Senior secondary courses
ACARA has consulted on the content descriptions for 14 senior secondary courses. See Queensland's response on the QSA website at Consultation with ACARA.
4 English courses:
- Essential English: Focusing on literacy and language skills for effective participation in work, training and community, social and civic life
- English: Focusing on language and literature and meeting the demands for further study, work and community, social and civic life
- English as an additional language (EAL)
- a two-year Literature course
4 Mathematics courses:
- Essential Mathematics: Focusing on applied Mathematics for everyday life
- General Mathematics: Focusing on Mathematics suitable for preparation for further study with a moderate demand in Mathematics
- Mathematical methods: Focusing on higher level Mathematics
- Specialist Mathematics: For further study in Mathematics or engineering and students with a strong interest in Mathematics
4 Science courses:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Physics
2 History courses:
- Ancient History
- Modern History
This is a familiar range of courses, and matches what is currently offered in Queensland.
Further consultation is planned during 2012, which will include content descriptions and achievement standards.
It is unlikely that the Australian Curriculum senior secondary courses will be implemented in Queensland before 2015.
The senior curriculum landscape
The Senior curriculum landscape paper provides an overview of the known and anticipated alignment of current QSA syllabuses with the Australian Curriculum senior courses. It notes specific issues for each learning area, giving some considerations for the future.
Last updated: 25 November 2011