At Xavier College, our curriculum is guided by the development of the whole person, a commitment to social justice and a global way of thinking, engaging and understanding. A Jesuit education encourages independent thinking, reflection, and discernment.
Our curriculum offers our students the breadth of options to find their passion and to develop their God-given gifts, but also the structure to ensure that they have a strong basis of knowledge to prepare them for any path ahead. This has been the basis of the curriculum since the very beginning of Jesuit education and speaks to what we value most about education and curriculum as a holistic human endeavour.
We encourage our students to think critically, and wherever we can, give students agency over their own learning. We provide a dynamic curriculum with a number of subject options across English, Humanities, Maths, Science, Languages, Digital & Design Technologies the Arts and Religious Education, as well as this we offer extensive Sport, Music, and Performing Arts programs to all students. In all curriculum areas, we follow the Victorian Curriculum, in F-10 and the VCE.
As part of our commitment to ensuring that every student feels known, heard and understood, Learning Diversity covers the individual needs of students at all year levels, focusing on a spectrum of learning, socio-emotional and neurodiversity that also includes gifted and talented programs, enrichment and acceleration. In addition to the formal learning that students access through classroom teachers, we offer a number of supports that allow students to access tutoring help before and after school.
Prep - Year 6
At the Junior School
In the Early Years of Junior School, a deliberate focus on the core learning areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Technologies takes precedence. These key areas of curriculum are designed around our Expeditions (outdoor education) program and provide students with a rich stimulus for learning. Our Expeditions program enriches and extends students’ learning beyond the classroom, to our stunning local environment where weekly adventures foster a sense of wonder and discovery.
Our significant curriculum shift in Years 3 and 4 challenges students to become academically courageous. Through connections to industry and the application of knowledge to real-world contexts, our approach to learning is innovative, future-focused and driven by our bespoke ASPIRE curriculum framework.
The proud tradition and structure of our Middle Years program, offers a secondary school learning approach across Years 5 and 6. This exceptional educational experience lays the strong foundations required for a successful transition to the Xavier College Senior School, academically, socially and spiritually.
Year 7 and 8
At the Senior School
Year 7 and 8 are located at the Senior School at Barkers Road, Kew in the dedicated Kostka Precinct. Our Jesuit identity is reflected in our curriculum makeup, the framework of how our curriculum is structured at 7&8 includes; Core Curriculum, Major Studies and Electives. As students’ progress through to the senior years, the Major Studies carry through years 9&10 and elective offerings expand. The Year 7&8 Curriculum is enhanced by our Instrumental Program, Reading sessions, Liturgical Singing, Personal Formation and Sports.
In Year 7&8 we have a focus on Literacy and Numeracy, this is taught through practical electives. These are aligned to the “Action” stage of the Ignatian pedagogical Paradigm, this is the stage where learnt knowledge can be consolidated, applied and through its application solidified. In Year 7, Students each complete a semester of Literacy and Numeracy in Action, at Year 8, students have a choice of their applied Numeracy elective; Statistics, Data Science, Extending though Problem Solving, Computational Thinking and Rockets and Energy. These Numeracy and Literacy electives are designed to pique students interest and engage them in rich tasks that demonstrate how literacy skills can be applied in a variety of subject domains in practical applications in the real world.
“Action – in Jesuit education, learning leads to action. Teachers provide imaginative and engaging opportunities for pupils to try out new skills, to use new knowledge, to exercise new ways of expressing themselves, their beliefs, values and questions.”
(Ignatian Pedagogy An abridged version of the document on teaching and learning in a Jesuit school.)
Through the Kostka Precinct, Students have access to Library facilities, specialist classrooms in the Arts studio, an immersive drama space, a design and technologies workshop and digital technologies and Science lab.
You can access the 2025 Year 7&8 Curriculum Guide here.
Senior Years (Years 9 and 10)
At the Senior School
In the tradition of Jesuit Education, we offer a Liberal Arts curriculum. In practice, this is done as an extension of the Core subjects through additional Major Studies in Year 9 and 10. The Major Studies cover Humanities, Arts and Languages. Students have a breadth of Languages, Arts and Humanities Majors to choose from. The breadth supports inclusion, diversity and engagement as well as providing opportunities to study content and subjects for passion, fun and enrichment. All of this aims to educate the whole person.
The study of art forms is what makes us fully human and develops our God-given talents in artistic expression. Studying the arts also develops creative problem-solving techniques, skills required for contemporary workplaces all over the world. Students will also continue their study of Languages through to Year 9. The study of Languages provides opportunity for cultural understanding and the appreciation of linguistics.
The Major Studies in Years 9 and 10 are a point of difference in the Xavier Curriculum. The subject options for students within the Major Studies are based on the Victorian Curriculum and have connected pathways to VCE courses.
At Xavier, we renew and innovate our curriculum to represent student interests, meet their future pathways demands, changes in technologies and to present contemporary opportunities for subjects and offerings for students. Recently, we have added the following subjects to Year 9: Philosophy, Astronomy, Mechanical Engineering & Design and a renewed robotics course; Applied Computer Science. At Year 10, we have added: Psychology, Electrotechnologies, Systems Engineering and Design, Product Design and Philosophical Inquiry.
You can access the 2025 9&10 Curriculum Guide here.
Senior Years (Years 11 and 12)
At the Senior School
In Years 11 and 12 students complete the VCE (Victorian Certificate Education) with the option of completing VET (Vocational Education and Training) subjects either onsite or in connection with external providers and partner schools. VET onsite includes subjects such as Aviation, Sport, Aquatics and Recreation, and Music and Sound Production. Externally, students can access a broad range of courses that include areas such as Media, Construction and Electrical.
Xavier College strives for each student to achieve to their full potential. VCE study pathways and subject offerings reflect our commitment to academic excellence. Xavier has a Head of Curriculum and Assessment and Head of Future Pathways - these leadership roles together with Tutors are pivotal to providing support, pathway options and advice to students, all through their VCE journey. Our VCE teaching team include VCAA Curriculum writers, Assessors, Exam Developers and, they are involved in various expert teaching panels delivering professional learning to schools and professional networks.
