COURSES

On Campus English Language Centre

Toorak College has long been the leader in international education in Australia. Toorak College was one of the first schools in the country to set up an English Language Support Centre and is currently the only Girls school in Victoria to have language support on campus. Toorak has taken its decades of expertise in English Language Acquisition for school students and created a revolutionary model of immersive language acquisition for all international students.

Toorak College supports students with their language acquisition by working with each student prior to their mainstream class and front loading them with the vocabulary, definitions and knowledge required for the class. Students are then easily able to follow the mainstream teacher and classroom activities, giving them more confidence to participate in the class and accelerating their learning and language acquisitions rapidly.

Toorak deeply understands the needs of International students and the way in which they acquire language as well as the need for each student to build confidence in speaking, learning and living in an English environment. The Immersive Language Acquisition program is just another way that Toorak sets itself apart from all other schools with its unparalleled support for international students.

Education at Toorak College

Our commitment to academic excellence is delivered through innovative and collaborative teaching programs and our dedicated teachers encourage our girls to discover their individual passions and academic strengths.

From our Early Learning students through to our Year 12 graduates, our students experience a holistic academic program that fosters the growth of skill development and knowledge across all disciplines.  Our newly launched program, Project Shine, is threaded from our Early Learning children to our Senior students, supporting cognitive and social development as well as future proofing our students.

The range of sports and co-curricular activities are extensive at Toorak College. All girls are strongly encouraged to ‘have a go’ at sports they may not have tried before, whilst continuing to pursue sports they already enjoy. We pride ourselves on delivering excellent co-curricular opportunities in leadership, music, sports, arts, dance, drama and more.

Junior School International Program

Toorak College is pleased to offer limited places for Year 5 and 6 students.  During years 5 and 6 students undertake an inquiry-based learning program that is centred around key concepts and questions for discovery.  We expose our students to a diverse range of learning and co-curricular experiences from a young age so they can find their interests and passions with confidence.

Our inquiry model is the foundation of our students' learning journey, and is complemented with a focus on the development of core skills in numeracy and literacy. Students use their skills in English, Mathematics and the Program of Inquiry to extend their knowledge through innovative specialist classes, each taught by expert teachers in the field. These specialist offerings are clustered into five main groups:

• Language
• Research and Digital Citizenship
• STEM-X
• The Arts
• Health and Wellbeing.

Coupled with the curriculum offering is our daily wellbeing program, a range of co-curricular opportunities, leadership opportunities, community engagement programs and an emphasis on developing each individual’s self-awareness, self-esteem and confidence.

Toorak also supports junior students by providing in class support with English instruction, extended Chinese language skills and an after school English Enhancement Program focusing on speaking, reading, vocabulary, scenario analysis to help improve their English skills.

Subjects

Students enjoy a wide variety of subjects, enabling them to discover their strengths and passions. They begin with a broad curriculum in the younger years, giving them access to subjects, which they may not have previously encountered. As girls move through the school into senior years, with careful support and guidance, they begin to narrow their specialities for VCE.

Year 7

English
Mathematics
Science
Languages

• Chinese
• French
• Japanese

Humanities
Agile Learning – a multidisciplinary subject that incorporates:

• Technologies
• Commerce and Marketing
• Society and Culture
• Sustainability and Design

Health and Physical Education
Visual Art
Performing Arts (Drama / Dance)
Music

Year 8

Core Subjects

English
Mathematics

• Mainstream Mathematics
• Advanced Mathematics

Science
Languages

• Chinese
• French
• Japanese

Humanities
Health Physical Education
Agile Learning – a multidisciplinary subject that incorporates:

• Technologies
• Commerce and Marketing
• Society and Culture
• Sustainability and Design

Electives

Visual Art
Visual Art and Design
Visual Art: Mixed Media
Performing Arts
Performing Arts: Dance Styles and Choreography
Performing Arts: Drama
Music
Music: Performance and Composition
Music: Technology and Sound Production

Year 9

Core Subjects

English
Mathematics

• General Mathematics
• Mainstream Mathematics
• Advanced Mathematics

Science
Languages

• Chinese as a First language
• Chinese
• French
• Japanese

Humanities
Health and Physical Education

Electives

Creative Writing
Journalism
Science Today, Job Tomorrow
Psychology
Enhancing Exercise and Sporting Performances
Outdoor Education
Gender and Power
Civics and the Law
Commerce
Food Technology
Product Design and Technology
Computing / Digital Technologies
Coding & IT
Art
Photography
Visual Communication Design
Media
Drama
Dance
Music Theatre Production
Music Performance

Year 10

Core Subjects

English
Extreme English
Mathematics

• General Mathematics
• Mainstream Mathematics
• Advanced Mathematics

Science Semester 1
Languages

• Chinese as a First Language
• Chinese
• French
• Japanese

History – one semester
Health and Physical Education – one semester

Electives

Science 2
Physical Education and Recreation
Outdoor Education
History
Sociology
Law and Politics
Food Technology
Product Design and Technology
Art
Photography
Visual Communication Design
Media
Drama
Music

VCE (Year 11 & 12)

Units 1&2

English
English as a Second Language
Literature
Mathematics

• General Mathematics
• Mathematical Methods
• Specialist Mathematics

Science

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Psychology

Languages

• Chinese as a First Language
• Chinese
• French
• Japanese

History
Sociology
Australian and Global Politics
Health and Human Development
Physical Education
Legal Studies
Business Management
Accounting
Food Studies
Product Design and Technology
Computing
Art
Studio Arts
Visual Communication Design
Media
Drama
Dance
Music Performance

Units 3&4

English
English as a Second Language
Literature
Mathematics

• Further Mathematics
• Mathematical Methods
• Specialist Mathematics

Science

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Psychology

Languages

• Chinese as a First Language
• Chinese
• French
• Japanese

History
Sociology
Global Politics
Health and Human Development
Physical Education
Legal Studies
Business Management
Accounting
Food Studies
Product Design and Technology
Applied Computing
Art
Studio Arts
Visual Communication Design
Media
Drama
Dance
Music Performance

In addition, VCAL and some VET options are also available. Eligible students can also apply for university extension courses to be studied in Year 12.