VCAL

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning

VCAL is an alternative educational certificate to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and is a recognised senior secondary qualification.

It gives students a practical, work-related experience,

as well as literacy and numeracy skills and the opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work. Students who do the VCAL are likely to be interested in going on to further training at a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institute or university (Cert IV or Diploma level), starting an apprenticeship, or getting a job after completing school.

Students who complete the VCAL at Mentone Grammar

are not eligible to receive an ATAR. At Intermediate level (aligned with Year 11), the focus is on the development of knowledge and employability skills that lead to independent learning, confidence and a higher level of transferable skills. At Senior level (aligned with Year 12) students integrate and apply a range of knowledge and skills to problem-solving and abstract contexts in a more independent manner.

The VCAL’s flexibility ensures students undertake

a study program that suits their interests and learning needs. Fully accredited modules and units are selected from the following four compulsory strands:

LITERACY & NUMERACY

Literacy in VCAL aims to develop the reading and writing skills of students through tasks of a practical or personally relevant nature. For example, students may look at the specific language and layout of business documents or analyse topical issues through comparing news sites with social media feeds. Intermediate Literacy: Students complete VCE Foundation English Units 1 and 2 for the Literacy component of their VCAL program. Foundation English enables students to improve their skills in comprehending and responding to a variety of texts, and to enhance their overall communication skills. In Unit 1, students focus on developing language and communication skills, primarily through the study of a variety of texts. They develop communication skills in order to listen, speak, read and write effectively in academic, workplace and social contexts. In Unit 2, students focus on the structures and features of written language in both handwritten and digital texts and create their own workrelated texts. Senior Literacy: The purpose of this unit is to enable students to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes to read and write complex texts. The texts will deal with general situations and include some abstract concepts or technical details. Students produce texts that incorporate a range of ideas, information, beliefs or processes and have control of the language devices appropriate to the type of text. In reading, students identify the views shaping the text and the devices used to present that view and express an opinion on the effectiveness and content of the text. An oral communication unit complements their Literacy skills development. Numeracy in VCAL enables students to develop everyday numeracy skills to make sense of their daily personal and public lives. Numeracy skills corresponding with these social contexts include mathematical knowledge and techniques, financial literacy, planning and organising, measurement, data, representation, design, problem-solving, and using software tools and devices. Students then develop, refine, extend and apply numeracy knowledge and skills through an investigation in a familiar industry area linked to the VET units in their VCAL program or employment. The numeracy involved focuses on Number, Measurement, Financial Numeracy, and Probability and Statistics. This unit seeks to extend students’ understanding of how numerical knowledge and skills can be transferred to an industry area. The key processes involve identifying mathematics, applying it and communicating the results. These topics are repeated at the Senior level, but require students to explore mathematics beyond its familiar and everyday use to its application in wider, less personal contexts such as newspapers and other media reports, workplace documents and procedures, and specific projects at home or in the community. Students may have the option, at both Intermediate and Senior level, to undertake VCE Further Maths as the Numeracy component of their VCAL program. Mathematical performance throughout the preceding year will be considered.

VCAL AT MENTONE GRAMMAR Continued

WORK RELATED SKILLS

To increase ‘work readiness’, the VCAL gives students the choice of undertaking either a structured work placement or part-time apprenticeship/ traineeship. They will study units and modules that will help prepare them for work, for example occupational health and safety, job interview skills, and project planning. There is an emphasis on the development of employability skills, including problem solving, communication, initiative and self-management. Students will identify the skills they need to improve and develop strategies to apply these skills in their work placements and integrated projects at school.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS

Students develop knowledge, skills and attributes that lead to self-development and community engagement through: ■ family, social, community and environmental responsibilities ■ resilience, self-esteem and efficacy ■ health and wellbeing ■ valuing participation in a democratic society

As part of their VCAL learning program, students participate in community-based projects, voluntary work and/or structured activities that will help develop their selfconfidence, organisational ability, teamwork and leadership skills and other skills important for life and work. Projects can be focused at a local level, such as coaching a team or volunteering with a community group, or involve planning, budgeting and fundraising for large scale projects or humanitarian tours.

INDUSTRY SPECIFIC SKILLS

The Intermediate VCAL learning program must include industry specific units from Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) programs or VCE VET, which the students undertake externally at TAFE or other training organisation. However, students are not required to focus on or complete any single VET certificate. The VCAL allows students to try different industries so they gain a wide range of experience and make informed pathways choices. Students complete an additional Certificate II level selected course as part of their program at school, for each year of Intermediate and Senior VCAL. Examples of external VET offerings include: Allied Health Assistance, Animal Studies, Applied Fashion, Automotive, Beauty Services, Building and Construction, Community Services, Early Childhood Education, Electrotechnology, Engineering, Events, Horticulture, Hospitality, Interior Decoration, I.T., Salon Assistant, Tourism All students attend an interview to ensure VCAL is aligned to their desired pathway. The decision to undertake the VCAL should take into account a student’s: ■ strengths and interests ■ vocational goals and envisaged pathways ■ preferred learning ■ readiness for participation in structured workplace learning or formal vocational education ■ leadership capabilities Please note, all students should select an appropriate VCE course initially, as entry into the VCAL program. If a student is accepted into the VCAL program, he/she will be removed from the VCE subjects as appropriate.

STRUCTURE

Students will attend formal classes at School three days per week, complete their VETiS course either on site or externally one day per week and undertake a day of structured workplace learning one day per week. (Note: VETiS courses will incur additional tuition fees if undertaken off campus and these will be partly subsidised by the School.)

INTEGRATED VCAL CURRICULUM

Just as work and life are not compartmentalised into ‘subject areas’ neither is the approach to meeting outcomes in the VCAL. Students will apply appropriate literacy, numeracy, personal development and workrelated skills to a variety of projects that focus on topics such as moving out of home, the travel and tourism industry, healthy lifestyles, sustainability and future finances.

THE MENTONE GRAMMAR SCHOOL DIFFERENCE

The greatest value for a student undertaking the VCAL at Mentone Grammar is the opportunity to complete their schooling in a safe and supportive environment and the positive relationships they continue to forge with their peers and teachers. The benefits of our VCAL program include: ■ individualised programs with targeted teacher support ■ strong wellbeing care, primarily through the

House system ■ access to VCE subjects ■ a wide range of real-life learning nominated experiences ■ development of transferable skills applicable to workplaces and future experience ■ creative, rigorous projects designed to enhance literacy and numeracy skills, planning and organisation, time management, teamwork and communication ■ continued participation in cocurricular activities including Sport, Cadets and the

School’s formal occasions ■ ongoing career and pathways support that continues beyond school completion ■ guidance and assistance with securing an appropriate and challenging work placement ■ engaging community projects that develop confidence, active citizenship and leadership ■ Duke of Edinburgh program.

Please note: In the event of COVID-19 restrictions, some VCAL offerings may be postponed, modified or cancelled during 2022.