The eight Colleges in Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton offer a broad and comprehensive curriculum for students in the senior years of schooling. The information below provides background on the types of pathways that students can choose to follow their interests and “open doors” post-school. CEDR Colleges provide learning environments characterised by high academic expectations and a clear pastoral care focus. Putting young people first and helping them find meaning in their lives are key aims of Catholic education.

General Subjects  

General subjects are suited to students who are interested in pathways beyond senior secondary schooling that lead to tertiary studies and to pathways for vocational education and training and work. They include Extension subjects. Results in General subjects contribute to the award of a?Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)?and may contribute to an?Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Applied Subjects  

Applied subjects are suited to students who are primarily interested in pathways beyond senior secondary schooling that lead to vocational education and training or work. Results in Applied subjects contribute to the award of a QCE and one Applied subject result may contribute to an ATAR.

Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) 

The QCE is Queensland’s official senior secondary schooling qualification, typically awarded to students at the end of Year 12. It is internationally recognised and provides formal evidence of a student’s senior schooling achievements across a range of academic, vocational and applied learning options. It confirms that a student has completed a significant amount of learning at a required standard and pattern during Years 11 and 12. There are five key criteria that must be met for students to receive a QCE:

  1. Set amount of learning (20 credits): Students must achieve a minimum of 20 credits from QCE?recognised studies, which may include school subjects, vocational education and training (VET), and other approved learning options.
  2. Set standard of achievement: Learning must be completed at a satisfactory standard, such as a Sound Achievement (C) or better in General (or Extension) subjects, a Pass result in Applied subjects, or demonstrated competency or qualification completion for VET studies.
  3. Set pattern of learning: Of the 20 credits required, at least 12 credits must come from completed Core courses of study, with the remaining credits drawn from a combination of other recognised studies such as VET courses or certain Start Uni Now (SUN) courses. At least one Core credit must be achieved while enrolled at a Queensland school.
  4. Literacy and numeracy requirements: Students must meet QCE literacy and numeracy standards, most commonly through successful completion of senior English and mathematics subjects, or through other learning options approved by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), such as short courses in literacy and numeracy.
  5. Learning account and academic integrity requirement: Students must have a QCAA learning account to track progress towards the QCE and, from 2026 onwards, must complete a QCAA?approved academic integrity course as part of eligibility for the certificate.

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

Students who elect to study General (or Extension) subjects are assessed through a combination of school-based internal assessment and externally set and marked assessment in Year 12. Based on these results, students are awarded an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank), which is one pathway for access to tertiary education. To be eligible for an ATAR a student must:

  • complete five General subjects (Unit 3 and 4), or

  • complete four General subjects (Unit 3 and 4), plus one Applied subject (Unit 3 and 4), or

  • complete four General subjects (Unit 3 and 4), plus one completed VET qualification at AQF Certificate III level or above.

To be eligible for an ATAR, students must satisfactorily complete an English subject (i.e., achieve a minimum grade of C or higher). The result in English will only be included in the ATAR calculation if it is one of the student’s best five scaled results.

Year 10 

Year 10 is a pivotal point in the educational journey of students. As the final year of the P – 10 Australian Curriculum, it serves as an important foundation for the senior syllabuses. Colleges in Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton make decisions about subject offerings in year 10 based on the needs and aspirations of their learners.

Senior Education and Training Plans, known as SET-Ps, have for many years been an important part of the process for students in Year 10 to choose the right mix of subjects for Year 11. Students in CEDR colleges are encouraged to choose subjects that best support

  • What they want to do

  • What they are interested in

  • And what they are capable of achieving.

Teams in each college including leaders, teachers and Careers Advisors are involved in supporting students to select subjects that best meet their needs.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) 

CEDR colleges have an excellent reputation for providing multiple pathways for young people. Visit our VET page to learn more about vocational pathways at our colleges.   

Meeting students’ diverse learning needs  

Please see CEDR’s inclusive education page for more information about senior pathways that meet students’ diverse learning needs, including the Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA), a tailored, non-ranked senior schooling option for students with disabilities affecting their learning.

The teaching of Religion 

Catholic colleges seek to prioritise young people’s spirituality and Catholic religious understanding. Consequently, students enrolled in CEDR colleges will study for the entirety of Year 11 and 12 either: 

  • Study of Religion 

or

  • Religion & Ethics. 

Click on these links from the QCAA to access useful Resources for Parents and the QCE and QCIA Handbook.