At Alkira Secondary College, your child will learn traditional core subjects such as: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Language – Chinese, as well as physical and social learning subjects such as Health and Physical Education. Over their time in the school your child will also experience electives where they will learn a range of different skills and knowledge.
There will be a focus on developing their capabilities in:

  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Ethical Behaviour
  • Intercultural Understanding and Personal & Social Development

There is also a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) so that we may greater integrate with the Victorian Governments new technical schools program.

At the end of the Victoria Curriculum when they reach year 10 the students will complete either:

  • The Victorian Certificate of Education
  • The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning
  • A certicificate under Vocational Education Training

English

In English, students work progressively towards attaining Level 10 (Victorian Curriculum). Students will be expected to read, analyse and discuss contemporary, classical and imaginative texts that explore personal, social, cultural and political issues of significance to their own lives and the global community. Students will also interpret and critique a wide range of informative and persuasive texts. Students will demonstrate the ability to write sustained and cohesive pieces that experiment with different language techniques and deal with complex issues.

Maths

Students develop their knowledge and skills for different strands of mathematics in the Victorian Curriculum including Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, Statistic and Probability. The proficiency strands Understanding, Fluency, Problem Solving and Reasoning are an integral of the coursework and they reinforce the significance of working mathematically within the content and describe how the content is explored or developed.

Humanities

The Humanities Curriculum is divided into a number of areas: History, Geography, Legal Studies Economics, Business and Civics and Citizenship.

– History

In History students study the making of the modern world from and Australia across the ages. Students cover archaeology and the ancient world in the junior levels. Later they cover Australian history and the period of industrialisation and rapid change in the ways people lived, worked and thought, the era of nationalism and imperialism, and the colonisation of Australia which was part of the expansion of European power.

– Geography

Students consider changes in the characteristics of places and the implications of these. They consider significant spatial distributions and patterns and evaluate their implications, and consider interconnections between and within places and changes resulting from these, over time.

Biomes and food security focuses on investigating the role of the biotic environment and its role in food and fibre production.

– Economics & Business

Students consider how the Australian economy is performing and the importance of its interactions and relationships with the Asia region and the global economy in achieving growth and prosperity. They explore the relationship between economic performance and living standards as well as the reasons why these differ across regions within and between economies. Students examine the role of innovation and its influence on business success and explore the way the work and business environment is changing in contemporary Australia and globally, and the implications this has for current and future work and the work of entrepreneurs. They investigate the ways that enterprising behaviours and capabilities can be used and developed to improve the work and business environments.

– Civics & Citizenship

Students examine the ways political parties, interest groups, media and individuals influence government and decision-making processes. They compare Australia’s system of government with another system of government in the Asian region and examine Australia’s roles and responsibilities within the international context, such as its involvement with the United Nations. They investigate the features and principles of Australia’s court system, including its role in applying and interpreting Australian law.

Science

The Science program follows a term-based unit structure with four main areas of study delivered through the academic year. The curriculum is based around the mastery of essential concepts in science rather than maximizing content. Teaching and learning methods are a combination of teacher-led theory and inquiry-style learning. Students develop their critical and creative thinking skills and scientific literacy through exploration of the biological, chemical, physical and earth strands of science.

Languages – Chinese

At Alkira, Chinese is offered as our Languages subject.  Chinese can be studied from Year 7-12. In Years 7-9 Chinese is a compulsory core subject. From Year 10 onwards, it is an elective subject.  According to the Victorian Curriculum, the aim of the subject is to develop communication skills in Chinese, understand the relationship between language, culture and learning, develop intercultural capabilities and understand themselves as communicators.  A topic-based approach is being used in this subject. Students learn the Chinese language and culture through a wide range of topics. To maximise students’ learning experience, the approach of using target language in the class has been incorporated in the delivery of the subject. To enhance students’ cultural and language experience, a number of in-country programs have been offered.  At Year 9, students have the opportunity to apply for the student exchange program with our sister school in China. For senior year level students, a two-week China study tour will be organised upon students’ application.

