The Victorian Curriculum F–10 sets out what every student should learn during their first eleven years of schooling. The curriculum is the common set of knowledge and skills required by students for life-long learning, social development and active and informed citizenship.
The Victorian Curriculum F–10 incorporates the Australian Curriculum and reflects Victorian priorities and standards.
The Victorian Curriculum F–10 is structured as a continuum across levels of learning achievement not years of schooling. This enables the development of targeted learning programs for all students, where the curriculum is used to plan in relation to the actual learning level of each student rather than their assumed level of learning based on age.
The Victorian Curriculum F-10 is the Foundation to Year 10 curriculum that provides a single, coherent and comprehensive set of content descriptions explaining what is to be taught, and associated achievement standards describing what students are able to understand and do. The curriculum includes Towards Foundation Level Victorian Curriculum (Levels A to D) for students with additional learning needs or a disability and is structured as a continuum across levels of learning achievement not years of schooling.
The Victorian Curriculum F–10 includes both knowledge and skills. These are defined by learning areas and capabilities.
The design of the Victorian Curriculum F–10 is set out below:
| Learning Areas | Capabilities |
| The Arts | Critical and Creative Thinking |
| Dance | Ethical |
| Drama | Intercultural |
| Media Arts | Personal and Social |
| Music | |
| Visual Arts | |
| Visual Communication | |
| English | |
| Health and Physical Education | |
| The Humanities | |
| Civics and Citizenship | |
| Economics and Business |
The achievement standards reflect the emphasis within the broad stages of schooling, these being:
In The Arts students participate in weekly specialist classes that focus on visual arts. This culminates in the end-of-year art walk, in which families are invited to visit their child’s home room, where their artworks from the year are on display.
The performing arts curriculum is experienced in the classroom and through a whole school production which is run every second year.
As part of its commitment to the Languages Other Than English, Northcote Primary School students from Prep to Year 6 participate in weekly Italian language classes. Every second year, Italian Day is held for students to extend their knowledge of Italian language through its culture. Students are also encouraged to participate in the Dante Alighieri Poster competition.
All students participate in weekly sport and physical education classes where they learn skills appropriate to their age and abilities.
Students participate in a Prep to Year 6 Swimming and Water Safety Program. This involves travelling to an aquatic centre, learning basic swimming skills as well as water safety and survival.
Prep to Year 3 students are also able to participate in the Kelly Sports programs that are held after school.
Year 5 and 6 students can participate in interschool athletics and sports competitions.
At the annual whole school Athletics Day, students compete in their houses in a range of activities, from simple relay and ballgames, vortex throwing and traditional track to field events.
The Northcote Primary School Library is a reading hub, with all students spending at least one session per week with their teacher, browsing, borrowing and reading. The library is staffed by a library technician three days a week, and students can borrow books on a weekly basis.
The library is also open over two lunchtimes each week for students to browse and read, or to use as a calm and quiet space to relax and enjoy.
Whole school assemblies are held on Monday mornings, this is a chance to celebrate student and school achievements. All parents and carers are welcome to attend.
Throughout the year, other whole school events include a bi-annual Italian Day, Book Day, a bi-annual production and various other events and celebrations.
School camps are a chance for students in Year 1 to Year 6 to explore the world around them. Years 1 and 2 attend an overnight camp to build their confidence in the camping program. Year 3 and 4 students enjoy a two-night camp, and Year 5 and 6 students experience a three-night adventure that alternates between country and coastal.
Various incursions are held throughout the year, where special guests attend to run a program or session with students and their teachers. Excursions are also held throughout the year for each year level, where students can leave the school for a curriculum-related activity.
