Year 9 LEAP ACADEMIC PATHWAY
Middle School - LEAP
Dromana College’s LEAP (Learning Enhancement and Acceleration Program) aims to cater to the individual needs of high ability and highly engaged students.
The Year 9 LEAP pathway is based on the best available educational research and evidence. We recognise the importance of giving all Year 9 students choice with their studies, but also recognise the importance of ensuring our LEAP students continue to gain exposure and breadth with their Year 9 pathway.
How does the Year 9 LEAP pathway differ from the mainstream Year 9 pathway?
The Year 9 LEAP pathway aspires to prepare students to undertake a University enhancement subject as well as completion of the Victoria Baccalaureate in VCE. To meet the requirements of the Victorian Baccalaureate students are required, at VCE level, to undertake the study of a Language and VCE Maths Methods as well as attain a high score in VCE English.
University Enhancement subjects are offered through Monash University in the areas of:
Accounting, Biology, Biomedical Science, Computational Thinking, Chemistry, Mathematics, Mobile Applications Development and Physics.
The Year 9 LEAP pathway requires students to:
- Undertake a Language study (continue with either Indonesian or Japanese)
- Undertake LEAP Maths which aims to provide a pathway into Year 10 Extension Maths (Methods) or VCE Maths Methods Unit 1 & 2 in Year 10.
- Undertake LEAP English, LEAP Humanities and LEAP Science
- Access Year 10/VCE studies offered within the Wednesday F Block
Vision
Dromana College’s LEAP (Learning Enhancement and Acceleration program) aims to provide both challenges and opportunities by upwardly differentiating the curriculum to a select group of engaged and talented high-ability students, with the anticipation that these students will achieve outstanding academic, personal, and social outcomes that benefit both themselves and their broader community.
Values
LEAP students are expected to exemplify the broader school values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity and Personal Best. This dedication to personal and collective success is expected to extend beyond academic achievements, with students embracing opportunities available to further develop their leadership, critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities through all aspects of college life.
Expectations for students
LEAP students will maintain an outstanding academic work ethic, challenge themselves to work on their areas of improvement, not just their strengths and to co-develop their own high-performance goals and pathway plans. Additionally, LEAP students will extend themselves through the program’s inter-curricular experiences and participate in enrichment and extra-curricular activities provided by the College.
Commitment from the College
The College’s commitment to LEAP students and their families is to take this very select group of students and not only personalise their learning but also provide them with the knowledge, skills, and experience to allow them to chart their own pathway into long term educational and vocational success.
Suggested Year 9 LEAP Program
| Semester 1 | LEAP English | LEAP Maths | LEAP Science | LEAP Humanities | Language | Pastoral Care | Health & PE | F Block VCE Elective |
| Semester 2 | LEAP English | LEAP Maths | LEAP Science | LEAP Humanities | Language | Pastoral Care | Year 9 Elective | F Block VCE Elective |
Subject/Elective descriptors can be found on the Year 9 Learning page of our website.
Year 7 & 8 - Core knowledge & skills
Program and Experiences
The focus of the LEAP at Year 7 & 8 is to develop a solid foundation of knowledge, skills and attributes for life-long academic and vocational success. This includes a focus on study and revision skills (working smarter, not harder), developing a sense of themselves as a learner, including how to build on areas of strength and target areas of improvement as well as managing stress and maximising wellbeing. This understanding will be personalised into each student’s Individualised Learning Plan. All Year 7 students will receive a Year 10 LEAP mentor to assist in their transition to the College.
In terms of academic achievement, LEAP students’ curriculum will be upwardly differentiated to their point of need. Academically, the program will focus on developing a ‘growth mindset’ with the aim of each student comparing themselves against their personal best rather than age-expected norms. In addition to this, students will also be challenged to study two languages. It is expected that all LEAP students will be involved in several enrichment opportunities provided by the College.
LEAP Experiences and Opportunities
- Individualised Learning Plan
- Involvement in enrichment opportunities e.g. sports, music, theatre, media, design
- Integrated cross-curricular projects
- Participation in the LEAP challenge days
- Capstone Research Project
- LEAP excursions
- Leaders from our world incursions
- Possibility of participation in the Victorian High-Ability Program
- Mentor teacher
Year 9 - Choice and Independence
Program
Building on their broad and solid foundation, Year 9 LEAP students are expected to begin charting their future pathway. While constructing their knowledge and skills through their core LEAP classes, students will be expected to select electives from Year 10 or VCE. Mathematically students will be prepared to access all levels of VCE Mathematics. Students will continue their language studies.
The focus of student’s personalisation of their learning is to begin developing a plan for their life beyond schools, shifting from an understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses to using their knowledge of themselves as a learner coupled with their individual passions and dreams in order to ensure a challenging yet realistic plan for their future, including VCE acceleration. This plan will also help direct student capstone research projects and community presentations.
LEAP Experiences and Opportunities
- Individualised Learning Plan
- Involvement in enrichment program opportunities
- Integrated cross-curricular projects
- Participation in the LEAP challenge days
- LEAP Capstone Research Project and Community Presentation
- LEAP excursions
- Leaders from our world incursions
- Mentor teacher
Year 10 - Leadership and Transition
Program
Year 10 for LEAP students will see the commencement or continuation of their accelerated VCE studies. The pathway mentor for LEAP students will ensure that they are able not just to survive but thrive with the increased workload of multiple VCE subjects.
It is recommended that student subject selection includes a continuation of language studies and an advanced mathematics pathway to be eligible for the Victorian Baccalaureate.
Student’s participation in LEAP challenge days changes to a leadership role in which students are expected to actively plan, prepare, and facilitate these events. In addition to this, students will also play a mentoring role to the Year 7 LEAP cohort.
LEAP Experiences and Opportunities
- Individualised Learning Plan
- Involvement in enrichment program opportunities
- Facilitation of the LEAP challenge days
- Mentoring of Year 7 LEAP students
- Accelerated VCE subjects
- Mentor teacher
Year 11 & 12 - Pathways to the future
Program
LEAP students in VCE will continue their accelerated subjects, with the expectation that they will complete six or more Unit 3 & 4 subjects over their extended VCE and be offered options of University enhancement subjects.
It is an expectation that all LEAP student will complete a minimum six Unit 3 & 4 VCE subjects.
LEAP students will be provided with a mentor to ensure that they have a go-to person to support their final years of secondary schooling and their transition to higher education.
LEAP students will be expected to apply for University scholarships and bursaries.
LEAP students will be offered enrichment opportunities as appropriate to their individualised pathway needs.
LEAP Experiences and Opportunities
- Individualised Learning Plan
- Involvement in enrichment program opportunities
- VCE University enhancement subjects
- Attendance to revision lectures and enhancement classes
- Access to VET subject as a part of their VCE individualised pathway
- Victorian Baccalaureate
- Mentor teacher