Our curriculum
Learning at Forest Hill College
The curriculum at Forest Hill College is guided by our vision statement, to provide an exceptional teaching & learning environment that inspires confident and socially responsible students to pursue excellence. We prioritise academic excellence and a culture of high expectations, where all students are supported and challenged to maximise their learning outcomes.
Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum, our programs emphasise deep understanding and the consistent development of essential knowledge and skills across all learning areas. We maintain a strong focus on literacy and numeracy as the foundations for success, alongside the explicit teaching of critical and creative thinking. Our curriculum is structured, rigorous, and responsive, ensuring that students engage with challenging content and are supported to achieve at high levels.
We hold clear and ambitious expectations for student achievement and growth. Students are expected to take responsibility for their learning, demonstrate persistence, and strive for excellence in all areas of study. Through explicit instruction, targeted feedback, and consistent assessment practices, we closely monitor progress and support students to meet and exceed achievement standards.
By aligning our school vision with the goals and priorities of the Victorian Curriculum, we are committed to developing academically capable learners who possess the knowledge, skills, and discipline to succeed in further education and beyond.
Teaching practice
Instructional Model
Our instructional model underpins all teaching practice across the school, ensuring a consistent and coherent approach to learning in every classroom. By providing a clear framework for planning and delivery, it supports teachers to implement evidence-based strategies that maximise student engagement and academic growth across all learning areas.
Within this model, teachers design purposeful and structured lessons that are aligned to curriculum expectations and responsive to student needs. Lessons are carefully sequenced to build knowledge and skills over time, incorporating explicit instruction, opportunities for guided practice, and meaningful feedback to support continuous improvement.
To further enhance student learning, all lesson plans are published daily on Compass. This transparency enables students to plan ahead, take greater ownership of their learning, and come to class prepared and ready to engage. It also supports the development of effective study habits, as students can review lesson content, track their progress, and revisit learning as needed.
Through a shared instructional model and consistent planning practices, we create a unified learning experience that promotes clarity, high expectations, and strong academic outcomes for all students.
Curriculum
Year Levels
Year 7
Our Year 7 curriculum aims to facilitate a smooth transition into Secondary Education for all students. Students will engage in vibrant hands-on learning designed to inspire and challenge. Students in Year 7 receive an additional 120 minutes of Mathematics and English tuition per week to activate prior knowledge, consolidate deep learning and allow time and space in the curriculum for extension of understanding.
Subjects at year 7 include:
English
Maths
Humanities
Science
Art
LOTE Indonesian
Health and PE
Maths Enrichment
English Enrichment
Year 8
The Year 8 curriculum is designed to strengthen and extend students’ foundational knowledge while supporting their transition into more structured and purposeful learning. Utilising the Victorian Curriculum across core disciplines including English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, and the Arts, there is a focus on building fluency, accuracy, and confidence within each subject area.
In alignment with the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0), the program prioritises explicit teaching, clear learning intentions, and success criteria to guide student learning. Lessons are intentionally sequenced to support the gradual development of knowledge and skills, with regular opportunities for practice, feedback, and consolidation. Formative assessment plays a key role in monitoring progress and informing targeted teaching.
Subjects at year 8 include:
English
Maths
Computing/Foods
Humanities
Science
Health and PE
Year 9
The Year 9 curriculum is designed to provide a rigorous and comprehensive program that supports the intellectual, social, and personal development of students at a critical stage of their education. Building upon prior learning, the curriculum encompasses core disciplines including English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, and the Arts, with a focus on deepening conceptual understanding and disciplinary knowledge.
Aligned with the principles of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0), the program emphasises a structured and evidence-informed approach to teaching and learning. This includes clear learning intentions and success criteria, explicit teaching, and ongoing formative assessment to monitor student progress and inform responsive teaching. Lessons are carefully sequenced to support knowledge acquisition, consolidation, and transfer, enabling students to build increasingly sophisticated understandings over time.
Subjects at year 9 include:
English
Maths
Humanities
Science
Art/Music
Health and PE
Year 10
The Year 10 curriculum is designed to provide a rigorous and purposeful program that prepares students for the academic demands of the senior years. Building on prior learning, students engage in a broad and increasingly specialised curriculum across core disciplines, with opportunities to explore areas of interest and begin shaping their individual learning pathways.
A key feature of the Year 10 program is the opportunity for selected students to undertake Early Access to VCE studies. This enables high-achieving and motivated students to engage with the academic rigour of the Victorian Certificate of Education, supporting a smooth transition into senior secondary pathways and allowing for greater flexibility in future subject selections.
VCE
The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) program offers a broad and diverse curriculum designed to support high levels of academic achievement and personalised student pathways. Students can select from an extensive range of subjects, enabling them to tailor their studies to align with their interests, strengths, and post-school aspirations..
High achievement is supported through small class sizes, which enable personalised attention and targeted feedback. This environment allows teachers to respond to individual learning needs, closely monitor progress, and provide timely intervention and extension opportunities.
Our VCE classes are led by experienced and highly skilled educators with strong subject expertise and a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Through expert instruction, structured support, and a focus on effective study practices, students are well-prepared to achieve their personal best and to pursue success in further education and future careers.
Subjects offered include:
English & Literature
Mathematics
Specialist, Methods & General
Science
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology
Humanities
Business Management, Legal Studies, Accounting, History
Physical Education
Physical Education, Health & Human Development, VET Sport & Recreation
Technologies
Applied Computing, Systems Engineering, Food Studies
The Arts
Media, Visual Communication, Studio Arts
