The college has eight students enrolled in year 11 this year, with year 12 classes scheduled to run in 2014. 

Head of senior school Phil Britton said the move meant families in Bendigo had another VCE study option.

He said the college would offer more one-on-one learning because of the smaller number of students in each year level. 

“In the past (a majority of students from the college) have gone to Bendigo Senior Secondary College,” he said.

“Over the years some of the them have found that it is much bigger and they are more anonymous.

“We know the students really well and they know us, and they also provide us with really good leadership models for the students in the other year levels.”

There are 335 students enrolled in prep to year 11 at the college. Mr Britton said staff expected that number to rise in the future.

“We anticipate over the years there will be students who are not currently in year nine or 10 here, who choose to come over and complete their VCE with us,” he said.

Year 11 students and school captains Emma Selisky and Zak Lovell said they were excited to be the first pupils to study VCE at the college.

Emma, who will study health, maths, physical education, equine studies, business management and english, said she was looking forward to continuing her education at the college.

“(The students) get more one-on-one learning, so you get higher grades and also embrace Christian values,” she said. 

After completing year 12 maths last year, Zak will study health, building and construction, physical education, English and information technology.

He said he was looking forward to studying VCE and hoped to have a career in either the building industry, multimedia or as a stuntman.