210188
24 February 2021 Senior secondary Number: 009/21
Senior secondary certification agreement 2021
Purpose
To provide school principals with the 2021 senior secondary certification agreement.
Background
The senior secondary certification agreement defines a school’s role in supporting Queensland’s senior secondary curriculum, assessment and certification system. School principals are required to confirm their agreement with its terms so that their senior students can be issued with Senior Education Profiles (SEPs) at the end of the year.
What you need to do
Print and complete the agreement. Scan the signed agreement and email to [email protected] by Wednesday 10 March 2021.
Finding out more
For assistance with the agreement, please email [email protected].
Claude Jones
Director, Assessment, Reporting and ICT Systems Division
Memo
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
210189
The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) develops syllabuses and guidelines, defines the policies and procedures for the assessment and certification of students, and issues Senior Education Profiles (SEPs) to students.
Schools work within the parameters set by the QCAA to deliver effective teaching and learning programs that incorporate high-quality and relevant assessments for evaluating student
achievement. Schools develop curriculum from QCAA syllabuses and guidelines or other approved learning options, provide summative assessments for endorsement by the QCAA, submit samples of student work for confirmation and quality assurance reviews at the direction of the QCAA, and provide accurate student data and results at times and in ways specified by the QCAA.
This document defines your school’s role in supporting Queensland’s senior secondary curriculum, assessment and certification system. By signing as principal of your school, you agree to the terms of this agreement so that your senior students can be issued with Senior Education Profiles at the end of the year.
The QCAA will provide you with information that allows you to monitor your school’s progress in fulfilling the terms of this agreement.
Print and complete this page. Then scan it and email it to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Certification agreement’ by Wednesday 10 March 2021.
School: School code:
Principal’s name:
Signature:
Date: / /
Privacy Collection Notice
The information you provide on this form is being collected and used in relation to the functions and powers prescribed under Part 2 of the Education (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Act 2014. The information will be accessed by QCAA staff and handled in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009.
Information held by the QCAA is subject to the Right to Information Act 2009.
Senior secondary certification agreement 2021
Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and
Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA)
Senior secondary certification agreement 2021 Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA)
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority February 2021 Page 2 of 3
Terms of agreement
For Senior Education Profiles (SEPs) to be issued to students, I agree that my school will undertake the following steps.
1. Adhere to the QCAA’s policies, procedures and timelines as described in the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook and SEP calendar so that each student may be issued with a SEP that includes statements of results and, if eligible, a qualification.
2. Support the QCAA’s assessment processes, including subject selection, student enrolment and result information, using the QCAA Portal Student Management application, and:
a. open learning accounts for students at the start of senior secondary learning during Year 10, or in the 12 months before they turn 16, whichever comes first
b. submit timely and accurate information and data
c. maintain accurate and current school information in the QCAA Portal
d. ensure the accuracy, privacy and confidentiality of students’ personal, enrolment and results information.
3. Develop an effective quality management system for internal assessment, that includes:
a. develop and implement a school assessment policy that informs students of expectations for assessment and their responsibilities, guides teachers, and informs all staff of
expectations for their roles and responsibilities
b. ensure students are aware of QCAA requirements and relevant information
c. work with teachers, parents/carers and others who support students in their learning to promote and maintain academic integrity
d. develop a school-based process for access arrangements and reasonable adjustments (AARA) that supports early identification of students with disability and existing long-term and chronic conditions, and ensures adjustments resulting from new and temporary medical conditions or injuries are identified and managed appropriately
e. advise the student, parents/carers and assessment supervisor of any principal-reported and QCAA-approved AARA, including any written notifications from the QCAA
f. collect and store student responses that are used to make judgments for each student for internal assessment instruments in Units 1–4.
4. Participate in quality assurance processes for:
a. Subjects that have Units 1 and 2,
i. submit requested information to support the review of assessment instruments, student responses to instruments, and teacher judgments
b. Applied subjects
i. develop a study plan for each Applied subject offered that outlines the knowledge, understanding and skills, learning experiences and assessment that will be effective in implementing the objectives of the syllabus
ii. submit study plans to the QCAA for approval, via the QCAA Portal, before implementing courses.
iii. submit requested information to support the review of assessment instruments, student responses to instruments and teacher judgments
Senior secondary certification agreement 2021 Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA)
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority February 2021 Page 3 of 3
c. Applied (Essential)
i. for endorsement, submit Unit 3 and 4 internal assessment instruments and their supporting documents, via the endorsement application in the QCAA Portal ii. submit requested information to support the review of assessment instruments,
student responses to instruments and teacher judgments
iii. follow the processes for Common Internal Assessment outlined in the Guidelines for administration (GFA): Common Internal Assessment
d. General subjects and General (Extension) subjects
i. for endorsement, submit Unit 3 and 4 internal assessment instruments and their supporting documents, via the endorsement application in the QCAA Portal ii. for confirmation, submit the requested student responses to instruments, supporting
documentation and teacher judgments, via the confirmation application in the QCAA Portal
e. QCIA
i. for each student working towards a QCIA, develop a curriculum plan that identifies the learning goals to be achieved towards the end of their senior schooling
ii. submit curriculum plans for approval by the school’s QCIA leader who has the role of Moderator, via the QCAA Portal Curriculum Plan Builder
iii. submit the requested information for QCIA verification.
5. Participate in external assessment:
a. communicate to school staff, students and parents/carers the external assessment timetable, external assessment directions for students and the approved equipment list b. follow the processes for external assessment described in the QCE and QCIA policy and
procedures handbook and in the annual Directions for administration (DFA): External assessment
c. supervise external assessment, and report incidents in which an act of academic misconduct by a student is suspected or observed
6. Encourage staff to complete the QCAA’s program of accreditation modules to improve the assessment literacy of the school and as preparation for employment as QCAA casual assessors.
7. Encourage suitably skilled school staff to apply for roles as QCAA endorsers, confirmers, subject matter experts and/or external assessment markers.
8. Ensure the school has at least two Access Management Organisation Administrators to authorise local school user accounts for the QCAA Portal and assign appropriate roles to school staff, and review user access roles regularly to account for staff movements.
9. Support students’ requests for verification of information by retaining student work used in determining results for Unit 3 and 4 internal assessment until the end of Term 1 of the year following a student’s exit from the school, and responding to enquiries from the QCAA following end-of-year or mid-year certification.
