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Senior Schooling
Post-Compulsory Schooling
After Year 10, students enter post-compulsory schooling, where the government offers the choice to all students to either “earn or learn”. Students have more control over their subject choices and educational pathways. All pathways shown, should be celebrated as a success for students, regardless of their choices, pending successful engagement or completion. Not all successful pathways after Year 10 include school. Students can depart provided they are fully employed, or engaged in an Apprentice or Traineeship, or other forms of higher education.
Pathways involving the college in year 11 & 12 include the attainment of;
Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
Queensland Certificate of Individual Attainment (QCIA)
An Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
School-based Apprenticeship or Traineeship.
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) are key components of senior school education in Queensland, essential for your child's academic and future career prospects. A student would not engage in Post-compulsory schooling, if not aiming to achieve one of these two outcomes.
Parent Information - Senior Schooling & Pathways
Parent Information - Senior Schooling & Pathways
Students develop a deep understanding of the possible pathways, during our Careers program, which forms part of the Pastoral Care class. Careers units begin at the end of year 8 and guide students on a journey, discovering their own strengths and interests and supports aligning these, with possible careers. The program then supports students in understanding that there is many ways to achieve a particular career, and supports them determining a pathway that is right for them. Finally, it aligns closely with the Subject Selection process for senior school.
Parents are a critical partner in the development of a students' Senior Education & Training Program (SETP). The provided video, outlines some of the must know aspects of the Careers Program, to best support parents in playing their role in the journey for their young person.
Senior Pathways for Parents v2.mp4Senior Schooling - What you need to know!
Senior Schooling - What you need to know!
heading into Senior Schooling can be a challenge, for students and families. See the video for the basic information needed, as you begin the journey into year 11 & 12.
Senior Schooling v2.1.mp4What is a QCE?
What is a QCE?
All students engaged in year 11 & 12 study, must be aiming to achieve a QCE. A QCE is awarded to students who successfully complete their senior secondary education. To receive a QCE, students must earn at least 20 credits from a combination of school subjects, vocational education and training (VET), or other recognized studies, while meeting literacy and numeracy standards. Credits are typically earned with the successful completion of units of General and Applied subjects or at the completion of certificate courses. For general and applied subjects, 1 credit point is awarded for each successful unit. Unit 1 and 2 are achieved separately, however unit 3 & 4 are awarded together.
What is an ATAR?
What is an ATAR?
To achieve an ATAR, students must complete at least 4 General subjects and 1 Applied subject or certificate course. Students can receive an ATAR even if they do not intend to go to university. It can serve as a benchmark of their academic performance and may be useful for other post-school options. The ATAR is a ranking system used to assess and compare the academic performance of students across Australia. It is a percentile score ranging from 0.00 to 99.95, indicating a student's position relative to their peers. Universities use the ATAR to select students for various courses, making it crucial for students aiming for immediate entry into higher education.
School-based Apprenticeships & Traineeships
School-based Apprenticeships & Traineeships
Traineeships and Apprenticeships
These programs combine practical work experience with vocational training, allowing students to earn qualifications and gain hands-on skills in various trades and professions. School-based traineeships and apprenticeships typically involve students studying for their QCE at school four days a week, while working onsite with a training employer on the other day. These pathways can lead directly to employment and allow students to complete their trade qualification while also obtaining their QCE.
Post compulsory Subject Choices
Post compulsory Subject Choices
Subjects in the Senior School are split into three categories. General, Applied and Certificate (VET) subjects. At Catherine McAuley College, VET subjects are delivered by teachers at this school, hosted by external Registered Training Organisations (RTO). These subjects can incur additional costs and this should be understood, prior to selection.
Students must select a total of 6 subjects. One must be from the English faculty, to ensure the Literacy component of the QCE can be completed. Another from the Mathematics Faculty, to ensure the Numeracy component of the QCE can be completed and finally, another must be selected from the Religion Faculty. The final 3 subjects should be chosen, with consideration given to student enjoyment, ability to be successful and course requirements outlined in the Senior Education & Training Planning (SETP) process. It is also important to know that subjects will only occur in senior schooling, if enough students select a particular subject, so it is also good practice to have a back up choice prepared. There are of course some variations to this pattern of engagement, that will be discussed with individual circumstances considered, during the SETP interview.
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