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At Beechworth Secondary College we run a wide variety of programs for students that link with the Victorian Curriculum 7-10 and extend to senior offerings that include VCE, VCAL and VET options. In 2023 this will be the Victorian Pathways Certificate and VCE Vocational Major as part of the Senior School reforms.
Year 7 – 10 Learning Areas
English: 3 periods per week
Our college is committed to working with all students to develop their literacy and English skills, so that they can communicate more effectively in all aspects of their lives. Our school wide focus is on improving students’ writing and we tackle this in English classes as well as in the wider curriculum. We believe all students can learn and grow, and it is our job to help them develop and improve these skills. We use a range of strategies to improve writing stamina, writing structure and vocabulary. You can support your child in their writing development by asking to read what they are writing at school in any of their classes; having conversations about their writing, including what they find tricky; and by encouraging and supporting them to read as much, and as often, as possible.
Humanities: 2 periods per week
Humanities is the study of how humans interact with one another and with the natural world. Humanities at Beechworth Secondary College explores the four disciplines of Business and Economics, Civics and Citizenship, Geography and History. Each discipline is broken into two units per year and reflects the requirements of the Victorian Humanities curriculum. Each discipline emphasises the importance of learning and practising the skills students need to become independent, life long learners and links to pathways studies at VCE and VET level. Our current senior school offerings for the Humanities include: VCE Business Management, VCE Accounting, VCE Geography, VCE History and VCE Legal Studies.
Humanities offers a rich and diverse curriculum. Students learn vital skills and are exposed to a wide range of content, facts and information. In Years 7-10, students have two Humanities lessons per week. At VCE this increases to three lessons per week. Learning experiences in Humanities are planned carefully and collaboratively so that lessons are accessible to all. There are many opportunities for discussions, group work, interactive learning, role plays, field work, excursions, investigation, personal reflection, empathy, research and enquiry which means this is a subject that learners of all abilities enjoy.
Mathematics: 3 periods per week.
Developing strong numeracy skills in Mathematics is critical for all our students and our mathematics teachers use a range of strategies to engage students no matter their point of need. Our teachers and students use online programs such as Essential Assessment for pre and post testing of skills and knowledge as well as Education Perfect for class based instruction and practical learning activities.
Our teachers make links to real world applications of mathematics and connections to other subject areas and provide students with opportunities to participate in national mathematics competitions and challenges.
Lunch time maths support sessions are also available each week.
We offer a full range of mathematics subjects at senior level, including VCE Mathematical Methods, VCE General Mathematics, VCE Further Mathematics, and VCAL Numeracy or VCE Foundation Mathematics (cohort dependent). VCE Specialist Mathematics is supported for interested students.
Beechworth Secondary College is a front runner with the use of tertiary level mathematics software. All students in senior mathematics use Wolfram Mathematica to complete VCE coursework.
Science: 2 periods per week.
The sciences support our students to regularly engage in analytical and scientific thinking and problem solving. Our college now has three new, state of the art, science laboratories that all students from Year 7 – 12 access for science lessons.
Our Science program focuses on helping students to develop skills in both the applied and theoretical components of the study. Year 7 – 10 Science explores Earth and space sciences, Biological sciences, Chemical sciences and Physical sciences. Through these areas of investigation, students are able to build their science inquiry skills and understand how sciences contribute to the development and understanding of our world.
Our students regularly access outreach science centres and programs in an effort to link classroom instruction to real world scientific work. At senior school, we offer the full range of VCE Science subjects, including VCE Chemistry, VCE Biology, VCE Physics, VCE Psychology, VCE Environmental Sciences and VCE Agriculture and Horticulture.
Our college has invested heavily in STEM robotics and emerging technologies. Technology resource investments include a class set of VEX Robotics, Virtual Reality hardware and software, 3D printing and modelling hardware and software, laser cutter and CNC router.
This equipment is accessed within the normal technologies and engineering curriculum and also during lunchtime clubs. Students learn the basics of coding robots in Year 7 by using Scratch and other block based coding languages.
STEM skills are developed in Year 7 Digital Technologies, Year 8 Materials Technologies, Year 9/10 3D Art and Design, Year 9/10 STEM, Year 9/10 Engineering and Year 9/10 Digital Technologies. Senior school pathways include VCE Systems Technologies, VCE Applied Computing and VET Engineering.
