What is the senior school?
The senior school at Mountain Creek State High School encompasses Year 10, 11 and 12 and responds effectively to the specific developmental needs of adolescents, (predominantly 15 to 18 year olds). Like all students, adolescents have a range of personal, intellectual and social needs. These include completing a senior education, undertaking further education and training, leaving home, finding work and forming personal relationships. The senior years of education at Mountain Creek State High School provide an excellent framework for our students to achieve their individual career goals and to develop personal and social skills.
Curriculum framework
Currently, the senior years of schooling are directed by 2 curriculum frameworks, one operating within Education Queensland and the other externally moderated by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO).
Year 10
While the Year 10 curriculum is guided by the KLA Syllabuses, the focus is on preparing students for the QCAA Senior School Certificate. The curriculum in Year 10 provides students with the opportunity to trial senior subjects to ensure that the subject selection for Year 11 and 12 are both relevant to career goals and provide the best opportunity for successful outcomes.
Year 11 and 12
Students in Year 11 and 12 have the option of studying either the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Senior Certificate, the Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA).
QCAA Senior Certificate
Students in Year 11 and 12 study six subjects (General, Applied or VET subjects) which are certified by the QCAA. A system of both internally written and endorsed assessment pieces and externally set exams provides students with a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and for ATAR eligible students an Australian Tertiary Assessment Rank.
The ATAR is used to allocate places in tertiary institutions.
Alternate pathways
Within the QCAA framework, students who do not wish to study towards tertiary entry can choose a vocational education pathway.
All students who complete Year 12 depart with a Senior Statement. The Statement is a transcript of the learning account for all students completing Year 12 at a Queensland School. The Senior Statement shows all studies and the results achieved that may contribute to the award of a QCE or Tertiary Entrance Statement. If a student has a Senior Statement then they have satisfied the completion requirements for Year 12 in Queensland.
Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement
Students who are case managed by the SKILL Department have the option to complete the QCIA pathway in Year 11 and 12. This pathway is heavily guided by the staff at MCSHS and discussed at Term 3 ECP in Year 10. Students will receive an exit statement based on personalised learning goals. Students are eligible for the QCIA pathway if: they have evidence of being on an ICP in Year 10, will complete Year 12 in the allocated 24 Semesters and is nominated by the Principal.
If you wish to discuss this pathway further please contact the DP Inclusion.
Transition from the junior secondary to the senior school
Year 10 is seen as a transition year from middle schooling to senior schooling. Students move from a core program of study to an elective model which closely reflects the Year 11 and 12 course of study. Students have the opportunity to sample senior school subjects to ensure greater success at Year 11 and 12. This transition process is underscored by a policy of ‘no social promotion’ and supported by subject selection predicated on prerequisites. The prerequisites provide a foundation for success with further study.
The introduction of prerequisites supports our ECP program, which encourages students to assess their results against career plans and the prerequisites required for their chosen career. We also encourage students to make a realistic judgement about their progress towards these career goals.
The introduction of prerequisites also supports the concept of ‘making high school count’. Success at prerequisite study is a very good indicator of future success in a particular field of study. Our aim is to ensure that students have the best possible chance of achieving success in the subjects they choose for study in Years 11 and 12. To this end prerequisites have been included for all Year 11 and 12 subjects.
Subject offerings and time allocations
Year 10
Students study a Maths and an English subject for the full year.
Students study 4 semester units of Science (Science OR Chemistry, Physics, Marine Science, Biology) or Humanities (a History, Geography or Psyhology) with at least one semester from both areas.
Students study 2 elective subjects for the full year.
Students participate in 1, 70 minute lesson of core physical education each week.
Learning Support students have the option of studying 2 semester units of either Science or Humanities and 3 electives reflecting a more practical approach to learning.
Year 11 and 12
Students in the Senior School study 6 subjects including an English and a Maths subject.
Students following an ATAR pathway must select minimum of 4 general subjects and an Applied subject OR Certificate 3 course from any Registered Training Organisation.
Non ATAR students may choose any other combination of 6 school subjects or VET courses.
Assessment and reporting
Year 10
Students receive reports from the school at the end of each term.
Year 11 and 12
QCAA
Students are assessed using criteria based assessment and results are based on summative assessment. Students receive reports from the school at the end of each Term.
Enhancement and support programs
The senior school curriculum is further supplemented with access to accelerated learning through:
Headstart Program with the University of the Sunshine Coast.
school based traineeships and apprenticeships.
concurrent study through the school of distance education.
Career education
The focus of career education in the senior school is ensuring that students are aware of the pre-requisites and entry requirements for further study or full time work. Career education in the senior school provides a framework for subject selection which will ensure success in achieving tertiary entry or full time work.