Queensland Academy for Health Sciences

Infobox Education in Australia
name= Queensland Academy for Health Sciences


streetaddress= Edmund Rice Drive
city= Gold Coast
state= Queensland
homepage= http://www.qahs.eq.edu.au
principal= Leanne Nixon
viceprincipal= Jane Sleeman
viceprincipal_label= Deputy Principal
enrolment= 181
staff= 35
schooltype= Public (Selective Entry)
free_label_1= School Hours
free_1= 8:30am-2:00pm
coordinates = coord|27.966706|S|153.383086|E|display=inline,title
grades= 10-11 (12 in 2009)
language= English
colours= White, Navy and Emerald color box|#FFFFFFcolor box|#000080color box|#5B9C64
established= 28 January 2008

The Queensland Academy for Health Sciences (QAHS) is a 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 [ [http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/index.html Queensland Academies Homepage (Year Levels)] Accessed 6 December 2007] . The school aims to attract students wanting to enter the scientific, medical and health-related industries [ [http://education.qld.gov.au/marketing/publication/edviews/2007/art-2007-03-01.html Health Academy Site Announced] Accessed 6 December 2007] , and will only be open to the state's 'best and brightest high school students' [ [http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/index.html Queensland Academies Homepage (Quote)] Accessed 6 December 2007]

History

On 17 April, 2005, the then premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie announced the creation of the Queensland Academies "as an innovative alternative educational program for high achieving high school students" [ [http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/history/index.html [Queensland Academies History] Accessed 22 March 2008] .

QAHS first opened on Tuesday 29th 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 [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIdEOxroeqU QAHS Opening Ceremony Report - Nine Gold Coast News] Accessed 22 March 2008] , 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.

tudent Entry

The Queensland Academy of Health Sciences is currently offering entry for Year 9 students preparing to enter Year 10 [ [http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/index.html Queensland Academies Homepage (Student Entry)] Accessed 22 March 2008] .

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 [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe8ALL5ZtpQ QAHS Promotional Video] Accessed 22 March 2008] 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 [ [http://news.theage.com.au/qld-opens-academy-to-fasttrack-careers/20080130-1p2i.html Queensland opens academy to fast-track careers] Accessed 30 January 2008] . 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 PC 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 Baccalaureate

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.

* Group 1 (Language A1): English (SL, HL)
* Group 2 (Second Languages: Mandarin (Ab Initio, SL, Anticipated SL, HL), French (Ab Initio, SL)
* Group 3 (Individuals and Societies): Psychology (SL, Anticipated SL, HL), Business and Management (SL, Anticipated SL, HL), Information Technology in a Global Society - ITGS (SL, HL)
* Group 4 (Experimental Sciences): Biology (SL, HL), Chemistry (SL, HL), Physics (SL, HL), Exercise Science - Proposed for 2009
* Group 5 (Mathematics and Computer Science): Mathematical Studies (SL), Mathematics (SL, HL)
* Group 6 (Arts and Electives): Music (SL, HL), Any 'Group 4' subject, Film "(Also known as 'Film and Television')" - Proposed for 2009

ee also

* International Baccalaureate Organisation
* List of International Baccalaureate Schools
* List of schools in Queensland

References

External links

* [http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/ Queensland Academies Homepage]
* [http://www.qahs.eq.edu.au QAHS Homepage]
* [http://www.qasmt.eq.edu.au QASMT Homepage]
* [http://www.qaci.eq.edu.au QACI Homepage]
* [http://www.education.qld.gov.au Education Queensland Portal]