Curriculum

Each School's web site will detail its Curriculum. These offerings will indicate whether the School has an academic focus, a practical focus or it may try to do both. Usually School's start giving students more choice of subjects from Year 9 onward.

Some Schools will have a special focus - Sport, Art, Music, etc - see Special Programs.

The number of students at each year level, combined with the focus of the School (academic or practical) will determine the breadth of subjects that can be offered. A School with 100 - Year 9 students wont be able to offer the breadth of choice that a School with 200 - Year 9's can offer. So note the trend in student numbers at the School. The myschool.edu.au web site will have the number of students enrolled at the School.

At senior levels most Schools will offer a range of VCE subjects. Some School's will also offer a range of  VET (Vocational Educational and Training) courses like Building, Electronics, Plumbing, Dance, Hairdressing, Sport and Recreation, etc. These courses are expensive to run, so not all School's will offer them. Some Schools will organize timetables so that students can access VET courses at another institution, usually a TAFE college. Note that many VET courses can also be used as VCE subjects, e.g., Sport and Recreation. The myschool.edu.au web site will show the number of student enrolled in a VET subject.

I think that many students undervalue VET courses and there is quite a lot of evidence that the practical skills that VET courses develop are highly valued in the work place - see Richard Teese - Undemocratic Schooling or watch Andreas Schleicher at TEDx -skip to 19 mins.

If you have an academic focus another important aspect to note is whether the School allows students at Year 9 or 10 to access Year 11 subjects. There is quite an advantage for capable students to complete  one or two Year 11 subjects before getting to Year 11. This ultimately reduces their workload and stress in Year 12.