Subject Selection

The task of selecting an appropriate course of study for students as they enter their final two years of secondary education is a very important one. It is a process that should be done carefully and realistically and the school endeavours to provide accurate career information and a school based process to help students, parents and carers make informed decisions.

Many students in Year 10 have only a vague and general idea of the career path they wish to follow. This is not unusual nor should it be of great concern at this stage. Students arrive at future career options not as an event but as the result of a process and career options and interest gain greater focus as students work their way through Year 11 and Year 12.

All Year 10 students undertake one careers lesson per week. The aim of this weekly lesson is to help students:

clarify interests, abilities and achievements
gain information on the types of employment available for school leavers
understand tertiary entrance (Overall Position - OP) and how the tertiary entrance system operates
gain information on the subjects available at Wynnum High
develop their Learning Pathways Plans for Year 11 and Year 12.

The school provides guidance and assistance throughout a student’s enrolment. All Year 10 students and their parents are interviewed at the end of Term 3 for the senior school. This interview takes place with a member of the senior management team (Administration or Head of Department) of the school. Year 10 students are expected to bring their Learning Pathways Plan and subject selection form for the senior school to the interview.

What Subjects are available?
Wynnum State High School offers senior Authority subjects, senior Authority-registered subjects and stand-alone vocational certificates. Link to second paragraph on senior school page – also middle school page

Authority Subject
Authority subjects are approved by the Queensland Studies Authority and are offered statewide in Queensland secondary schools. Achievements in these subjects are recorded on the Senior Statement and are used in the calculation of the Overall Position (OP). Some authority subjects may have accredited vocational education modules embedded in them. These modules appear on the Senior Statement.

Authority Registered Subject
These subjects are those devised from an Authority developed Study Area Specification (SAS) or developed by the school for which a study plan or work program is accredited. Achievements in these subjects are recorded on the Senior Statement. They are not used in the calculation of an OP but may be used in the calculation of a Selection Rank. Authority Registered subjects emphasise practical skills and knowledge relevant to specific industries.

Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Student achievement in accredited vocational education modules or Stand-Alone Certificates is based on industry endorsed competency standards and is recorded on the Senior Statement. The modules are recognised within the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and this may give advanced standing towards and/or credit on entry to higher level courses at TAFE institutes and other registered training organisations.

Recorded Subject
A Recorded subject is a subject other than an Authority subject or an Authority Registered subject which is offered by a school or another educational institution approved by the QSA. Recorded subjects can be either approved TAFE subjects or qualifications from accredited agencies, for example Music, Dance, Speech and Drama.

Wynnum State High School offers the following senior Authority subjects, senior Authority-registered subjects and stand-alone vocational certificates.

Senior Authority Subjects
Accounting QCE – 4 points	Ancient History QCE – 4 points
Visual Art QCE – 4 points	Biological Science QCE – 4 points
Business Communication and Technologies QCE – 4 points	Chemistry QCE – 4 points
Drama QCE – 4 points	English QCE – 4 points
Film, Television and New Media QCE – 4 points	French QCE – 4 points
Geography QCE – 4 points	Graphics QCE – 4 points
Home Economics QCE – 4 points	Information Processing and Technology QCE – 4 points
Legal Studies QCE – 4 points	Mathematics A QCE – 4 points
Mathematics B QCE – 4 points	Mathematics C QCE – 4 points
Modern History QCE – 4 points	Music QCE – 4 points
Music Extension (Yr 12 only) QCE – 2 points	Physical Education QCE – 4 points
Physics QCE – 4 points	Science 21 QCE – 4 points

Senior Authority Registered Subjects
Prevocational Mathematics QCE – 4 points	Creative Arts – Visual Art Studies QCE – 4 points
English Communication QCE – 4 points	Marine and Aquatic Practices QCE – 4 points
Physical Recreation – Strand B – Lifesaving QCE – 4 points	Physical Recreation – Strand C - Rugby League QCE – 4 points
Social and Community Studies QCE – 4 points

Stand-alone Vocational Certificates
Certificate II in Business QCE – 4 points	Certificate III in Children’s Services QCE – 8 points
Certificates I in Engineering and Furnishing QCE – 4 points (2 points per certificate)	Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations) QCE – 4 points
Certificate II in Information Communications & Technology QCE – 4 points	Certificate II in Tourism (Operations) QCE – 4 points

Senior students may also participate in the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE Partnership with Schools Program. These courses will allow students to achieve nationally recognised certificates not offered at Wynnum High School. For details of thePartnership with Schools Programcourses click the link.

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Subject Selection

Senior Authority Subjects