Senior Years

Years 10-12 are a time of growing in personal responsibility, of advanced learning, the setting of life goals and of spiritual growth. It is an exciting and fulfilling three years as students approach their graduation.

The Senior Phase of Learning is both a challenging and exciting journey for young adults. In Years 11 and 12 students step into the pathways that will lead them into the world beyond schooling. During this journey, students develop their whole selves – academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually and physically as they participate in College life. It is our goal to assist students to grow in their character, their faith, and their learning.

With regards to academics, the Senior years at Suncoast provide the depth and range of study required for students to be well prepared for employment and tertiary education. Subjects reflect the growing maturity of students and prepare students for a changing world, through the development of the 21st Century skills which underpin the Senior subjects.

Along with Literacy and Numeracy, the 21st-century skills are:

  • Critical thinking
  • Creative thinking
  • Communication
  • Collaboration and teamwork
  • Personal & social skills
  • Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) skills

The subject matter and content of the subjects provides the vehicle through which students develop and refine these vital life skills.

At Suncoast, we also believe that having a growth mindset is essential to learning. This is the understanding that a person’s abilities and skills are not fixed, and that with effort, the right attitude and persistence, a person can grow.

Senior Years Subject Guide 

Download our Senior Years Subject Guide


End of Year 12 Qualifications

Senior Education Profile

Students in Queensland are issued with a Senior Education Profile (SEP) upon completion of senior studies. This profile may
include a:
• statement of results
• Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
• Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA)

Statement of Results

Students are issued with a statement of results in the December following the completion of a QCAA-developed course of study. A
new statement of results is issued to students after each QCAA-developed course of study is completed.
A full record of study will be issued, along with the QCE qualification, in the first December or July after the student meets the
requirements for a QCE.

Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)

Students may be eligible for a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) at the end of their senior schooling. Students who do
not meet the QCE requirements can continue to work towards the certificate post-secondary schooling. The QCAA awards a QCE
in the following July or December, once a student becomes eligible. Learning accounts are closed after nine years; however, a
student may apply to the QCAA to have the account reopened and all credit continued.

Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA)

The Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA) reports the learning achievements of eligible students who complete
an individual learning program. At the end of the senior phase of learning, eligible students achieve a QCIA. These students have
the option of continuing to work towards a QCE post-secondary schooling.

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is the standard pathway to tertiary study for Queensland Year 12s.
The ATAR is the primary mechanism used nationally for tertiary admissions and indicates a student’s position relative to other
students.
QTAC will calculate ATARs for Queensland school leavers.
The ATAR is the standard measure of overall school achievement used in all other Australian states and territories. It is a rank
indicating a student’s position overall relative to other students.
The ATAR is expressed on a 2000-point scale from 99.95 (highest) down to 0, in increments of 0.05.
ATARs below 30 will be reported as ‘30.00 or less’.
The calculation of an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) will be based on a student’s:
• best five General subject results or
• best results in a combination of four General subject results plus an Applied subject result or a Certificate III or higher VET
qualification.
The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) has responsibility for ATAR calculations.


Senior Subjects

Suncoast offers three of the QCAA developed types of senior subjects — General, Applied, and where necessary, Short Courses.

Results in General and Applied subjects contribute to the award of a QCE and may contribute to an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) calculation, although no more than one result in an Applied subject can be used in the calculation of a student’s ATAR.

Typically, it is expected that most students will complete these courses across Years 11 and 12. All subjects build on the P–10 Australian Curriculum.

General Subjects

General subjects are suited to students who are interested in pathways beyond Senior secondary schooling that lead primarily to tertiary studies and to pathways for vocational education and training and work. General subjects include Extension subjects.

Applied Subjects

Applied subjects are suited to students who are primarily interested in pathways beyond Senior secondary schooling that lead to Vocational Education and Training or work.

Short Courses

Short Courses are only offered to students who are unable to achieve success in General or Applied subjects. These have been developed to meet a specific curriculum need and are suited to students who are interested in pathways beyond Senior secondary schooling that lead to Vocational Education and Training and establish a basis for further education and employment. They are informed by and articulate closely with, the requirements of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). A grade of C in Short.

Courses align with the requirements for ACSF Level 3.

 

Download our Senior Years Subject Guide here.


Year 10 Subjects

Subject Selection Year 10

The CORE subjects for Year 10 are:
English
Mathematics
Science
Humanities
Christian Studies
HPE
The two ELECTIVE subjects for Year 10 are selected from the following subjects:
Business Studies & EconomicsDance
Design & TechnologiesDrama
ArtFood & Textile Technologies
MusicDigital Technologies

Student IT technician at Suncoast

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Suncoast has a range of Vocational Education and Training opportunites which provide our students with great pathways into the workforce and further education.

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School-based Apprentice from Suncoast on a Sunshine Coast Building Site

School Based Traineeship/Apprenticeships

Suncoast has offers for school-based trainees and apprentices which allows students to combine work and study – and to move into the workforce sooner.

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Senior Years Co-Curricular Activities

Recreational and competitive sport occurs in the timetable for all students. In addition, teams of Senior students compete against other Independent schools in Touch, Rugby, Football, Volleyball, and Basketball.

An extensive Voice and Instrumental Program (SunArts) supports performance opportunities at Chapels, Assemblies and special events such as the Onstage variety concert, the biennial musical production, Easter and end of year celebrations. Chapel Bands, the Performance Band and Dance Company provide a world of performance opportunities.

Many students also choose to participate in the Voice and Instrumental programs (SunArts), Speech, Drama and Dance classes, offered at the College.

  • At Suncoast, we also believe that having a growth mindset is essential to learning. This is the understanding that a person’s abilities and skills are not fixed, and that with effort, the right attitude and persistence, a person can grow

    Lyndall Waters
    Director of Studies