Selecting a Course for 2027

You may like to select your subjects based on one of the programs mentioned earlier in this guide. If not, you can develop a course by selecting from the Senior Subjects & Programs listed below. This list is the anticipated subject setup for the Senior School at Fountain Gate Secondary College next year. Please be aware that this list may differ from the final 2027 subjects offered, but it is unlikely to vary much from the current structure shown.

Student choice will be the determining factor on how much the 2026 list changes from the current structure. This selection model allows you to develop a program for yourself, but please ensure you consider all VCE requirements and keep a range of options open for post-VCE careers.

VCE General Subjects

The following pages of VCE General Subjects have detailed information, including study outlines for Units 1 & 2, and Units 3 & 4, to help you decide which subjects will appeal most to you.

VCE VET Certificate

Information regarding VCE VET certificates and locations is available from the Careers & Pathways Team at the Subject Selection and Information Evening.

VCAA-Recommended Pathways for EAL

Fountain Gate Secondary College is committed to supporting English as an Additional Language (EAL) students in Year 10 by providing appropriate and structured senior school pathways based on their individual academic progress.

The goal of these pathways is to give each student the best chance of success and to ensure they can satisfactorily complete a Victorian Senior Secondary Certificate (such as the VCE General or VCE Vocational Major).

This is not a disadvantage. Rather, it is a supportive approach designed to help students access the curriculum at a level suited to their current language proficiency and academic readiness and means they are assessed against a smaller group of students.

How Pathways Are Determined

To ensure students are placed into the most appropriate pathway, the college will consider a range of data, which may include:

• Year 10 assessment tasks and class performance
• Progressive Achievement Test – Reading (PAT-R) results
• Engagement in learning and classroom participation
• An interview exploring the student’s growth, motivation, and aspirations
• VASS data, including NAPLAN results from Year 7 and Year 9 (where available)
• A Year 10 Pathway Eligibility Assessment (conducted as needed)

VCAA Guidelines for EAL Students

According to VCAA guidelines:

• A student should be at C3 level or above on the EAL assessment guide to attempt a standard senior school study pathway.
• If a student is below the C3 level, VCAA strongly advises against beginning a VCE study program, as the assumed level of English proficiency is likely to make success difficult.
• At Fountain Gate Secondary College, the minimum requirement to enrol in the VCE General pathway is C4 proficiency, to align with the school’s 50% minimum passing standard.

Alternative Pathways for EAL Students

To further support EAL students, the following options may be considered:

• A VCE VM pathway
• A Three-Year VCE General pathway

If a student undertakes a three-year VCE, the college will confirm their continued eligibility for the EAL program in the third year, in accordance with VCAA rules. If the student is no longer eligible for EAL in the third year, they will be advised in accordance with their pathway needs.