Years 9 to 10
In Year 9 students are beginning to see their future as adults. They are experiencing profound physical, social, emotional and intellectual development changes. Parents and teachers often become less important models, while peers become more important.
Added responsibility and expectation can be a time of adventure, learning and growth. It can also be a time of fear, loss of confidence and insecurity. The rites of passage from childhood to adulthood are becoming more blurred, as adolescents mature physically at younger ages and enter the adult world of work and family at older ages.
Students in this stage often pass the age of compulsory attendance at school. They have a growing interest in the pathways they intend to pursue, and are increasingly aware of the world outside school. For some, this means preparation for work or work-specific training, and for others it means preparation for post-compulsory schooling on the way to a career.
Curriculum and assessment
The curriculum at this stage of development emphasises activities allowing students to experience things beyond their immediate surroundings and community. Students are required to ask more developed and focused questions as well as investigate a variety of issues. In addition, the curriculum assists students as they explore and identify possible pathways for their future learning. Students are encouraged to participate in situations and problems that relate to real life, and to work with their local community and use other resources outside their school.
Victorian Essential Learning Standards - developing pathways (Years 9 to 10)
The Victorian Essential Learning Standards describe what students are expected to know and be able to do at this level, and how well they should know and be able to do it.
Level 6 (approximately Years 9-10)
The Standards enable schools to build a curriculum that includes each of the disciplines; a strong focus on developing the full range of interdisciplinary and physical, personal and social knowledge, skills and behaviours; and the capacity for students to pursue pathway-related studies that meet their needs and connect with programs the school provides in Years 11 to 12.
For more information, see: Stages of Learning (http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/stages)
Work experience
All students who attend secondary schools may complete one or two weeks of work experience. This is normally offered in Years 9 and 10, but is not restricted to these years.
Students on work experience placements gain valuable first-hand knowledge of work that interests them, and improve their communication and organisational skills. Employers benefit through building closer relationships with schools and the local community.
For more information, see: Work Experience
Useful student resources
Secondary Students can search websites selected by the Education Channel on the Education Channel secondary students resources page
More information
For more information, you can contact the school, see: Schools Online (http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/schoolsonline) or Region