Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
Encyclopedia
The Queensland Academy for Health Sciences (QAHS) is a State Government selective high school
located in Queensland
, Australia
. QAHS offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
to students in years 11 and 12, and is also open to year 10 students, who study a shortened version of the IB Middle Years Programme. The school aims to attract students wanting to enter the scientific, medical and health-related industries, and will only be open to the state's 'best and brightest high school students'
announced the creation of the Queensland Academies "as an innovative alternative educational program for high achieving high school students".
QAHS first opened on Tuesday 29 January in time for the commencement of the 2008 Australian school year. The following day, an Official Opening Ceremony was held in the school's Lecture Theatre, which was attended by the foundation principal Leanne Nixon, the foundation deputy principal Jane Sleeman, and dignitaries including the current Queensland Premier Anna Bligh
and Education Minister Rod Welford
.
Student entry to QAHS is a two-phase process. Firstly, students complete an entry exam, which is generally held between June and August in locations throughout Queensland. Special requests to sit the exam outside of these test locations can also be made for people who live in rural areas or cities outside of Queensland. Successful students then move on to an interview with Education Queensland staff. Students who are successful in the interview will receive an invitation to attend the Academy.
In February of the school's foundation year, a radio and internet campaign was launched to attract students wishing to enter the Academy in 2009.
for use in their classes, and subsequently, the majority of the work conducted at QAHS is able to be done digitally. All classrooms on the QAHS campus have data projectors as well as whiteboards, allowing teachers to conduct their classes more efficiently, and engage their students in different ways compared to traditional schools. Many classrooms also have access to videoconferencing equipment so that students can interact with industry professionals and other high-profile figures from around the world. The school features smart-card access to most exterior main doors as well as the interior doors inside the science laboratories for higher security. The smart-cards also offer electronic roll marking at any smart-card terminal, replacing traditional teacher roll marking. The entire campus also features wireless internet access and audio loops.
Because of the selective nature of student entry, the two-year International Baccalaureate courses studied at QAHS is fast-tracked. Year 10 students at the Academy study an accelerated version of the IB Middle Years Program and begin their Year 11 education in Term 4. Additionally, several subjects, including Psychology
, Business
and Management
, and Mandarin are able to be anticipated by Year 11 students, allowing them to complete the normal two-year course in one-year. This allows students more time to complete other requirements of the International Baccalaureate program, attend focused lectures and tutorials, as well as earning credits towards their university education.
A variety of subjects are currently offered at the Academy that are aimed to provide all students with a balanced and solid foundation entering health science, and other high-level university fields. As per the rules of the International Baccalaureate, one subject from each of the groups must be studied. However, students at QAHS have special permission from the IBO to study two sciences (one in place of a traditional 'Group 6' subject) due to the specialisation of the school in the health sciences field.
There are four houses:
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. QAHS offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
to students in years 11 and 12, and is also open to year 10 students, who study a shortened version of the IB Middle Years Programme. The school aims to attract students wanting to enter the scientific, medical and health-related industries, and will only be open to the state's 'best and brightest high school students'
History
On 17 April 2005, the then premier of Queensland, Peter BeattiePeter Beattie
Peter Douglas Beattie , Australian politician, was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland for nine years and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state for eleven and a half years...
announced the creation of the Queensland Academies "as an innovative alternative educational program for high achieving high school students".
QAHS first opened on Tuesday 29 January in time for the commencement of the 2008 Australian school year. The following day, an Official Opening Ceremony was held in the school's Lecture Theatre, which was attended by the foundation principal Leanne Nixon, the foundation deputy principal Jane Sleeman, and dignitaries including the current Queensland Premier Anna Bligh
Anna Bligh
Anna Maria Bligh is an Australian politician and the Premier of Queensland since 2007. The 2009 Queensland state election was the first time a female-led political party won or retained state or federal government in Australia...
and Education Minister Rod Welford
Rod Welford
Rodney Jon Welford is the current Chief Executive of the Australian Council of Recycling Inc, the national peak industry body for the recycling industry in Australia...
.
Student Entry
The Queensland Academy of Health Sciences is currently offering entry for Year 9 students preparing to enter Year 10.Student entry to QAHS is a two-phase process. Firstly, students complete an entry exam, which is generally held between June and August in locations throughout Queensland. Special requests to sit the exam outside of these test locations can also be made for people who live in rural areas or cities outside of Queensland. Successful students then move on to an interview with Education Queensland staff. Students who are successful in the interview will receive an invitation to attend the Academy.
In February of the school's foundation year, a radio and internet campaign was launched to attract students wishing to enter the Academy in 2009.
