Learning in harmony
Curriculum
secondary
Heritage College provides an approved program of education for Secondary students from Years 7 to 12. The academic program that is presented by the College is carefully selected and modified as to remain in harmony with our philosophy and in line with Australian Curriculum requirements.
Heritage curriculum
The subjects for Years 7 to 10 follows the guideline provided in the Australian Curriculum and is offered as follows:
- Encounter (Bible Curriculum)
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- SOSE (History and Geography)
- Physical Education and Health
- The Arts: Music, Digital Media and Visual Arts (2D and 3D)
- Technology: Food and Nutrition, Digital Technology, Design and Technology (Wood) and Systems and Technology (Metal)
A specialised transition program begins in Year 7 and continues into Year 8 while the Year 9 students engage with a program of self-discovery known as ‘Learning for Life’.
The curriculum for Years 11 and 12 is organised into two learning pathways – the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
Designed to prepare your children
VCAL is designed to prepare students for entry to the workforce and for TAFE courses and includes the following subjects:
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Work Related Skills
- Personal Development
- Chosen TAFE course of Study
- Work Experience
VCE is the pathway designed to prepare students university entrance and sees the following subjects offered each year:
- Religion and Society (Year 12)
- English
- General Mathematics
- Mathematics Methods
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Psychology
- Human Health and Development
- Modern History: Empires and Revolutions
- Business Management
- Media Studies
- Visual Art
Sports Program
All students, as part of a balanced program, are expected to participate in sport. Heritage College is a member of the South Eastern Independent School Sports Association (SEISS) and competes in its carnivals and round robin competitions. Students are required to have correct uniform for PE classes and sport. If a student is unable to wear the required uniform, a note from home is necessary. To participate in the SEISS program, correct uniform is compulsory or a forfeit for the team occurs.
Houses
There are four Heritage College Houses; Jackson, Court, Landy and Elliott. These houses compete in a variety of inter-house competitions and carry out activities that align with our College values of Excellence, Resilience, Respect and Service.
Our four houses are named for iconic Australians, who have also proven themselves to be upstanding citizens. They are Court – named for Margaret Court, Elliott – named for Herb Elliott, Jackson – named for Marjory Jackson and Landy – named for John Landy.
Textbooks
Year 7-12 text books are available online through JacPlus. Please see the Portal website or contact the College office for further details.
Excursions and Camps
Heritage College places a high emphasis on actively engaging students in education which is relevant and useful in everyday living. Throughout the year various subject teachers will require their students to be involved in day excursions relevant to the topic being studied. These field trips are usually conducted during normal school hours. Parents will be notified via a permission slip and newsletter at the relevant times. Read more about the Excursions and Camps offered at Secondary level.
Homework
To supplement their work at school, students will be required to do homework. Even if homework is not set by teachers, students and parents should set aside a time and place in the home to become fluent in their work. Below are some guidelines regarding the approximate allocation for homework for each year level:
- Years 7-8: Up to 1 hour per week night
- Years 9-10: Up to 1.5 hours per week night
- Year 11-12: Up to and over 2 hours per week night
(Note: These suggested times are a guide only and may vary according to the changing nature of work output required during the school year as well as the progress each student is making in their own learning.)
I applied for the scholarship because I wanted... the opportunity to have a mentor to help me set personal and academic goals.
Formal Assessments
NAPLAN
All secondary students in Years 7 and 9 participate in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing in May.
UNSW ICAS COMPETITION
Selected students have the option of participating in the various ICAS subject competitions.
Examinations
At the end of each semester, Secondary students will sit examinations. Students who miss formal examinations due to illness or a serious intervening event, will have their semester marks averaged for the purposes of producing a semester grade. Students absent from examinations for reasons other than these will receive a mark of zero for the examinations they have missed.
Reports
Parent/Teacher Interviews are scheduled for the end of Term 1. All parents or guardians are requested to attend these interviews.
A formal Semester Report is issued after Terms 2 and 4. The Semester 2 report, which is the final report for the year, is distributed during the last week of school for the year, usually at our Presentation Evenings.
Parents are encouraged to communicate with the relevant class teachers whenever they desire additional information on the progress of their children. Please feel free to email the class teacher, or contact the Office to make an appointment.