EQI School Profile Handbook
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Education Queensland International Queensland Government School Profile Handbook Queensland Department of Education International trading as Education Queensland International CRICOS provider code 00608A CONTENTS Studying in a Queensland school 4 Queensland Academies 118 Australian Tertiary Admission Rank 6 School term calendar 122 School subjects 7 Glossary of abbreviations 123 VET for international students 8 Appendix A: ATAR general subjects 124 Your Passport to Queensland 9 Appendix B: ATAR applied subjects 128 Homestay 10 Appendix C: Junior High School subjects 132 Holiday adventure programs 11 Appendix D: Sport subjects 136 Group study tours 12 A-Z school finder 14 Brisbane 16 Cairns 62 Central Queensland and Fraser Coast 72 Gold Coast 80 Sunshine Coast 98 Townsville 112 Hello and welcome to the new edition of Feedback has always been a terrific resource that provides the foundation for why we do what we do. the Education Queensland International EQI consistently rates highly when it comes to our (EQI) School Profile Handbook. students’ approval. It is significant that the majority of students put homestay as their favourite experience. We look forward to your continuing support as Where else would you want to live than with an we provide academic excellence, a safe and Australian host family? They provide that fantastic healthy lifestyle, a unique cultural experience and opportunity to experience Australia’s lifestyle first-hand affordable living to our international students. and enjoy the familiarity of the school community. At EQI, we have extensive and proven experience delivering Of course, it is also a unique and highly effective international education programs. Our culturally diverse way students improve their English! team specialises in the needs of our students by providing ongoing support to ensure learning success and enjoyment. This handbook provides the most up-to-date information to assist you in helping choose the best Our school teachers, homestay providers and international school and program, and we look forward to your coordinators continue to care for, motivate and support our continued support in Queensland education. students as they undertake their world-class education. We have listened to your feedback and have made changes to the handbook, including streamlined information, extended and new school subject offerings, a ready-reckoner school alphabetical listing for easy reference, as well as new information on the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools and the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). STUDYING IN A QUEENSLAND SCHOOL Participation Enjoy life in Participating in new activities while studying in Queensland can contribute to developing new skills and accountabilities. Queensland Learn an instrument, join a school band, volunteer in the community or maybe start a chess club. Our school staff will provide advice on the many extracurricular activities available to provide your students with a Experience the world-class education balanced program that includes health and wellbeing. and wonderful subtropical climate, and enjoy an active outdoor and Support Further peace of mind is knowing we have the freecall relaxed lifestyle. In the capital city 1800 QSTUDY (1800 778 839) support phone service for of Brisbane, there is an average international students in Queensland 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This number can also be phoned of 283 sunny days each year. from overseas, remembering to dial the +61 first. Sometimes extra advice and counselling can provide International students come to the clarity required for personal issues, as well as academic advice and future education pathways. Our Queensland to experience a natural compassionate Guidance Officers are professionally environment - from our modern, trained counsellors available to assist. green cities to the iconic Outback, Our International Student Programs team is there to support agents, families and students applying to join an EQI program. beaches, reef and rainforests. Our professional staff ensure that students are happy and confident, with first-class care so they can focus on studying and enjoying life. They will also have access to 24-hour emergency assistance and multilingual support. 4 | EQI – Queensland Government schools handbook Our program entry requirements Students must meet the entry requirements to enrol in a course or program, and must provide current and accurate information to support their application, including: the minimum level of English language proficiency, and evidence of their academic qualifications or work experience. You can find the entry requirements for each EQI education program at eqi.com.au/for-students/ policies-procedures/enrolment Extracurricular Step outside Choose from our diverse range of academic and sports subjects We prepare students for a career in their chosen field by and gain the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in taking them outside the classroom to do practical research the most desirable jobs of the future. Choose your location and learn how to apply theory to solve real problems. – we have a school for you, so decide what you want from the best choice of locations. You can live and study in a city Your Queensland education journey can be in the or a small country town, at the coast or near the rainforest. rainforest or on the Great Barrier Reef. High schools in Cairns work direct with James Cook University to In Queensland, we have beautiful beaches, pristine conduct research in the Daintree Rainforest Observatory World Heritage rainforest, coastal islands and the and on the Great Barrier Reef – swimming with turtles Great Barrier Reef. Many schools offer niche subjects and jungle surfing in the rainforest canopy. such as marine science because of their location or regional industries their research strengths. Be prepared Most of our schools are close to universities and Prepare the pathway to tertiary study and beyond. Technical and Further Education (TAFE) campuses and Take the next step in achieving a dream career with often have partnerships that can benefit students. post-secondary education and training to give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. Modern facilities and programs You can take advantage of our fast-tracked, experiential Get a 21st century education with our innovative eLearning and even direct-entry pathways to Australian technology; computer, science and multimedia laboratories; universities, TAFEs and vocational education institutions. and academic, vocational, creative arts and sports facilities. Succeed with our dedicated student support. STEM courses are available at many schools, including robotics, We support you with everything you need to succeed. coding, drone technology, engineering, digital media, 3D printing, biotechnology, industrial technology and aviation. At some or our schools, you can also participate in unique programs like She Flies – teaching girls about drone technology and encouraging girls to explore STEM careers. EQI – Queensland Government schools handbook | 5 AUSTRALIAN TERTIARY ADMISSION RANK What’s new and How is an ATAR what is ATAR? calculated? A student must be studying a minimum number of subjects that can be used in the final calculation. In most cases, students are Queensland traditionally has had a marked on how they did in the school assessments and external Year 12 Overall Position (OP) score exams that count towards the ATAR. But remember, an ATAR is a rank, so the scores need to be reinterpreted as a rank on a but has moved to the ATAR for 2021. scaling system, which means adjustments being taking into consideration on how competitive, not how difficult, a subject is. ATAR is not a score, it’s a rank. Remember to choose subjects that match your interests as well as what you’ll need for future studies. Universities sometimes set minimum ATARs, either for a course or the university, so students can only If a student gets an ATAR of 80, they don’t have apply to the if they achieve their minimum ATAR. an average of 80% for their subjects but are 20% from the top of their age group. When you choose to study at an EQI accredited high school, our personalised support is available every step of the way. The main purpose of the ATAR is to determine who gets offered a place in a university course. It is similar to being in a queue. When places are limited, the closer to the front of the queue you are, the more likely you will get in. Some years there will be fewer people in the queue or more places in the course. These affect the ATAR required to get in. 6 | EQI – Queensland Government schools handbook SCHOOL SUBJECTS Calculation of the assessment General, Authority and tertiary entrance system Eligible Year 12 students in Queensland receive an and Applied subjects ATAR ranking at the completion of studies. The ATAR is calculated on a student’s five best General General or Authority subjects subjects, or the student’s best results in a combination of four General subjects and either one Applied subject result or for senior school students are a completed VET qualification Certificate III level or above. from syllabuses approved by To be eligible for an ATAR, students must satisfactorily complete the Queensland Curriculum and a QCAA English subject. While students must meet this standard in order to be eligible for an ATAR, it is not mandatory Assessment Authority (QCAA). for this result to be used in the calculation of the ATAR. Results in General or Authority subjects can contribute to Choosing subjects the award of a QCE and may contribute to a student’s ATAR. We advise you to choose subjects according to your learning The ATAR is the national selection ranking currently goals, and what you enjoy and are good at. You should used by tertiary education providers. also carefully consider the prerequisite requirements of any courses you are considering for tertiary study. QCAA Applied subjects are from Subject Area Syllabuses and can contribute credits towards the QCE while one You can access more information about the new ATAR Applied subject may contribute to a student’s ATAR.