Information provided relating to the VCE includes the Vocational Major (VM), unless stated otherwise. Where VCE VM is referred to separately from the VCE, the information is specific to the VM program.
The VCAA Special Provision policy provides students in defined circumstances with the opportunity to participate in and complete their secondary level studies.
The underlying principle of the VCAA Special Provision policy is to ensure that the most appropriate, fair and reasonable options are available for students to demonstrate their capabilities if their learning and assessment programs are affected by disability, illness, impairment or other circumstances. Special Provision should provide equivalent, alternative arrangements for students, but not confer an advantage to any student over other students.
Although there is no limit on the period of time allowed for a student to achieve the VCE, the provisions available seek to help a student complete the requirements in a timeframe comparable to that of their peers.
Individual students may need special provision in their learning program to achieve the learning outcomes, and in assessment to demonstrate their learning and achievement.
At the same time, students who have been granted Special Provision are not exempt from meeting the requirements for satisfactory completion of the VCE, or from being assessed against the outcomes for a study. Students are still required to demonstrate their achievement fairly in meeting the outcomes of the study design as well as completing School-based Assessments and VCE external assessments if relevant.
Types of Special Provision
Special Provision is available to students completing the VCE for classroom learning, School-based Assessment and VCE external assessments.
For Classroom learning and School-based assessments, the school is responsible for determining eligibility and the nature of the provisions granted.
Schools are encouraged to consult the VCAA if they are unsure about appropriate arrangements. The school’s policies and procedures should be clearly documented and communicated to students. It is strongly recommended that schools keep records of all decisions made for each student.
The VCAA is responsible for provisions for VCE external assessments and will aim to approve provisions consistent with those already implemented by the school for classroom learning and/or School-based Assessments. VCE external assessments include all VCE examinations, the Extended Investigation Critical Thinking Test and oral presentation, and the General Achievement Test (GAT). Provisions can be:
Eligibility for Special Provision
Students may be eligible for Special Provision if they are adversely affected in a significant way by:
- an acute or chronic illness (physical or psychological)
- factors relating to personal circumstance
- an impairment or disability, including learning disorders.
Prolonged absence from school or study is not in itself grounds for Special Provision. However, provisions are available to students experiencing severe hardship that may result in prolonged absence. Students granted Special Provision must still complete all school work related to satisfactory completion of the outcomes of a VCE unit. Students absent from school for prolonged periods must still comply with the school’s authentication procedures to demonstrate that they have completed the work and that the work is their own.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Students who have been granted EAL status on the basis of unfamiliarity with the English language are not eligible for Special Provision on this basis alone, unless they qualify for EAL status because of deafness or hearing loss.
Management of students requiring Special Provision
If a student requires Special Provision but is still deemed to be at risk of not being able to meet either the unit outcomes or satisfactory completion of the VCE, the school should develop a management plan. One of the first steps in developing a management plan should be the establishment of a support group to help the student in undertaking the VCE. Ideally, this support group should be established in the years before the commencement of VCE. Similarly, if a student becomes chronically unwell during the course of their VCE, a support group should be established.
The establishment of a support group also provides a focus for the administrative aspects of managing the student’s program of study. In addition, a support group allows for a formal structure through which decisions are made and actions verified. Involvement with a support group presents teachers with an opportunity to become better informed about the medical or personal situations of students.
A support group may include the student, a parent of the student, teacher/s or others nominated as having responsibility for the student, and any aides of the student. If appropriate, the support group should seek the advice of specialist consultants. The principal must ensure that advice from the support group is considered and implemented if it is judged to be consistent with VCE policy.
Choosing a program of studies
The school, through the support group, should provide advice to the student to help them choose a program of studies. Such advice should encourage the choice of interesting and challenging studies, taking into consideration the nature of the student’s hardship and maximising their opportunity to learn. If a student wants to undertaking a study in which, given the student’s particular circumstances, it will be problematic for the student to demonstrate the unit outcomes or complete any formal requirements, the restraints and difficulties of proceeding with the study need to be made clear to the student. The expected time for completion of the program should be taken into consideration. If it is anticipated that a student will need extensions to complete work by a due date, students may be advised to enrol in fewer units in a given year.
Use of assistive technology
In developing the study program, schools should consider the role of technology, in terms of how it could be used to enhance the learning process. For some students the use of technology is a requirement to effectively access education. Every effort should be made to ensure that technology is available to help students achieve the objectives or learning outcomes of a unit.
While the use of technology in learning strategies is encouraged, the use of new and emerging technologies should first be discussed with the VCAA. The technology used for School-based Assessments should be consistent with what the student will be allowed to use in a VCE external assessment.
Assistance from aides
Students may require assistance from an aide to effectively engage in the process of learning. If this is required, other assessment provisions, such as additional time to complete tasks, may be required. Assistance from aides may take the form of, for example, a reader, a clarifier, an Auslan interpreter, or a scribe, depending on the nature of the student’s circumstance. A student’s current aide is not eligible to be appointed as a reader, clarifier, an Auslan interpreter, a scribe or a supervisor in a VCE external assessment, unless in exceptional circumstances.
Deferral of VCE studies
Students completing a VCE study at Unit 3 and 4 level may be eligible for Compassionate Late Withdrawal if they are suffering major adverse circumstances and are unable to complete Unit 3.
Students who are unable to complete Unit 4 because of adverse circumstances should consider an application for Interrupted Studies. For more information, see Special provision for other circumstances.