As parents of children undertaking VCE, VET/VCAL no doubt you may have questions about what will happen if your child is unable to complete some of their requirements this year due to several lockdowns and continued uncertainty in how many more times we will need to move to remote learning. 

CSPV recentlhy attended a meeting with VCCA and received updates for children who are currently studying VCE.

This update is based on information provided by VCAA and relates to the following:

• General Achievement Test (GAT)
• Consideration of Educational Disadvantage (CED)
• Results release date
• VET/VCAL update

General Achievement Test (GAT)

Following the extension of the lockdown across metropolitan Melbourne VCAA continue to work with the Department of Education and Training along with the Department of Health on a rescheduled date for students to sit the GAT. The rescheduled date for the GAT is now Tuesday 5th October 2021. Further announcements of requirements for students to undertake the GAT will be provided by your respective schools. The GAT is expected to be completed by all students undertaking VCE and scored VCE/VET Unit 3/4 programs in 2021.

VCAA are aware of possible clashes with VCE exams and are working with schools on rescheduling. Please be in touch with your school to find out more about this.

Consideration of Educational Disadvantage (CED)

The process used in 2020 will be applied for students undertaking VCE and scored VCE/VET Unit 3/4 programs in 2021. Schools will continue to provide school-based assessment scores and grades according to published dates.

Schools will provide students with opportunity to let teachers know of any significant disadvantage experienced as a result of the pandemic through an optional student statement.

We encourage parents to work in partnership with the school as they assess the impact on each student consistent with guidelines they have been provided by VCAA. Once the school has assessed the case they will provide additional information for all students in all studies.

• An expected score for each school based assessment at graded assessment level - this is the score the student would have been expected to achieve if their learning program had not been significantly impacted, and
• An expected grade for each external assessment at graded assessment level - this is the grade the student would have been expected to achieve if their learning program had not been significantly impacted.

CSPV encourage you to be patient with the school and work with them to understand this process and what it means for your child. Schools are being advised regularly by VCAA and your respective diocesan education office in how to manage this process. 

VCAA are confident that continuing to apply the process used in 2020 means that all students will be treated with fairness and equity.

2021 Results release date

The Consideration of Educational Disadvantage (CED) process and the additional required analysis from VCE and VCAL results release dates is now 16th December 2021. This change has been made in consultation with VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) to ensure that students who are applying for higher education courses through VTAC will not be disadvantaged. This also ensures the 2021 results are released before the end of school term 4.

VET/VCAL update

It has been a challenging year for VCAL/VET students once again. It is the role of the school to monitor students who are at risk of not meeting the requirements of VCAL. If you have any concerns, please speak with your school VCAL/VET co-ordinator to find out if your child is at risk and how you may support them to meet their requirements.

Schools are responsible for working with RTOs to monitor current results to determine any actions that may need to be taken. 

Where required, teachers of VCAL units have been encouraged to conduct assessments remotely or where community, work or group based activities were to be part of the learning program, to develop alternative assessment activities where required.

Students undertaking Workplace Learning Recognition aligned to their VET can continue their reflections where the total workplace time is less than 80 hours and/or their training enrolment will be less than the 180 hours normally required.

Further advice will become available on the following soon:

• VCAL Special consideration
• Adjustments to VCE/VET scored assessment where a third and final task requiring practical assessment is unable to be completed
• The provision of VET unspecified credit where VCE or VCAL students in their final year are unable to complete the required hours and units of competency to satisfy the VCE or VCAL.

We encourage you to ask questions of teachers at your school related to any of these topics that are relevant to your child so you are able to support them through the final weeks of their learning this year.

Reference: Correspondence and update from VCAA CEO Stephen Gniel, received 17/8/21 and 07/09/21.

CSPV provide opportunities for parent feedback on Senior Secondary Certificate

CSPV recently attended webinars and meetings with VCAA to learn more about this reform and how this will impact students in the coming years. Earlier this year we provided the opportunity for parents to provide their feedback on the draft certificate. There will be further opportunities soon to learn more about this new reform. We hope to provide a report in our next issue of CSPV Term Update.

This is important news for parents of children in early years of secondary schooling as the new certificate will be phased in over the next three years. 

From 2023 there will be 3 certificates offered for students in Victoria:

1. Foundations Pathways Certificate
2. Vocational Specialisation Certificate in VCE
3. VCE – Victorian Certificate of Education

CSPV will provide opportunities for parents to learn more about the new certificates that will be offered from 2023 for year 11 and 12 students in the coming months. Webinars are being planned and discussed with VCAA to keep parents informed.

This is a significant partnership that has developed over many years between VCAA and each of the parent groups in Victorian school sectors. We value this partnership and the opportunities to engage parents further in the curriculum and how to support children in their learning and career pathways development.

You have the opportunity to provide feedback now on the curriculum for the following:

The Foundation Pathways Certificate (FPC)

VCE Vocational Specialisation (VS)

This will close on 12th September so click on the links below to view the curriculum and provide your feedback.