Deputy Principal Senior Secondary – Faith Johnson
At Western Cape College, our goals in Senior School are clear and simple. We endeavour to ensure every student builds the skills, knowledge and academic record to leave our College firmly on a career pathway, whether that be directly into employment, pursuing Vocational Education and Training (VET) or on a formal university pathway.
Under the new senior curriculum system introduced in 2019, students can still choose from lots of subjects and courses that suit their work and study goals. There are three main types of senior subject syllabuses - General, Applied and Certificate Courses.
- General subjects are suited to students who are interested in pathways beyond senior secondary schooling that lead primarily to university studies and to pathways for vocational education and training and work.
- Applied subjects are suited to students who are primarily interested in pathways beyond senior secondary schooling that lead to vocational education and training or work.
- Vocational education and training (VET) provides accredited job related training and related technical skills. Qualifications range from certificate II to certificate IV, and diploma and advanced diploma.
In Year 10, students make important decisions about their senior secondary schooling, education training and career goals. Senior schooling staff work with students and their parents/carers to develop a senior education and training plan (SET plan). In this process, senior school staff support students to structure their learning in Years 11 and 12 around their abilities, interests and ambitions. When designing a course of study students may choose a combination of general subjects, applied subjects and certificate courses.
General subjects contribute towards an ATAR and a university pathway. To qualify for an ATAR, students may select five general subjects, or four general subjects plus one applied subject or one Certificate III course.