Melbourne Grammar School holds an outstanding track record of students excelling in VCE Physical Education Units 3 & 4.
Last year, around 10,000 students across Victoria studied the subject. Of these, 23 achieved a perfect study score of 50. Four of these were from Melbourne Grammar.
Indeed, Melbourne Grammar students have achieved exceptional results in the subject over a number of years. In 2020 and 2022, Melbourne Grammar students were awarded a Premier’s VCE Award which places them at, or very near, the top in Victoria. (Premier’s VCE Awards for 2023 results are yet to be announced.)
Evan Coventry, Head of Health and Physical Education at the Senior School, says these results are the culmination of hard work and passion. “We’re extremely fortunate to have, for the most part, students who want to engage and want to learn. We build on this by exploring areas of interest to them, even if it is not directly related to the VCE curriculum. We find if you give students that little bit back and make it more personal for them, it comes back in spades in terms of the effort that they put in, and the growth that they show.”
“And while we’re very proud of those perfect scores, we’re equally proud of those students who achieve their personal best, whatever that may be,” he says. “We have exceptional staff who work with our students to be independent and creative thinkers. They work to achieve excellence, but that doesn’t mean a student needs to be the best in the class, or the best in the state – it’s about the individual’s best, whatever that may be for them.”
Science based approach draws a diverse array of students
VCE Physical Education is highly science-based according to Evan. “Most science subjects have both theoretical and practical components. VCE Physical Education has a mix of biology, psychology, and sociology within it, with the application of that theory focusing mainly on physical activity and sport.”
Due to the diverse range of topics in the subject, the students who select VCE Physical Education Units 3 & 4 do so for different reasons. “We have a range of students, from those who really love being physically active and have a passion for sport, to those who are not very sporty but enjoy learning about how the human body works,” he explains.
Lessons beyond the school grounds
“We have amazing, experienced Health and Physical Education teachers across the School who provide a positive environment where students want to ask questions and want to learn, creating an interest in the subject,” says Evan.
“And part of our job is to not just have students active during Physical Education classes, but to teach them how to be active for life,” he says. “We want them to know how they can work physical activity into their daily routines, for their health and wellbeing and all of the things that contribute to living a long, happy life.”