Facilities
The QAHS campus features seven university standard science laboratories, a multimedia suite, a sports and recreation centre and a 500 seat lecture theatre. In addition to this, students are also able to have limited access to facilities, including the library and lecture theatres, at the nearby Griffith University Gold Coast campus. All of the facilities on the QAHS campus with the exception to the gym are air-conditioned.Use of Technology
All students who enter the Academy are required to obtain a Tablet PCTablet computer
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
for use in their classes, and subsequently, the majority of the work conducted at QAHS is able to be done digitally. All classrooms on the QAHS campus have data projectors as well as whiteboards, allowing teachers to conduct their classes more efficiently, and engage their students in different ways compared to traditional schools. Many classrooms also have access to videoconferencing equipment so that students can interact with industry professionals and other high-profile figures from around the world. The school features smart-card access to most exterior main doors as well as the interior doors inside the science laboratories for higher security. The smart-cards also offer electronic roll marking at any smart-card terminal, replacing traditional teacher roll marking. The entire campus also features wireless internet access and audio loops.
Curriculum
Main article: International BaccalaureateBecause of the selective nature of student entry, the two-year International Baccalaureate courses studied at QAHS is fast-tracked. Year 10 students at the Academy study an accelerated version of the IB Middle Years Program and begin their Year 11 education in Term 4. Additionally, several subjects, including Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, Business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and Management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, and Mandarin are able to be anticipated by Year 11 students, allowing them to complete the normal two-year course in one-year. This allows students more time to complete other requirements of the International Baccalaureate program, attend focused lectures and tutorials, as well as earning credits towards their university education.
A variety of subjects are currently offered at the Academy that are aimed to provide all students with a balanced and solid foundation entering health science, and other high-level university fields. As per the rules of the International Baccalaureate, one subject from each of the groups must be studied. However, students at QAHS have special permission from the IBO to study two sciences (one in place of a traditional 'Group 6' subject) due to the specialisation of the school in the health sciences field.
- Group 1 (Language A1): EnglishEnglish studiesEnglish studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
(SL, HL) - Group 2 (Second LanguagesIB Group 2 subjectsThe Group 2 subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of the nearly 80 additional languages offered and may be studied at the following levels: A2 , B , or ab initio . Latin and Classical Greek are also offered and may be taken at SL or HL...
: Mandarin (Ab Initio, SL, Anticipated SL, HL), FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
(Ab Initio, SL) - Group 3 (Individuals and SocietiesIB Group 3 subjectsThe Group 3 subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of nine courses offered at both the Standard level and Higher level : Business and management, Economics, Geography, History, Information technology in a global society , Islamic history, Philosophy, Psychology, and Social and cultural...
): PsychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
(SL, Anticipated SL, HL), BusinessBusinessA business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
and ManagementManagementManagement in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
(SL, Anticipated SL, HL), Information Technology in a Global Society - ITGS (SL, HL) - Group 4 (Experimental SciencesIB Group 4 subjectsThe Group 4 subjects of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme comprise the main scientific emphasis of this internationally recognized high school programme. They consist of five courses, four of which are offered at both the Standard Level and Higher Level : Chemistry, Biology,...
): BiologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
(SL, HL), ChemistryChemistryChemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
(SL, HL), PhysicsPhysicsPhysics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
(SL, HL), Exercise Science is currently under probation. - Group 5 (Mathematics and Computer ScienceIB Group 5 subjectsThe Group 5 subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of four different mathematics courses and two computer science courses. To earn an IB Diploma, a candidate must pass one of the following four mathematics courses: Mathematical Studies SL , Mathematics SL, Mathematics HL , or Further...
): Mathematical Studies (SL), MathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
(SL, HL) - Group 6 (Arts and ElectivesIB Group 6 subjectsThe Group 6 subjects of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme consist of four courses at both Standard Level and Higher Level : Music, Theater, Visual Arts, and Film...
): MusicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
(SL, HL), Any 'Group 4' subject
House system
From 2010, QAHS introduced a House System. Students can gain points for their house from entry into various competitions, challenges and events both at the Academy, locally or nationally. There will be a trophy at the end of the Year for the House with the most points.There are four houses:
- Ignis (fire) – Ruby colour
- Aqua (water) – Sapphire colour
- Ventus (wind) – Topaz (yellow) colour
- Terra (earth) – Emerald colour
See also
- International Baccalaureate Organisation
- List of schools in Queensland
- Queensland Academy for Creative IndustriesQueensland Academy for Creative IndustriesThe Queensland Academy for Creative Industries is a high school in Queensland, Australia. Central to the academy's ideals is the education of the "creative generation", hoping to provide a platform for students to pursue careers in traditional arts fields such as film and television, music, visual...
- Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology