The VELS Curriculum
The VELS provide a clear set of state-wide standards for assessment of student achievement at six levels. These VELS levels are broadly related to the school year levels as set out in the table below. Although students do not all progress at the same rate, typically students will achieve the standards by the end of the relevant year level.
Standards built up over time
Standards are introduced when appropriate to students’ development as they move through the different stages of their schooling and where they are essential for future learning and success. The table also shows the levels at which standards apply in each learning area.
Levels with standards for assessment and reporting
In Prep, students focus on the foundational areas of literacy and numeracy. As students move through the school years, standards are introduced from other areas of the three strands. The standards steadily become more challenging as they develop through to the end of Year 10.
In levels where standards do not apply, students still learn knowledge and skills from these areas, although they may not necessarily be formally assessed. For example, while standards in Science are introduced in Level 3 (Years 3 and 4), aspects of Science knowledge and skills will generally still be taught in Years Prep, 1 and 2.
