Neil McDonald, Acting Chief Executive Officer Secondary School Leaders Forum

What is QSA? Essentially a partnership of teachers, principals, public servants and other education stakeholders who perform functions defined in legislation. –The Authority is a 20-person representative board –The Office is responsible for implementing the decisions of the board –The many thousands of teachers in hundreds of schools.

2013 Forums – working closely with principals and stakeholders Townsville Cairns Mackay Rockhampton Maryborough Sunshine Coast Brisbane-Ipswich Gold Coast Mt Isa Longreach Bundaberg Toowoomba

The Queensland Studies Authority’s vision is to provide quality, innovative and future-focused products and services to assist all Queensland educational communities. QSA Improvement Plan

Snapshot of educational landscape

Review of QSA legislation Review of QSA legislation and functions: Conducted by Department of Education, Training and Employment Education (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Bill 2013 was introduced into the Parliament for its first reading – 29 October The Bill has been referred to the Education and Innovation Committee for consideration New legislation planned for 1 July 2014.

Parliamentary inquiry Parliamentary inquiry into assessment methods used in senior mathematics, chemistry and physics in Queensland schools. Report containing 16 broad recommendations was released on14 October 2013.

Parliamentary inquiry The Parliamentary Committee considered three main issues: –whether current assessment processes are supported by teachers –student participation levels –ability of assessment processes to support valid and reliable judgements of student outcomes. The Government to respond within 3 months.

Review of senior assessment and tertiary entrance Review of senior assessment and tertiary entrance processes. ACER – Gabrielle Matters and Geoff Masters. Report due in July Terms of reference very broad. Widespread consultation with stakeholders.

Terms of reference for the review The review will consider the effectiveness of the systems and identify ways to improve, revitalise or reform them. With respect to assessment and reporting, the review will consider: –comparability of student standards of achievement –appropriateness, validity and reliability of various types of assessment instruments –form and content of reporting –implications of the Australian Curriculum.

Terms of reference for the review With respect to tertiary entrance, the review will consider: –alternatives to the OP system –how to include a wider range of achievements in the TE rank –the role and effectiveness of the QCS Test –roles of QSA and QTAC. The review will also consider communication messages and strategies to help students, parents and others to understand the systems of senior assessment and tertiary entrance.

The real story about eligibility rates

Evidence that it is working

Percentage of population receiving an OP1

Percentage of population with an OP 1 to 5

QCS Test marking… Markers

QCS Test marking… Each aspect of SR testpaper is marked by at least 2 markers. Each WT response is marked by at least 3 markers. Analysis team monitor and identify discrepancies between markers.

Analysis of marker consistency…

2013 online release of results and OPs Student Connect website ( From 9.00 am on Saturday 14 December 2013 LUI and password to login QSA needs your help to: –make sure students have their LUI –encourage students to log in and activate their learning account before they leave school.

QSA — Responding to stakeholder needs: Secondary schools: strengthening the review panel system supporting implementation of EEIs Industry and schools: Essential Mathematics for the Trades

Working with our stakeholders Primary schools: overcrowded curriculum resources to support schools.

Working with our stakeholders Special needs: curriculum offerings certification.

Working with our stakeholders Special needs actions: –Develop a small suite of adjusted subject area syllabuses (SASs). –Develop of a curriculum framework (learning expectations) for QCIA. –Provide information about recognised studies. –Develop and implement communication strategy for the current QCIA requirements. –QSA continues to work with special education stakeholders to progress the actions and provide professional development.

Curriculum for students with special needs Authority Syllabuses Overall Position (OP) Subject Area Syllabuses (SASs) Subject areas syllabuses for students with special needs Individual Education Plans Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA) Learning expectations for the QCIA

Some useful new resources Fractions Paper NAPLAN Test Reporting Handbook QCS Test guide for parents/carers and sample maths questions

Australian Curriculum

The 3-dimensions of Australian Curriculum F-10 Learning areas: Discipline learning General capabilities: 21 St Century Skills Cross-curriculum priorities: Contemporary issues

P–10 Australian Curriculum TimelinesLearning areas Phase 1 completed 2010 English Mathematics Science History Phase 2 and 3 to be completed 2013 Geography The Arts Visual Arts Media Dance Music Drama Health and physical education Technologies Digital technologies Design and technologies Civics and citizenship Economics and Business Languages Work Studies Year 9-10 General capabilities Literacy Numeracy Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability Critical and Creative Thinking Ethical Understanding Personal and Social Capability Intercultural Understanding Cross-curriculum priorities Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia Sustainability

P–10 Queensland implementation EnglishHistoryGeographyThe Arts MathematicsHealth & Physical Education ScienceCivics & Citizenship Technologies Economics and Business Languages

Implementation challenge 72%79% 49%

Australian Senior Curriculum QSA “course” integrate national content and achievement standards add assessment and certification requirements ACARA “subject” content achievement standards School “work program” o utlines how the course is implemented

Senior secondary Australian Curriculum: Ministerial decision The next step towards national consistency. The agreed and common base. ACARA is working with states and territories: –common content –validation of the draft achievement standards –processes and timelines –further senior secondary curriculum.

15 endorsed senior secondary Australian Curriculum subjects Australian CurriculumCurrent Queensland Syllabus Essential EnglishEnglish Communication SAS – 33% EnglishEnglish – 74% LiteratureNo Qld equivalent English Extension (continued) English as an additional language/dialect English for ESL Learners – 1% Essential MathematicsPrevoc Mathematics SAS – 24% General MathematicsMaths A – 56% Mathematical MethodsMaths B – 36% Specialist MathematicsMaths C – 9%

15 endorsed senior secondary Australian Curriculum subjects Australian CurriculumCurrent Queensland Syllabus ChemistryChemistry – 20% PhysicsPhysics – 15% BiologyBiology – 29% Earth and Environmental Science New Subject – will replace Earth Science – 1% Modern HistoryModern History – 12% Ancient HistoryAncient History – 10% GeographyGeography – 11%

Developing Queensland courses Implementation strategy Consultation Syllabus and resource development Implementation Professional development Consultation Staged implementation or all at once? Sequencing subjects – which ones first? Develop design briefs or wait till reviews are finalised? What resources do schools need? How do we engage relevant people in the process? What is the role of principals and curriculum leaders? When is the best time for PD? Who should attend?