Health: 1 period per week Physical Education: 2 periods per week
Health and Physical Education is a compulsory subject for all students from Year 7-10, with pathways through to VCE Unit 1-4 Physical Education and Health and Human Development.
Students are required to change into compulsory school PE uniform for each practical class, including a SunSmart hat and drink bottle in Terms 1 and 4. In lessons, students explore movement patterns and skills and apply them to a wide range of sports and physical activity concepts.
There is a compulsory theory and practical component to the subject these include: Components of fitness, body systems, individualised training programs and peer coaching.
Health curriculum themes include Dimensions of Health, Respectful Relationships, Personal Health & Wellbeing, and Community Health. In 2023, students will have access to our newly refurbished gymnasium. They currently access a quality external basketball court, multi-purpose court and extensive grounds, playing fields and community facilities.
The Arts: 2 periods per week
Technology: 2 periods per week
We have a thriving Arts and Technologies department where students are able to engage with a team of passionate, industry experienced teachers to explore their creativity and problem solving skills.
In Year 7 and 8, students rotate through visual and performing arts disciplines as well as Design and Technologies and Digital Technologies. In Year 9 and 10, students are given the option of choosing from of a range of specialised electives.
Year 7 – one semester of each: Visual Art, Wood Technology, Music, Digital Technology
Year 8 – one semester of each: Visual Communication, Food Technology, Media, Materials Technology
Year 9/10 Elective options include: Visual Arts, Visual Communication, Inquiry by Design, 3D Art and Design, Digital Technologies, STEM, Woodwork, Engineering, Food Technology, Outdoor Education, Music, Creative Enterprise and Media.
There are a variety of senior pathways options in the Arts and Technologies for students wishing to pursue creative or design fields. Our current senior school offerings include VCE Art: Creative Practice, VCE Visual Communication Design, VCE VET Music Industry Studies, VCE Systems Engineering, VCE Food Studies, VET Engineering, VET Furniture Making Pathways. Additional VET and VCE subjects are offered at local TAFE providers and Virtual School Victoria.
Classroom Music is offered at Beechworth Secondary College as a compulsory subject in Year 7 and a specialist elective subject from Year 9 through to Year 12. At Year 7, Music introduces students to basic music theory and music performance skills that teach students to play and perform on instruments.
At Year 9, students learn to write and compose their own music using music editing software. The produce their compositions and recordings using technology in contemporary styles such as dance music, hip-hop, dub and other forms of electronic music. Students also have the opportunity to further develop their music performance skills through forming a band and developing a repertoire of songs for live performance.
Music is extended into senior school through VET Music. Students have the opportunity to undertake Certificate III Music (Performance). Through this course they develop music industry knowledge and skills around performance, music editing and mixing, copyright, industry work pathways, and the use of sound production equipment.
Beechworth Secondary College offers students the opportunity to undertake lessons in a range of contemporary popular instruments through the school’s Instrumental Music program. We have two dedicated music instructors that offer lessons on the following instruments:
Lessons are conducted weekly in 30-minute blocks during class time over a rotational timetable, to ensure equity of absence across classes.
The Instrumental Music program also offers students the opportunity to join band and ensemble groups. These groups perform music in the school and the wider community.
For more information, contact Alex O’Connor.
French: 2 periods per week
We are passionate about providing quality additional language instruction at Beechworth Secondary College and we are proud of our work with our key feeder primary schools to provide consistent language offerings to assist with the transition to secondary school.
We currently offer French language education to students in Year 7 – 10. Students with particular additional language skills or native language background may access alternative languages via the VSL – Victorian School of Languages.
By studying a language other than English, students more deeply develop skills in the four areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing as well as develop their knowledge of a different culture, broadening cultural and social perspectives.
Beechworth Secondary College acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which our school
is located and where we meet and learn. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Beechworth Secondary College is committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
Home Group: 9:00 – 9:14
Period 1: 9:19 – 10:33
Recess: 10:33 – 10:53
Period 2: 10:53 – 12:07
Period 3: 12:12 – 1:26
Lunch: 1:26 – 2:11
Period 4: 2:11 – 3:25