Senior School
Year 10 - Year 12
Senior School Overview
Our goal is to provide every student with the skills to lead a purposeful and fulfilling life by nurturing their curiosity and intellectual development and encouraging deep inquiry and hard work over time. We empower every student to become compassionate, ethical and intellectual leaders of tomorrow. With the guidance of our exemplary educators and the advantage of small class sizes, they develop confidence, capability and self-worth, assets that serve them well beyond their senior years.
Head of Senior School
Year 10 Core Subjects
- English
- History
- Futures (study skills and career planning)
- Mathematics
- Physical Education
- Religion, Philosophy and Ethics
- Science
Year 10 Semester-long elective subjects
- Agriculture and Horticulture Studies
- Art
- Biology
- Chinese (two semesters)
- Commerce
- Computing: Binary Investigators
- Dance
- Drama
- French (two semesters)
- Latin (two semesters)
- Music
- Physics
- Product Design (Fashion)
- Product Design (wood)
- Psychology
- Sports Science
- Systems Technology
- Visual Communication and Design
Accelerated VCE Pathways
VCE Unit 1 & 2 (Accelerated VCE Pathways)
- VCE Agriculture and Horticulture Studies
- VCE Art Making and Exhibiting
- VCE Business Management
- VCE Computing
- VCE Dance
- VCE Environmental Studies
- VCE Geography
- VCE Health and Human Development
- VCE History
- VCE Media
- VCE Music
- VCE Outdoor Education
- VCE Physical Education
- VCE Politics
- VCE Product Design (Fashion)
- VCE Product Design (Wood)
- VCE Psychology
- VCE Theatre Studies
- VCE Systems Engineering
- VCE VET Sound Production (Cert III)
- VET – Sport and Recreation (Cert III)
- Students may elect to study a language through Distance Education with the Victorian School of Languages (consultation is required before enrolling in any external study)
Vocational Major Accelerated Pathway
Year 10 VCE and VET units 1 & 2 (Vocational Major Accelerated Pathway)
- VET Agriculture Studies (Cert II)
- VCE VET Sound Production (Cert III)
- VET – Sport and Recreation (Cert III)
- VCE VM Personal Development Skills
Years 11 and 12 VCE and VCE Vocational Major
The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the certificate that the majority of students in Victoria receive on satisfactory completion of their secondary education. The VCE or VCE Vocational Major provides diverse pathways to further study or training at university or TAFE and to employment. It requires students to complete 16 VCE units. These units are divided into four different levels, Units 1-4. Units 1-2 are usually completed at Year 11 and Units 3-4 are usually completed at Year 12.
ENGLISH
- VCE English
- VCE English as an Additional Language
- VCE English Language
- VCE Literature
MATHEMATICS
- VCE General Mathematics
- VCE Mathematical Methods
- VCE Specialist Mathematics
SCIENCE
- VCE Agriculture
- VCE Biology
- VCE Chemistry
- VCE Psychology
- VCE Physics
- VCE Environmental Science
HUMANITIES
- VCE Geography
- VCE Global Politics
- VCE History (Revolutions)
- VCE Philosophy
COMMERCE
- VCE Accounting
- VCE Business Studies
- VCE Economics
- VCE Legal Studies
PERFORMING ARTS
- VCE Dance
- VCE Theatre Studies
- VCE Music
- VCE/VET Sound Production
- VCE/VET Music Performance
ART AND DESIGN
- VCE Creative Practice
- VCE Making and Exhibiting
- VCE Product Design
- VCE Systems Engineering
- VCE Visual Communication and Design
PE AND HEALTH
- VCE Health and Human Development
- VCE Physical Education
- VCE Outdoor Education
- VCE/VET Sport and Recreation
LANGUAGES
- VCE French
- VCE Latin
- VCE Chinese
- VCE language offering through the Victorian School of Languages
VOCATIONAL MAJOR
- VCE Literacy
- VCE Numeracy
- VCE Personal Development Skills
- VCE Work Related Skills
Curriculum
Ballarat Grammar provides a broad VCE curriculum that suits all students' abilities, interests and needs. We offer one of the most comprehensive and diverse lists of VCE choices in regional Victoria, with 37 subjects currently available.
Wellbeing
Wellbeing underpins our whole teaching and learning framework. We continually monitor student wellbeing and academic progress against the Australian Wellbeing Framework and implement social/emotional literacy programs that are age-appropriate and meet our students at their stage of need.
In Years 10-12, students are supported by two Co-Heads of Year, who guide students and support families in the holistic education of their child. During the day, students are part of a CREW (Community, Relationships, Engagement and Wellbeing) and supported by a CREW Mentor. The skills and mindsets that promote wellbeing are taught explicitly within our CREW sessions, as students work collaboratively to build community, develop relationships, increase engagement and foster their and others’ wellbeing.
Pathways
Ballarat Grammar students achieve exceptional academic results. For some of our students, striving for – and achieving – an exceptional ATAR is an important part of their pathway to their future. For others, an outstanding ATAR is not as essential to achieving their higher education goals.
Regardless of their choice, we support our Year 12 students to leave a positive legacy. A significant feature of our curriculum is the opportunity for students to tailor their learning through several VCE pathways. They can also pursue an alternative path through the VCE Vocational Major (VM) Program.
Career Counselling
What sets our Careers Program apart is our strong focus on creating tailored, individual pathways for every student. A dedicated, full-time team of careers practitioners support students to explore a wide range of post-school options, leveraging strong connections with industry, employers, universities and other tertiary organisations.
Equal importance is given to traditional university pathways and alternative options such as apprenticeships, TAFE courses and vocational training. Careers practitioners help students navigate complex application processes, discover opportunities they may not have realised were available, and make informed decisions aligned with their strengths, interests and long-term goals.
The Program also plays a key role in student wellbeing and engagement. For students who are not enjoying school, careers staff work closely with them to identify their passions and help them stay engaged by connecting learning to meaningful future pathways.
Acknowledgement of Country
Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, live and work, the Wadawurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Commitment to Child Safety
Ballarat Grammar maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse and actively implements measures to identify and manage any risks of harm to students within our school environment. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people are central and fundamental responsibilities of the School. We are firmly committed to fostering a child-safe culture that provides an environment where students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives. Ballarat Grammar values diversity and strictly prohibits any racist or discriminatory practices. All members of our school community share the responsibility to care for children and young people by promptly raising any concerns regarding their safety, promoting their wellbeing, and protecting them from all forms of harm or abuse.
