Jill 25

Don't know if you have now actually moved but if it's not too late, here's a bit of guidance. I have a daughter who was 16 in November 12. She has just started Y11 here. It is VERY confusing, knowing which year they will be put in and there is a very wide age range in each year group. Also, you need to know that Queensland - as with EVERYTHING - has different rules from the rest of Australia; it seems to be a matter of principal here! To gain an OP (Overall Position) score, which is the university ranking in Queensland, you have to study at least 5 subjects for the whole of Y11 and Y12, although you study 6 and can drop your lowest grade. If you don't do this, you cannot get an OP score, so if you have not yet moved, you may have already missed the boat. If you are just arriving, you may just be in time. However, you can go on and study at TAFE (equiv of colleges of further ed in UK) and get other qualifications that will get you into uni. The OP score is not only based on your actually performance but there is a comparative element with your peers. Even careers advisors have difficulty explaining the rational and workings of this and it is about to change, to bring it more into line with other states. I think this year's Y11 is the last to get OPs. If you want to go to uni in a different state (fairly rare here - most go to uni near home and often still live at home) your OP gets converted to a Tertiary Rank. Which year a child is put in seems to rest more on how many years of schooling they have already completed rather than solely on age. It is possible to repeat years here or be put in a year group that has children older/younger. In my daughter's year group, there are children several months older than her as well as some who are more than a year younger! Very odd! Hope this has helped. Let me know if you would like more info and good luck!!