The Queensland Academy for Health Sciences caters for Years 10, 11 and 12, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma) program as the only curriculum framework in Years 11 and 12. Year 10 students complete a Pre-IB course of study that prepares them for the rigour and skill set required to successfully complete the IB Diploma. Students undergo a selective entry process prior to an offer of enrolment. The IB Diploma Program provides students with the opportunity of global University entry and in most cases advanced standing arrangements with universities. The IB Diploma Program is externally moderated to give assurance to Universities of the high quality of graduates.
The Academy will open in 2008 to Year 10 and 11 students, with a further Year 10 intake in 2009 and in subsequent years.
The Queensland Academy for Health Sciences recognises as its prime obligation the provision of access to this specialised educational program for students who, through rigorous testing, are judged to be well placed to achieve the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
In order to enable students of the academy to successfully achieve this goal enrolment capacity has been capped at 150 students per year level.
This plan sets out the requirements for enrolment of students at the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries.
The academy currently has the capacity to enrol up to 450 students, with a limit of 150 students per year level. This academy currently has the capacity to enrol up to 300 students, with a limit of 150 students per year level in its foundation year, 2008. From 2009, capacity will increase to 450 students across Years 10, 11 and 12.
Should this capacity change because of changes to occupancy capacity, this will be advertised through the approval and gazettal of an amended plan including the operative date for the new plan.
As the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries is still being developed, the enrolment eligibility plan may change as construction is completed.
Under Chapter 8 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (the Act), a principal must enrol a student at a school the student is entitled to be enrolled. Students enrolling at the Queensland Academy For Creative Industries must be eligible for general enrolment in State schools and must satisfy the specific Enrolment Criteria of the Academy set out in this plan.
Prior to assessment against the Enrolment Criteria the Academy principal must be satisfied that the student meets the general enrolment requirements for State schools. A student must meet the general requirements set out in the Act (including having an allocation of state schooling remaining, and in the case of mature aged students possess a positive notice). The principal may also defer an enrolment decision to the Director-General if a student poses an unacceptable risk to the safety or well being of the school community. Applicants who have been refused enrolment on the basis of the general enrolment requirements may pursue review rights under the Act as advised by the Academy principal.
In addition to these general requirements the student must also meet the Enrolment Criteria set out in the enrolment eligibility plan for the academy (see below).
In order to be eligible for enrolment at the academy a student must at a minimum:
The Academy Enrolment Eligibility Committee (the Committee) conducts relevant tests, interviews and auditions and provides advice to the principal about the student’s eligibility under the enrolment eligibility plan criteria. The principal will consider this advice and have regard to the Act when determining a student’s enrolment application.
Enrolment applications are to be made to the academy principal who will consider the general enrolment requirements and the assessment advice from the Committee regarding the student’s performance against the enrolment eligibility plan criteria for the academy. Students will not be eligible for enrolment unless they have undergone assessment by the Committee.
Vacancies will be filled through a strict rank order. Students will be ranked in strict order of Higher Ability Selection Test results, as long as all other elements of the enrolment process have met acceptable standards.
Should more than one round of testing be necessary in any one year, the number of enrolment places remaining from the preceding round of offers will be filled through a strict rank order, as per the above.
Australian citizens, permanent residents and their children are given priority of enrolment, with the maximum enrolment from beyond that cohort of 5% (i.e. in a cohort of 150 students this shall not exceed 8 students).
Where there are students who were considered by the Enrolment Eligibility Committee to have met the criteria set out above, but who were not enrolled in the year 10 intake due to the academy’s capacity being reached, these students will be considered for a mid year intake should vacancies exist. These vacancies will be filled through continuance of the strict rank order from the Higher Ability Selection Test results. Note: a mid year intake is not an option for Year 11 or 12 students.
In all cases the parent or student must be able to meet the financial commitment of the program fees at the academy. The Department reserves the right to suspend delivery of the educational service should parents fail to make arrangements for the payment of the program fee.
The Enrolment Eligibility Committee consists of Director Senior Schooling and Innovation (chair), Academy Principal, Parents and Citizens Association or School Board Representative and Staff Representative.
Expressions of Interest to sit the Higher Ability Selection Test (in the year prior to the intended commencement of enrolment) will be accepted at any time prior to the end of Term 1 in each year. The first round of testing will take place in Term 2 each year and no further round may necessarily occur if the full quota of acceptances are received.
Expressions of Interest will remain current only until the next available round of Higher Ability Selection Testing is made available.
Applicants who have been refused enrolment by the Academy Principal on the basis of the report by the Enrolment Eligibility Committee will be notified in writing of the reasons for the refusal by the Academy Principal, and may seek informal clarification of the reasons from the Director of Senior Schooling and Innovation.
Applicants may seek a formal review of an unsuccessful assessment by making a written submission to the Assistant Director General, Strategy and Performance. This submission should present evidence to substantiate a claim that the stated criteria have not been applied correctly or fairly.
The Assistant Director General will decide the review and provide written advice to the applicant within 14 days of the applicant's submission. The Assistant Director-General's decision on the review will be final.
1 The Higher Ability Selection Test is a test developed and scored by the Australian Council for Educational Research.
