SENIOR HANDBOOK for 2012

QUEENSLAND CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION
New law and registering young people
The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) is Queensland’s new senior schooling qualification.
The new law
The Youth Participation in Education and Training Act 2003 was introduced on 1 January 2006. The law means it
is compulsory for all young people to be either ‘learning or earning’ until they turn 17.
What does the law mean?
Young people need to stay at school until they finish Year 10 or turn 16, whichever comes first.
After that, if they aren’t working at least 25 hours per week, young people will need to:
o Stay in education or training for a further 2 years, or
o Get a QCE, or
o Get a Certificate III vocational qualification or higher, or
o Turn 17…
whichever comes first.
Every young Queenslander must be registered with the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) in Year 10 or in
the year before they turn 16.
Overview
What is the QCE?
The QCE is Queensland’s senior schooling qualification. The Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) will award
young people a QCE when they complete the senior phase of learning – usually the end of Year 12.
To be awarded a QCE young people will need to achieve a significant amount of learning, including literacy and
numeracy, at set standards.
How does the QCE work?
The QCE recognises broad learning options and offers flexibility in what, where and when students learn.
A wide range of learning, including academic subjects, vocational education, workplace learning and university
subjects, can contribute towards the QCE.
Different types of learning attract different numbers of credits. Students must have at least 20 credits to be
awarded a QCE.
Planning for a QCE
All students in Year 10 will develop a Senior Education and Training (SET) plan. The SET plan helps students
structure their learning around their abilities, interests and ambitions.
It will map out what, where and how a student will study during their senior phase of learning – usually Years 10,
11 and 12. The SET plan needs to be agreed by the student, their parents or carers, and the school. It can be
started at any time, but should be finalized by the end of Year 10.
Schools and students regularly review the SET plan to monitor progress. The plan can be updated at any time.
St Margaret Mary’s College Senior Handbook for 2012 Page 17