2025 Successes
Outstanding school results
- 12.34% ATAR 99.00-99.95*; IB eligible students
- 44.45% ATAR 95.00-99.95*; IB eligible student
- 62.99% ATAR 90.00-99.95*; IB eligible students
- 84.42% ATAR 80.00-99.95*; IB eligible students
*Equivalence based on the IB Australasia base conversion published at https://ibaustralasia.org/university-entrance. Most graduates are awarded additional Adjustment Factors resulting in even higher ATAR equivalence rates than those published here.
International Baccalaureate results
- 37 QAHS mean IB Diploma score
- 29 Global mean IB Diploma score
- 91 QAHS mean ATAR equivalent** score
- 4 x IB45 Top Scores
- 7 x IB44 Scores
- 10 x IB43 Scores
- 11 x IB42 Scores
- 7 x IB41 Scores
- 13 x IB40 Scores
**Students from countries across Asia Pacific, Americas, Africa, Europe and Middle East regions
University outcomes and offers Course credits achieved by our students:
- 288 - Griffith University
- 408 - The University of Queensland (UQ)
- 568 - Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Outstanding student achievements
- Outstanding results in the CSIRO CREST Research Awards, Australia’s premier research awards in Science: 12 Gold and 37 Silver National Research Awards. A phenomenal achievement and recognition of how our students are challenging what is possible when students are supported to exceed their own expectations of themselves.
- 140 Year 10 students received certificates for the completion of MSL20122 Certificate II in Sampling and Measurement and MSL30122 Certificate III in Laboratory Skills..
- Two QAHS students completed a school-based traineeships with Gold Coast Health. A first for the Academy.degree, as well as unique opportunitiesincluding the Mentoring Program.
Queensland Academies were created by Education Queensland as an innovative, alternative educational program for highly capable high school students. We are a selective State High School for Years 10-12.
International Baccalaureate
The Queensland Academies offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme which is an internationally recognised pre-university level qualification. It allows graduating students to study at Australian tertiary institutes as well as overseas universities.
Science
- Fifteen students were awarded a total of $2,045 in prize money in the Science Teachers Awards of Queensland (STAQ) which resulted in QAHS students achieving 4 bursaries, 3 x 1st prizes, 3 x 2nd prizes, 4 x 3rd prizes plus a Highly Commended prize, in the different categories of Senior Division. One student received the UQ Young Scientist of the Year award, and 2 students have been nominated for the ASTA I3 National awards.
- Two more students received Gold CREST awards from CSIRO, taking our total to 12 Gold CREST Awards for the year. Gold CREST students have worked with expert mentors from Griffith University under the Griffith/QAHS Research Mentor Partnership and each project represented over 100 hours of research involvement.
- 43 Year 11 students have received Silver CREST awards for their Biology investigations. This is on top of 37 Silver CREST Awards received by Year 12’s over the year. Each Silver CREST award represented over 30 hours of research involvement.
- All year 11 students completed the 10-hour Collaborative Sciences project (CSP), a mandatory requirement of the IB Group 4 (Science) practical program, which culminated with an exhibition in the Lecture Theatre.
Music- Concert Band received a Gold Standard in A Grade of the GC Eisteddfod.
- Big Band received a Gold Standard in A Grade of the GC Eisteddfod.
- String Orchestra received a Silver Standard in A Grade of the GC Eisteddfod,
- A number of students were selected for the State and Australian Honours Ensemble Programs, for which they rehearsed and performed at Griffith University Conservatorium in Brisbane.
- The Academy Awards Night featured musical entertainment by our combined Symphony Orchestra opening, and Big Band closing the event.
- Our Term 4 Music Showcase featured school ensembles, solos and student-led groups, and a performance by dance ensembles.
- The Year 12 Valedictory Ceremony culminated in a performance by Chayhee Lee and Emma Byrne.
Griffith University – Responsible Leaders Challenge- Four QAHS teams entered the Griffith Business School’s Responsible Leaders Challenge, with QAHS achieving a clean sweep:
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place
Creative Industries
- One Year 12 student was selected to exhibit their artwork in the ENERGIES Showcase at HOTA, a significant recognition of artistic excellence and innovation.
