“Learning in the Senior Years is about full participation in academic and co-curricular life, reaching for excellence and preparing students for the world beyond high school."
Assistant Principal - Senior Years
The Senior Years curriculum follows the Australian Curriculum as per direction from the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA).
The College pastoral care system ensures each student is personally known to their teachers as they work collaboratively towards reaching their personal, educational, and cultural goals.
There are multiple senior learning pathways available to students to prepare them for their journey after school towards tertiary study, further training, and employment.
The senior school journey begins in Year 10 where the goal is to prepare students for their Year 11 and Year 12 pathways. Year 10 courses of study run for one full year in preparation for their Year 11 (Unit 1) studies.
Students choose their subjects for Unit 1 at the start of term three after experiencing their Year 10 subjects and work through the Short Course in Career Education and Student Educational and Training (SET) Plan program.
Students undertake a number of compulsory courses including religious education, English, mathematics (core or extension), science, humanities, health and physical education, and elective subjects.
Senior schooling in Years 11 and 12
Students decide on their educational and training plan in the second term of Year 10. There are many unique and varied learning pathways to assist students to reach their secondary school goals. There are generally four main pathways for students, as follows:
1. Tertiary pathway, for students who may do further study at university or high education institutions. Students will graduate with an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank and a Queensland Certificate of Education.
2. Vocational pathway, for students wishing to go into work or continue with certificate courses at TAFE or similar educational settings. Students will graduate with one or more nationally recognised certificate courses and a Queensland Certificate of Education.
3. Blended pathway, for students who are undecided on a tertiary or vocational pathway. Students will graduate with an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank and a Queensland Certificate of Education.
4. Vocational Education and Training (VET) plus pathway, for students completing TAFE, Scholastic Aptitude Testing, and/or skills for work and vocational pathways. Students will graduate with one or more nationally recognised certificate courses and a Queensland Certificate of Education.
© BCE/St Thomas More College/2023.
Further Reading and Resources
St Thomas More College - AARA Application Form
St Thomas More College QCE Assessment Policy
Senior Subject Guide 2025-26