Hubbard’s has been involved with preparing students to sit External exams in Queensland since 1952. Hubbard’s used to be a private company. Since 2001, it has been an accredited non-state school  just like a Grammar School or your local independent school.  I have been associated with Hubbard’s since 1988  have been Principal of Hubbard’s since 1997. Hubbard’s is a non-denominational school that caters for students seeking an alternative option to finish their secondary education. Most students turn 16 or 17 while at Hubbard’s. The next most populous group would be 18 year olds. Older students are welcome too and invariably there are some who turn 19, 20, 22, 22 amongst the student body and often there are a couple of older students too. The majority of the students have very firm beliefs about their incompatibility with the internal-assessment system used throughout Queensland and/or with attending school in the normal pattern of five days per week from 9am  to 3.30pm. Some arrive from overseas early in their Year 12 year and want to finish school that year.  Some just do not like the complexity of the internal system and embrace the transparency of the External arrangements.  Whatever their reasons, they seek an alternative option. Students who join Hubbard’s at 16 i.e  in their Year 11, usually study just three subjects. They sit exams in those subjects on October/ November of that year and receive a Statement of Results for that subject. So they start and finish the two years of assessment in the one calendar year. The exams are tough and test the whole Year 11 and 12 syllabus. University lecturers can be assured that someone who passes these exams, knows their work well and their knowledge is current. Then students  usually do two other subjects in the following year i.e their Year 12

For more details see www.hubbards.qld.edu.au

And  http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/588.html   There are three years of past exam papers for most non-language subjects in http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/2427.html . The standard is high. They satisfy the demands of tertiary entry well.

In the letter from Peter Luxton, Acting Director QSA, sent to me earlier this year informing me of the discontinuance of the External senior system, except for languages, he mentioned ‘extensive research’ and that current providers of Senior external classes agreed with its  abolition  and were keen to take up internal assessment.  Attached are the minutes of ‘the extensive research’ meeting. (Just one!!). There were a few other questions asked, with a hidden agenda, over a few emails.  It is impossible to understand how these minutes can confirm what Mr Luxton wrote.

For a well-informed chronology of the development / deterioration of science syllabus/assessment in schools, please read attachment 3: Statement from an experienced science teacher and lecturer.  Makes great reading!!