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The Accelerated VCE at RHS
“There was no singular more impactful aspect of my education than accelerating my VCE at Richmond High School.”
— Jamie HC, RHS AlumnusWho It’s For
High-achieving Year 9 students who are ready to go beyond the expected level will find our Accelerated VCE Program designed with them in mind. Rather than waiting, students can choose to begin three VCE subjects in Year 10, getting ahead of the curve and freeing up valuable time in Year 12, when it matters most.
Talented students can often feel unchallenged in the middle years of school. This program keeps them stimulated, motivated, and connected with a community of like-minded peers who share their drive and ambition.
This is their chance to fulfil their potential on their own terms, accelerate their VCE journey, and set themselves up for outstanding results. For students who are eager to get ahead, the time to start is now.
How the Accelerated VCE Pathway Works
High-ability students in Year 10 can apply to take on three VCE subjects alongside their standard Year 10 curriculum. They continue with Year 10 English, Mathematics, and Science, supplemented with VCE Unit 1/2 subjects such as Psychology, Economics, or Mathematical Methods. This means they start earning genuine VCE credit a full year ahead of their peers.
Example timetable
Year 10EnglishStandardMathsStandardScienceStandardPsychologyVCE Unit 1/2EconomicsVCE Unit 1/2Mathematical MethodsVCE Unit 1/2↓Year 11Same three subjects step up, plus three new ones beginPsychologyVCE Unit 3/4EconomicsVCE Unit 3/4Mathematical MethodsVCE Unit 3/4Legal StudiesVCE Unit 1/2ChemistryVCE Unit 1/2LiteratureVCE Unit 1/2↓Year 12Final three subjects finish, alongside standard Year 12 loadLegal StudiesVCE Unit 3/4ChemistryVCE Unit 3/4LiteratureVCE Unit 3/4OptionalPick up new Unit 3/43 core subjects finish, with room for a 4th if wantedAssessment load comparison
Standard VCE student: assessment load by yearYear 12 carries it allRHS accelerated student: assessment load by yearYr 10Yr 11Yr 12Same total VCE credit. Spread across three years instead of compressed into one.Year 10. Start early.
Students take their three standard Year 10 subjects alongside three VCE Unit 1/2 subjects, building academic muscle before the pressure peaks.
Year 11. Halfway done.
Students complete three full VCE subjects at Units 3/4 level, sitting the official scored exams and finishing those subjects entirely. Three subjects are now permanently off the Year 12 plate.
Year 12. Finish strong.
Rather than the typical crunch of five or six concurrent Unit 3/4 subjects, accelerated students sit just three. This isn’t a lighter education. It’s the same total VCE credit, spread across three years instead of one. The result is more time per subject, deeper preparation, and a calmer exam period.
Academic Proof Points
Results from accelerated students
Perfect scores of 50
Students have achieved perfect scores across multiple subjects at RHS in Year 1199+
ATARs achieved, placing students in Victoria’s top 1%What Our Principal and Students Say
“High-achieving students shouldn’t have to wait to be challenged. I’ve seen talented students disengage simply because they aren’t being stretched. Our Accelerated VCE Program changes that. High-ability students begin three VCE subjects in Year 10, staying motivated, getting ahead, and freeing up critical time in Year 12.
The results speak for themselves. Our students have achieved perfect scores of 50 in Year 11, and many have gone on to ATARs of 99 and above, placing them in Victoria’s top 1%.
These students go on to achieve their goals and make a meaningful difference in the world.”
Andrea Thompson, Principal, Richmond High School“There was no singular more impactful aspect of my education than accelerating my VCE at Richmond High School. From Year 10, I was not only challenged by learning more difficult concepts, but also by learning how to study and break down ideas. This set me up for success in Year 11, giving me the space to be truly interested in all my subjects and allowing them the time they deserve.
This led to Year 12, where I had the flexibility to train for and compete in the Canoe Wildwater World Championships, while staying on top of my subjects. The Richmond High Accelerated VCE Program gave me the space to explore all my subjects in depth and become absolutely immersed in them. It is this that led to me obtaining a perfect study score in Biology in Year 11 and in Chemistry in Year 12. It also gave me the confidence to apply for and ultimately obtain the Tuckwell Scholarship.
For too long, schools across Victoria assume students are not fully ready for VCE until Year 12. Richmond High believed in me being able to succeed not only in Year 12, but in Year 11 and 10 as well. By giving students flexibility and backing it up with genuine support, every student is set up for success.”
Jamie Howarth Carpenter, RHS AlumnusRegister Your Interest
Fill out a short form and our team will be in touch with everything you need to know about applying.
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