Instrumental Music-Guitar & Vocals

We live in a community that values individuality, diversity and free thinking as much as we do. Daylesford Secondary College offers purpose-designed collaborative learning spaces; teachers and technologies that encourage inquisitive learning; a curriculum that emphasises critical and creative thinking; and a culture of inclusion and support. Our goal is to guide the students in our care to become confident, responsible, resilient individuals ready to make their mark in an ever-changing world.

Daylesford Secondary College is the sole provider of secondary education in the Shire of Hepburn and has a current enrolment of 440 students. The school draws students from a wide region. Daylesford is between Ballarat and Bendigo and is one hundred kilometres from Melbourne. Sixty-five percent of students travel to school by eleven buses from a radius of up to 35 kilometres.

Our purpose is to provide an engaging, supportive and effective learning environment.  Recognising the diversity of learning needs and aspirations of students both at school and beyond. We are committed to providing clear and effective learning pathways and programs for all students.  Through these pathways and programs we will inspire and support each and every student to reach and extend his or her academic, practical and social potential.  Equipped with these skills we believe our students will be well placed to meet future challenges and make the pivotal transition to optimistic, resourceful and resilient adults.

Our goal is to create a vibrant and successful school which:

1. Provides effective learning opportunities for all students through the delivery of robust and relevant learning pathways and programs.  All pathways and programs will deliver best learning and teaching practices and will be based on appropriate elements of the Victorian Curriculum, Years 7-10 and student designs premised on the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Education (VCAL) and Vocational Education and Training (VET).
2. Provides high-quality current and innovative teaching in a collaborative and supportive school culture.
3. Engages and empowers students in their learning by providing them with the skills to develop, evaluate and reflect on their own learning.  Successful development of these skills will equip students with the means to meet the wide range of learning challenges throughout their secondary schooling and beyond.
4. Supports students to develop and put into practice a variety of key learning skills including problem solving, effective communication, collaboration and critical and creative thinking.
5. Prepares and encourages students to participate in further education, training and employment and become life-long learners.
6. Provides a safe and inclusive learning environment that supports the social and emotional wellbeing of all students, helps them develop strong ethical and moral values, raises individual aspirations and develops a strong sense of self-belief, and provides opportunities to explore and develop leadership skills and experience.
7. Actively engages parents in the learning process, providing up-to-date information on their child’s activities and progress and ensuring strong and open communication between parents, teaching staff and the school at all times.
8. Develops and maintains strong links with the school and the broader communities through a program of academic, artistic and civic engagement.
9. Reflects the diversity and strengths of the local and surrounding communities within its learning programs – for example, food and hospitality, sustainability and the arts – and engages with and involves the community in the delivery of these programs.

Our three core values are respect, responsibility and perseverance and we expect all students, parents and teachers to follow these.

The College provides a comprehensive program for students in all year levels.  Our program provides flexibility and breadth in order to cater for individual needs, interests and aspirations.

Junior School Program – Years 7-9

The College provides a common, comprehensive program for students in Year 7 & 8.  The school aims to expose students to a wide range of studies over this period to broaden experience and enhance curiosity and success.  Some subjects are taken continuously for the two years while others run for one or two semesters over the two year period. We aim to connect students with a core group of teachers to assist in their transition from Primary School.

Senior School Program Years 10-12

The school offers a wide range of VCE, VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) and VET (Vocational Employment and Training) studies in Years 11 and 12. Year 10 students are able to access a range of Year 11 subjects as part of their program.  The majority of Year 11 students also study a Year 12 subject. Year 11 students are expected to study six 5-period units each semester, while Year 12's typically take five.

The College motto of “Aim High” is emphasised and many VCE results indicate students can achieve at the highest levels. As an alternative to VCE, students may undertake the more vocationally orientated VCAL certificate at Years 11 or 12.  VCAL provides an opportunity for students to develop appropriate numeracy and literacy skills, to develop their personal skills, to undertake a work placement and to incorporate part-time work and VET subjects as part of their program.

The Senior School focus is on all students developing an appropriate pathway to further training, work or tertiary study.  Students develop individual pathway plans with help from the College MIPS Coordinator and careers advisor.  Teachers and co-ordinators get to know the senior students very well, resulting in personal and dedicated approaches to optimising student outcomes.

The College is currently undergoing a major upgrade to its facilities. We will have new science, art, food technology, music, trade technology, learning centre and classrooms when the rebuild is completed in 2018.

The school has a theatre, gymnasium, canteen and squash courts and has worked with the local community and Shire Council in the planning, development and construction of an indoor community sporting complex on the school grounds (The ARC).