are: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Accounting, Economics, Legal Studies, Photography, Art, Visual Communication and Design, Painting and Drawing, German, Japanese, Food Technology, Information Technology and Design and Technology (Textiles) and Exploring English.
• A growing number of single or double unit VCE studies are also offered such as VCE Geography, Philosophy, Drama, Dance, Physical Education and Music Performance and Health and Human Development. Students in Year 10 may undertake up to four units of VCE. A growing number of Year 10 students also undertake a VCE TAFE module under the VET program.
• Year 10 is regarded as transition year from compulsory and common curriculum to the more specialised pathways that students plan in the two-year VCE program offering students opportunities to undertake a wide variety of programs.
• Year 10 students will also be exposed to a wide variety of expert speakers and presenters who will raise issues with the students that are relevant to them at this stage in their school life.

Downloads:

Year 7-9 Learning Program Guide (pdf 756k)

Year 10-12 Learning Program Guide (pdf 801k)

Click here for more information about Senior School Choices.