Student Excellence Program @ CSC

Craigieburn Secondary College is committed to providing high-quality learning opportunities that recognise, nurture, and extend students with high academic ability. Our Student Excellence Program brings together a coherent range of acceleration, enrichment, and extension pathways designed to support students from Year 7 through to Year 12.
The program reflects best practice from the Victorian Department of Education’s Student Excellence framework and ensures that high-ability students are appropriately identified, challenged, and supported to achieve their full potential.

Our Vision

The Student Excellence Program aims to create a learning environment where high-ability students are:

• Appropriately challenged through acceleration and extension
• Supported through structured pathways and personalised guidance
• Provided with opportunities to engage in advanced, real-world, and university-linked learning

The program is coordinated by the Leading Teacher – Student High Abilities also referred to as the High Abilities Practice Leader (HAPL), who oversees student pathways, academic progress, and access to high-impact learning opportunities across the junior, middle, and senior years.

Craigieburn Enrichment and Accelerated Program (CEAP)

CEAP is the College’s core high-ability program for Years 7–9, designed for students who have demonstrated achievement beyond year-level expectations during their primary schooling.
Through a structured blend of acceleration and enrichment, CEAP provides:

• Faster progression through curriculum content based on readiness
• Extended learning through complex, abstract, and higher order thinking tasks
• Real-world applications across subject areas

Students are placed in a dedicated CEAP form group from Year 7 and remain together through to the end of Year 9, studying the Victorian Curriculum F–10A with significant extension and enrichment.

Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP)

Selected students in Years 7 and 8 may be nominated to participate in the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP). VHAP provides:

• 10-week online extension programs in English and Mathematics
• Delivery through Virtual School Victoria
• Opportunities for students to engage with high-ability peers across Victoria

Following completion of the online program, students may participate in face-to-face masterclasses and enrichment experiences.

Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES)

High-ability students across Years 7–12 may be nominated to participate in the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES). This program offers:

• High-quality, funded extension activities across curriculum areas
• Enrichment experiences including workshops, masterclasses, excursions, and incursions
• Opportunities to engage with specialist providers and authentic learning contexts

Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES)

The Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) provides advanced learning opportunities for high-achieving students in Years 10–12. Through CHES, eligible students may:

• Undertake specialised Year 10 electives aligned to future VCE studies
• Study selected VCE subjects while enrolled at Craigieburn Secondary College for the VCE subjects not offered at CSC
• Participate in learning delivered through a combination of online study and in-person workshops

Students undertaking CHES studies are supported by a HAPL to assist with academic progress and workload management.

Accelerated VCE Pathways

Year 10 High-ability students may be considered for accelerated VCE pathways at CSC, enabling them to commence VCE studies earlier in Year 10 based on readiness and achievement

Higher Education Studies (HES)

Eligible Year 12 students may undertake Higher Education Studies (HES) through CHES. HES allows students to:

• Study first-year university subjects alongside VCE
• Experience university-level learning expectations
• Potentially gain credit or ATAR increment upon successful completion

Subjects are offered through Victorian universities and may be delivered online, in person, or through a blended model.

Enrichment, Competitions and Recognition

As part of the Student Excellence Program, students may access:

• Academic competitions and problem-solving challenges
• External enrichment programs and masterclasses
• Support with applications for external scholarships
• Internal recognition through High Achievers and Excellence Awards

These opportunities aim to celebrate achievement, encourage academic curiosity, and promote aspiration. Targeted Support and Extension

The College also facilitates:

• Targeted extension and tutoring programs for high-ability students
• Personalised academic guidance and pathway planning
• Ongoing monitoring of progress to ensure students are appropriately challenged

Enquiries

For further information about the Student Excellence Program, including CEAP, VHAP, CHES, or accelerated pathways, please contact:

Leading Teacher – Student High Abilities
Craigieburn Secondary College
Email: craigieburn.sc@education.vic.gov.au
Phone: 9308 1144

Program offerings and processes are subject to change. Families are encouraged to contact the College directly for the most up-to-date information.