- One Year 12 student was awarded the Gold Coast Eisteddfod Artistic Development Grant.
STEM, Business & Innovation
- Mayor’s Technology and Innovation Awards: One QAHS teams reached the finals.
- Australian Mathematics Competition: Thirteen students participated, earning 1 × High Distinction, 8 × Distinctions and 3 × Credits.
- Oxford University Computing Challenge: One student achieved a Distinction in the National Final.
- Australian Economics Olympiad: One student achieved a Distinction.
- Maths and Statistics Research Competition: One Team represented QAHS in the finals.
- Bond University Model United Nations: One QAHS student received Best Photographer and one QAHS student received Best Diplomacy Award.
- GC Advanced Manufacturing Showcase: One QAHS team reached the Grand Final.
- 16 QAHS students competed in the Australian Science Olympiad and JSO exams, achieving three High Distinctions and three Distinctions.
- Two QAHS achieved a Distinction in the RACI International Chemistry Quiz.
- One student received the AMC Prize as the most outstanding student in the AMC competition at the QLD State Awards.
- 37 students and staff volunteered for the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation’s Giving Day.
- Four QAHS students were selected as part of the UQ Young Changemakers program.
Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
- Future Anything – Activate:
o Two QAHS teams reached the semi-finals
o Two teams progressed to the National Grand Final
o One team received the Community Impact Award
- One QAHS teacher was named a finalist in the Future Anything Educator Awards.
Debating
- Two QAHS teams reached the Grand Final in their respective divisions of the Gold Coast Debating Competition.
Change In Action
- The Year 10 cohort participated in the Change in Action Program, co-designed with Griffith University’s PRECISE and BioSpine teams. We congratulate Team ElderTogether, who were announced as the Champion Team for 2025.
Student Excellence Awards
- One Year 12 student was announced as a Finalist in the 2025 Gold Coast Student Excellence Awards in the category of Excellence in Protecting Our Environment.
Pathways, Industry & Community Engagement
- Over 1200 enrichment engagements were recorded across 2025.
The QAHS Languages and Cultural Enrichment portfolio continued to thrive in 2025.
- The QAHS Dragon Dancing CAS group performed at The EKKA in August.
- Group 2 French, Mandarin and Spanish students showcased their language skills at the QAHS Academy Awards in October.
- QAHS students excelled at the Language Teachers of Queensland (LTQ) Speech Competition held at Griffith University, with results including:
Chinese — Senior Division
o Non-background: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place
o Background: 2nd and 3rd place
French — Ab initio Division
o Year 10: 1st place, Highly Commended
o Year 11: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, Highly Commended
o Year 12: 1st place
Spanish — Ab initio Division
o Year 10: 1st place, Highly Commended
o Year 11: 2nd, 3rd place, Highly Commended
Sport
- A student was selected to represent Australia in Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand.
- A student competed at the International Karate Championships.
- A number of students were selected for national, state and regional sporting teams achieving awards at national and/or state level in golf, surf lifesaving, swimming, track and field, karate, artistic swimming, cross country and volleyball.
- One student competed at the Bouldering National Championships.
- A student competed at the State Youth Football Championships.
- Two teams competed in the Volleyball Queensland Senior Schools Cup competition.
- One QAHS team competed in the Gold Coast Senior Schools Basketball Competition.
- One QAHS team competed in the Queensland schools Futsal competition.
- Our Alumni continue to compete and find success in their chosen sports with two Alumni starting their college journeys in the USA with full and partial scholarships.
- One teacher won the state Tournament of the Nations Netball championship with the QLD Māori Masters team.
Creativity, activity, service (IB CAS)
Students were engaged in a broad range of rich co-curricular programs including: Gym and GRIT Fitness Sessions with our QAHS Fitness Coordinator, Dragon Dancing, Interact, Model United Nations, Mooting, Duke of Edinburgh, United Nations Youth Forum, Gold Coast Junior Council, Homeless Connect, QAHS Dance Troupe, Letters to the Elderly, Drama Club, 3D Printing and the QAHS Community Garden to name a few.