October 18, 2016
Overall Position (OP) scores will be scrapped for Queensland high school students and a new tertiary entrance ranking system will be introduced in 2019.
Students will also face internal and external exams rather than current system of 100 per cent school-based assessment, as well as a redesigned syllabus.
The changes are part of the biggest reforms to Queensland’s secondary school system in 40 years, and were originally proposed by the previous LNP government.
Education Minister Kate Jones said on Tuesday current year 8 students would be the first to experience the new system, which had originally been expected to start in 2018.
Ms Jones said she had received advice from the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) that they would require an extra 12 months to deliver the changes required.
“Following the advice from QCAA I consulted with all major education stakeholders across sectors, principals associations and parents. All stakeholders supported the QCAA advice,” she said.
“When we roll out the new system in 2019, I want to get it right and ensure it remains strong for many years to come.”
“We will deliver a world class curriculum and learning and assessment system for teachers, students, parents and the wider community.”
Ms Jones said the new system would bring Queensland into line with the rest of Australia.
“Today I can also confirm the Queensland Australian Tertiary Admission Rank will recognise a broader range of learning than the OP system,” she said.
“It will be calculated from a student’s best five subject results which may include one Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or Subject Area Syllabus (SAS) subject.
“Already more than 20,000 students and hundreds of schools have trialled external assessments and we have received 3000 submissions from educators providing feedback on early drafts of redeveloped syllabuses.”
Ms Jones said the Senior Secondary Assessment Taskforce had laid the groundwork for change, and further contributions by teachers, students and academics would help shape the finer details of the new system.
“The taskforce unanimously recommended to government the new system begin in 2019.”
QCAA chief executive officer Chris Rider said more time was required to prepare for the changes.
“Although there has been significant progress, some transition activities will require more time to complete than originally planned,” Mr Rider said.
“In particular, this means the redevelopment of the full suite of senior subject syllabuses and delivery nearly 700 professional development workshops to about 17,000 teachers.
“It will also allow QCAA to analyse the findings of assessment trials and consult further with our education partners.”
