Students in year 11 & 12 form our senior school.
The curriculum diverges from the P- 10 Australian Curriculum and is transferred to satisfy the requirements of the Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA). The QCIA gives an overview of students demonstrated educational achievements within five curriculum organisers. These include; Community citizenship and the environment (CCE), Communication and technologies (CT), Personal and living dimensions (PLD), Leisure and recreation (LR) and Vocational and transition activities (VTA).
In year 10, students and families participate in PATH (Planning Alternate Tomorrows with Hope) conversations to capture vision statements, dreams and goals for each student, whilst reflecting on their passions and interests at that point in time. Once the PATH conversation is completed, it is placed on OneSchool to support the creation of the PFAP (Personal Future Action Plan) in preparation for the student’s senior years.
The QCIA (Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement) curriculum is generated within each students’ individualised PFAP, which will guide each young person's learning journey through the senior phase of learning. The PFAP’s purpose it to provide a plan of action for students to participate in specific learning opportunities that put them on track for success in senior secondary, post-school education and work placement.
The PFAP is designed to facilitate the student’s ability to achieve their full potential. The plan combines the values of school, home and the community with the student’s specific individual needs. The success of this process is the responsibility of the stakeholders who all collaborate and cooperate in the design and implementation of the plan. Students continue to engage with specialist programs at alternate periods throughout the senior secondary phase of learning.
Programs offered include the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden (SAKG), Sustainability (E-Waste), Healthy Choices, Services, Swimming/Surfing, Science, Art, Music, Community access, Travel Training, English Unit of work with Balanced Literacy and Information Technologies, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), Sampling of post-school agencies, Certificate approved courses, and external work experiences opportunities including Currumbin RSL, GoodStart Early Learning Centre, Sir Lunch-a-lot, Currumbin Fair Nursery and Bunnings.
Your child may also be enrolled in one or more VET certificate courses offered through the Special Education Training Alliance (SETA) that are taught by VET trained school staff. These courses are overseen and managed by SETA central RTO based at Currumbin Community Special School (RTO 41021).
On successful completion of the course your child will be awarded a nationally recognised qualification. If your child does not complete the full qualification they will receive a Statement of Attainment outlining the units that have been completed successfully.
The courses available at Western Suburbs State Special School are:
• FSK10113 - Certificate I in Access to Vocational Pathways
• SIT10213 - Certificate 1 in Hospitality
For more information on SETA, specific certificate courses and copies of the complaints and appeals policy please visit
the SETA website.
The senior school prides itself on connecting community experience with school curriculum. It is focused on delivering a variety of interactions that set our students up for success in the future.