Health and Physical Education

In Health and PE Students will use training methods to improve their fitness level, and participate in sports, games, recreational and leisure activities that maintain regular participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Students will demonstrate proficiency in the execution of manipulative and movement skills during complex activities and will employ and devise skills and strategies to counter tactical challenges in games situations and assume responsibility for conduct of aspects of a sporting competition in which roles are shared and display appropriate sporting behaviour. In Health students will identify and describe a range of social and cultural factors that influence the development of personal identity and values and will identify and explain the rights and responsibilities associated with developing greater independence, including those related to sexual matters and sexual relationships. Students will also compare and evaluate perceptions of challenge, risk and safety.

The Arts

Performing Arts

– Drama

In Year 9 Drama students explore an Australian play in depth and develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in all elements of production. They will work in ensembles to curate and present a selection of scenes from an Australian play and will perform these works at the end of semester. Students will learn and use the language of drama to understand theatrical conventions and dramatic elements. Drama is a practical performance subject that includes a theory component.

– Music

In music classes at Alkira Secondary College, students explore their interest in music through creating bands and participating in live performances. Students learn how to set up equipment safely, create set lists, arrange, compose, perform and analyse music. They learn music theory in preparation for further study and develop their technical skills and knowledge to develop their solo and group performance skills. Senior pathways include VET Music Industry (Performance) and VCE group / solo.

Visual Arts

– Studio Art

Studio Art is designed to look at modern art, the surreal and the bizarre, igniting imagination. Students improve and extend their art skills in a variety of art forms and develop knowledge of materials and techniques in, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography and sculpture. This subject encourages creativity and experimentation with two and three dimensional artworks. In sculpture students are introduced to a range clay hand building, pottery on the electric wheel and casting sculptural techniques. Students also develop their understanding of presenting art through exhibition design stages and visiting exhibition spaces to develop and expand their understanding of contemporary art practices and historical traditions in art.

– Visual Communication and Design

This Visual Communication and design subject introduces students to a range of design concepts and industry skills within Architecture, Graphic Design and Industrial Design. Students will develop skills in a range of these areas including drawing and rendering, illustration and digital design. Students will undertake practical and research based projects, and have the opportunity to use computer assisted drawing programs to develop their ideas and presentations. This is an exciting course as students have the opportunity to ‘act as designers’ in real design situations.

Media

In Media, students learn about both theoretical and practical areas surrounding media production and media’s uses in society. Students analyse professional media products and study the relationship and interactions between media producers and their audiences. They develop skills producing print, photographic, film and multimedia products, creating both hardcopy and online works. They learn to use a range of specialist software as well as traditional drawing and rendering techniques to design and make their products. In senior years, students work on individual and group projects that reflect their own interests.

 

Technology

– Food Technology

Food Technology will provide opportunities for students to study and develop skills through theory investigations and practical classes. Our junior curriculum focuses around identifying food groups and the nutrition they provide a growing body. Middle year course outcomes will be achieved through a series of design briefs allowing students to investigate, design, produce and evaluate food products of interest to them. The emphasis is on increasing awareness of ingredients and the methods of cookery used to produce international dishes. Students may cook dishes such as churros or paella from Spain, pad Thai from Thailand, or garlic snails from France. Junior and middle year curriculum provides students with the grounding that could lead to further studies in VCE Food Technology and/or Hospitality. 

 

– Design and Technology – Product Design (Wood and Metal)

Product Design (Wood and Metal) aims to develop a student’s knowledge and skill around the use of wood and metal mediums. Students will explore the theory behind designing and apply it practically in creative projects that will push them from beginner to more advanced levels. There are opportunities for students to lead the design process and to design products influenced by their own constraints and considerations. There is a high emphasis placed on the construction techniques and the skill levels that they are executing

– Information Technology

Students in Information Technology will complete the design process with a focus on using ITC software and systems to present and communicate their ideas. Students will examine a general programming language in order to examine the building blocks of programming and software design. Students will then move on to make simple programs of their own design. Students will also look at the social and environmental impact of new technologies.