New record for QCE achievement

Queensland state schools’ graduating class of 2014 set a new record for the achievement of Queensland Certificates of Education (QCEs).

Education Minister Kate Jones said 2014 was also Queensland’s best ever year for Indigenous state school student outcomes, resulting in a declining gap in almost every measure.

The 2014 Year 12 Outcomes Report released by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority today shows almost 91 per cent of 2014 Year 12 students received a QCE.

Ms Jones said this represented the highest proportion achieved since the system was introduced in 2008.

“Overall the number of students receiving a QCE rose to 44,760, a 2.3 per cent increase on the proportion of students who achieved the certificate in 2013,” she said.

“In addition, more than 20 per cent of Queensland students received a vocational education and training certificate III or higher while completing their senior schooling. This represents 10,230 students, a 1.9 per cent increase from 2013.”

Ms Jones said Indigenous students in state schools recorded a 20 per cent rise in Year 12 completions, achieving an 82 per cent QCE success rate, with 57 per cent of eligible students receiving an Overall Position (OP) 1 to 15.

“Almost 1800 Indigenous students completed Year 12 in Queensland state schools, up 300 from 2013,” he said.

“The proportion of Indigenous state school students achieving a QCE rose from 72.8 per cent to 82.4 per cent, significantly reducing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous QCE attainment from 14.3 per cent in 2013 to 8.3 per cent in 2014.”

Students completing a School-based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SAT) rose from 5445 in 2013 (11.4 per cent) to 6631 in 2014 (13.5 per cent), an increase of 2.1 per cent.

Ms Jones said a shift in the distribution of OP scores from the lower bands (16-25) to the higher bands (1-15) recorded between 2008 and 2012 had stabilised.

“While the number of students completing year 12 has increased since 2008, the number of students receiving an OP score has remained fairly constant with very little change in the distribution of OP bands since 2012,” she said.

“The proportion of 2014 OP recipients who received OP 1-15 is the same as 2013 at 79 per cent.”

Media contact: Emma Smith (Minister Jones’ Office) 0417 405 879