Senior Phase of Learning Frequently Asked Questions
Senior Education and Training Plans
A young person's Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan (or equivalent) maps out a personalised learning path for their senior phase of learning. SET Plans help young people establish the necessary path to achieve their career goals by working towards a Queensland Certificate of Education (or Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement), Certificate III or IV vocational qualification and/or a viable employment option.
The plan is created through a process where young people work with the school and their parents to identify career goals. The process for creating SET Plans helps young people learn about themselves, set realistic goals and explore how to achieve those goals. It is a great way to help young people take responsibility for their future. SET Plans are generally formalised in Year 10.
Schools are free to decide the process that best suits young people in creating SET Plans. Schools determine this based on individual needs of their students and the context of the local community.
More information and guides to developing SET Plans are available at the Queensland Studies Authority 's 
website.
Frequently asked Questions
1. What is a Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan?
2. Is the development of SET Plans legislated?
3. Who will have access to the information and how will it be used?
4. What does a SET Plan look like?
5. Can a SET Plan look different in different schools?
6. What happens when a young person changes main learning provider?
7. Who is responsible for ensuring that each student has a SET Plan?
8. Who should look after the SET Plan?
9. What is the role of parents or guardians in developing the SET Plan?
10. Does a young person intending to work full-time under the age of 17 years need a SET Plan?
11. What does the registration of young people with the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) in Year 10 mean for young people?
12. If an employer offers a full-time job to a young person who has completed Year 10 or turned 16, will the employer be responsible for monitoring the SET Plan and sending information to the QSA?
1. What is a Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan?
SET Planning (or equivalent) is a formal process for young people (usually in Year 10) to develop a personal plan of action that guides them in their senior phase of learning, with help from their school/learning provider and parents.
A SET Plan maps out a young person's senior phase learning program where they might be aiming for a Queensland Certificate of Education (or Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement) or a Certificate III or IV vocational qualification. The SET Planning process is supported by exploring partnerships between schools and other learning providers, employers, industry and the community.
For more information, visit the Queensland Studies Authority website.
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2. Is the development of SET Plans legislated?
SET Plans (or equivalent) are not in the legislation as a requirement. However, the Queensland Government's Education and Training Reforms for the Future White Paper includes a requirement for schools and learning providers to develop SET Plans for Year 10 students. Sectors choose how they will administer SET Planning.
In line with good educational practice, all non-state schools also undertake planning activities with their Year 10 students to help them make good decisions about their future learning and employment pathways. These may be called SET Plans, but other titles are sometimes used.
For more information, visit the Queensland Studies Authority website.
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3. Who will have access to the information and how will it be used?
The SET Plan (or equivalent) is accessible to the student, his or her parents or guardians, and the education or training provider where the SET Plan was created. Other agencies may also have access to this information but this will be decided locally by those involved in developing the planning process.
The learning provider where the SET Plan was created may access the information to help support the young person in their senior phase. Ultimately, each young person owns their SET Plan and sharing their SET Plan with a new learning provider should be done by the young person. There are privacy and confidentiality guides for schools or learning providers to follow if they receive a request for a SET Plan. These can be found on the Department of Education and Training website.
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4. What does a SET Plan look like?
SET Plans (or equivalent) come in many different shapes and sizes depending on the school the student has attended. State schools will officially call these documents SET Plans, while non-state schools may call them by another name.
SET Plans may require continuous updating as students refine their educational goals and aspirations.
Principals are responsible for ensuring that there are strong processes in place to support students to understand their future options for education, training and employment and to make good decisions about their learning pathways throughout the senior phase.
The Education Policies and Procedures Register contains more information on roles and responsibilities.
Guides for developing SET Plans are available from the Queensland Studies Authority website.
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5. Can a SET Plan look different in different schools?
Yes, schools are responsible for determining the content and format of SET Plans (or equivalent). The Queensland Studies Authority provides guides for the plans which schools can use to develop a locally appropriate format. For more information, visit the Queensland Studies Authority website.
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6. What happens when a young person changes main learning provider?
It is beneficial for young people to take their SET Plan (or equivalent) with them to the new learning provider. Learning providers can request a SET Plan from a previous learning provider, however confidentiality and privacy issues should be addressed. Information regarding this can be found on the Department of Education and Training website.
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7. Who is responsible for ensuring that each student has a SET Plan?
For most young people, a SET Plan (or equivalent) will be finalised during Year 10 at a school. If a young person arrives at a learning provider without a SET Plan, it would be beneficial to both the young person and the learning provider to create a SET Plan as part of the enrolment process.
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8. Who should look after the SET Plan?
Every young person has ownership and primary responsibility for maintaining his or her SET Plan (or equivalent). Schools will keep copies of the plan and assist young people to transfer their plans should they enrol with a new learning provider (with the student's permission).
Schools and learning providers may use the sample agreement (new window) 27k 
to record permission to transfer a SET plan.
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9. What is the role of parents or guardians in developing the SET Plan?
Parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in the SET planning (or equivalent) process for their children. This involvement will enable parents and guardians to support their child during the Senior Phase of Learning.
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10. Does a young person intending to work full-time under the age of 17 years need a SET plan?
It is beneficial for all young people in Year 10 to create a SET Plan (or equivalent) even if they intend to work full-time in the following year. They may change their mind in the future and a SET Plan can help them decide what to do in their senior phase. With the new rules associated with the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), young people are able to have a range of learning count toward the QCE for up to nine years after opening a student account.
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11. What does the registration of young people with the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) in Year 10 mean for young people?
During Year 10 or before young people turn 16, schools will be required to register, with the QSA, all students and their intended learning options for the Senior Phase of Learning. Once registered, a learning account is created that allows students to keep track of their achievements during the Senior Phase of Learning.
The registration process will also allow the QSA to obtain statistical information about the different things young people intend to do in the senior phase. This information can be used by the department and other learning providers to plan for the future.
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12. If an employer offers a full-time job to a young person who has completed Year 10 or turned 16, will the employer be responsible for monitoring the SET Plan and sending information to the QSA?
No. Employers are not required to be involved in SET Planning (or equivalent).
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