160794
24 October 2016 Senior secondary Number: 073/16
Stage 2 senior syllabuses: Draft 1 released for consultation
Purpose
To notify schools and teachers that the first drafts of Stage 2 senior syllabuses are available for review and feedback. Stage 2 is a further group of 12 subjects in addition to the initial 35 syllabuses from Stage 1.
Schools and teachers can provide feedback by completing an online survey.
Background
A new senior assessment and tertiary entrance system will be introduced for students entering Year 11 in 2019.
The changes are to include:
• a new senior assessment model that combines school-based assessment developed and marked by teachers with external assessment developed and marked by the QCAA
• new processes to strengthen the quality and comparability of school-based assessment
• a move from the existing Overall Position (OP) tertiary entrance rank to an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
To support the introduction of the new system, the QCAA is developing senior syllabuses in three stages.
Stage 2 includes the redevelopment of six senior syllabuses and the development of six new subjects. Subject details and the approach to redevelopment are outlined in memo 047/16:
• https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/memos/16/047-16.pdf
Drafts of the Stage 2 syllabuses will be made available for public comment on three occasions throughout Term 4, 2016 to Term 2, 2017 and feedback sought through completion of an online survey.
Expert writing teams, comprised of practising teachers with subject discipline expertise and academics, have completed this Draft 1 of the Stage 2 senior syllabuses.
This draft is now available online and QCAA invites feedback from stakeholders via the survey instrument.
Memo
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Memo
Stage 2 senior syllabuses: Draft 1 released for consultation
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority 24 October 2016 Page 2 of 3
Senior subject syllabus redevelopment
Syllabuses will include more defined assessment, greater detail in relation to subject matter, and have greater alignment across the suite of subjects. The new assessment model includes both school-based assessment and external assessment. Teachers will still have the flexibility to develop learning experiences and assessments to suit their school contexts.
Syllabuses are being redeveloped as four-unit courses, allowing structural alignment with other Australian jurisdictions, and to reflect the senior secondary Australian Curriculum. QCAA’s legislation requires it to use the senior secondary Australian Curriculum as the basis for redeveloping a comparable Queensland syllabus.
Stage 2 Draft 1 senior syllabuses include:
• a rationale outlining the particular qualities of a subject and what the students will learn
• when relevant, the valued pedagogies and/or conceptual frameworks particular to a subject
• syllabus objectives and explanations for each
• a course of study consisting of four units of work (Units 1 and 2 will be foundational). Each unit will have a unit title and description, unit objectives and detail of subject matter
• a glossary of cognitive language that will be consistent across syllabuses.
Each stage will have three drafts.
Draft 1 Draft 2 Draft 3
Rationale Objectives Units of work (x4)
• unit description
• objectives
• subject matter Glossary of terms
Refined Draft 1 Assessment
• 3 school-based + 1 external techniques
• instrument-specific marking guides
Glossary of terms
Refined Draft 2 Any further resources
Stakeholders will have opportunity to comment on each draft.
Stage 2 redeveloped senior subject syllabuses
Learning area Subject syllabuses*
Languages Chinese Extension
French Extension German Extension
Science Agricultural Science
Marine Science
Technologies Aerospace Systems
* Please note that syllabus titles are provisional while the redevelopment process continues.
Memo
Stage 2 senior syllabuses: Draft 1 released for consultation
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority 24 October 2016 Page 3 of 3
Stage 2 new senior subject syllabuses
Six new subjects are being developed to modernise existing curriculum offerings while maintaining valued learning from some current syllabuses:
Learning area Subject syllabuses*
Business and Economics Business
Science Psychology
Technologies Design
Digital Solutions Engineering Food and Nutrition
* Please note that syllabus titles are provisional while the redevelopment process continues.
What you need to do
• Click on the link to visit the Stage 2 syllabuses: Draft 1 for consultation page.
• Select the relevant learning area and syllabus.
• Review the Online survey statements provided in PDF format.
• Click on the online syllabus survey link to begin the survey. You will be able to view the syllabus and complete the survey in separate windows. The survey should take approximately 30 minutes.
• Please make your teachers, students and school community aware of the survey and encourage their participation.
Finding out more
Stage 2 syllabuses: Drafts for consultation
https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/new-snr-assessment-te/redev-snr-syll/stage2 For information about the redevelopment process, please visit
https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/new-snr-assessment-te/redev-snr-syll
Alternatively, please email [email protected] or phone 3864 0260.
Jacqueline Wilton
Director, Curriculum Services Division
