New Ag Science course to launch in 2025

St Patrick’s College is excited to announce the introduction of Agricultural and Horticultural Studies in 2025, offering students an exciting new pathway in these vital fields.

Year 10 students will have the opportunity to enrol in Agricultural and Horticultural Studies, better known as Ag Science, while VCE students can take on VCE Units 1 & 2 in 2025, with Units 3 & 4 set to follow in 2026.

St Patrick’s College Deputy Principal – Academic Culture, Ms Carol Roberts, said there had been incredible interest in the new offering.

“The enthusiasm for this new program has been remarkable. With 26 Year 11 students already selecting it as one of their top choices for VCE in 2025, we are thrilled to have enough interest to run a full VCE class right from the start,” Ms Roberts said.

“An additional 51 students have also expressed interest, underscoring the excitement for this innovative subject.”

Ms Roberts said SPC’s Head of Science, Mr James Russell, had been working tirelessly for more than 18 months to design the course, ensuring it was ready for implementation in 2025.

“His commitment and expertise will also see him leading the classes, providing students with a robust and engaging learning experience,” she said.

 

At Year 10, Agricultural and Horticultural Studies will be offered as an additional semester-based Science unit. This aligns with our curriculum model where students choose two semesters of Science in Year 10. This new course not only prepares students for VCE-level studies but also expands their options with a specialised focus in science.

Looking ahead, we are currently in discussions with Federation University to introduce VCE VET Agriculture, Horticulture, and Conservation and Ecosystem Management in 2026. If approved, this program would offer students the opportunity to accelerate their studies over three years, beginning as early as Year 10, without the need for prerequisite scores. This exciting initiative would allow students to earn:

– A Certificate II in Agriculture, Horticulture, or Conservation and Ecosystem Management, providing four unscored credits towards their VCE or VCE-VM

– VCE Agricultural Science Units 3 & 4, either scored or unscored, as part of their VCE or VCE-VM.

This flexible pathway will allow students to engage in up to six units of agriculture-based studies over three years, tailored to their individual needs and prior knowledge.

Principal Steven O’Connor said the new subjects would open new doors for those passionate about agricultural sciences, setting them on a path towards both academic and vocational success.

“As a large, regional day and boarding school for boys, the introduction of Agricultural and Horticultural Studies reflects who we are and the important role these industries continue to play in Victoria and across the country,” he said.

“I am thrilled with the response from our students and look forward to this subject becoming one of our strengths in the years ahead.”

Head of Science James Russell said he was looking forward to delivering the program after two years of research and planning.

“The science department has worked diligently to ensure that the offering meets the requirements of both the curriculum outcomes as well as the feedback from the school community with respect to offering a more practical-based science offering,” he said.

“I would highly recommend the subject to those who already have a strong agricultural background to provide some greater context behind modern innovations within the industry, as well as anyone who has a strong interest in the area but hasn’t had an opportunity to work or live within the setting.

“We look forward to working with all interested students and parents in delivering this program and hope to see it evolve even further as we strive to continuously refine our approach to teaching the subject.”