Archived material
Some aspects of the documents in this section no longer apply, however they have been archived for reference.
Newsletter No. 9 – 12 June 1998
The New South Wales Government Reforms for the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate
This edition of the newsletter focuses upon issues relating to
the new School Certificate.
School Certificate Initiative
During June schools will receive a School Certificate Information
Kit. The package is designed to assist principals and teachers when
they are explaining the changes to the School Certificate to parents
of current Year 10 students. Contained in the package will be:
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A short (5 minute ) introductory video from the President of the Board of Studies
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A series of questions and possible answers principals and teachers may use when responding to questions about the changes to the School Certificate
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A series of overhead masters which can be used to assist with the answering of these questions
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Copies of a brochure to be issued to parents explaining the changes.
The Board of Studies Liaison Officers (BOSLOs) are always available to assist with any queries. If schools need additional copies of the above material these can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Board of Studies on: (02) 9367 8477 or your local BOSLO.
Release of School Certificate Results
The Board will provide to schools a single page summary of the School Certificate results for each student. This sheet will show both the test results and the grades for each course/subject the student has studied. It is expected that these Results Summary Sheets will be provided to schools in time for them to be issued to students no later than Thursday 10 December. After checking these sheets, schools will be able to distribute them to students at a time suitable to the school. It is planned that the School Certificate award documents will be sent to schools in the week beginning Monday 14 December.
Illness/Misadventure and Special Examination Provisions
As mentioned in the Securing Their Future Newsletter No. 7, there have been some modifications to the Board of Studies procedures for students affected by illness or misadventure during the School Certificate Tests, and for approved School Certificate special examination provisions.
Illness/Misadventure
Students may be given an estimated mark in place of their School Certificate test result if they were prevented from attending a test, or if they consider that their performance in a test was adversely affected by illness or misadventure occurring immediately before or during the test.
Consistent with past practice at School Certificate level, the Board will delegate to principals the authority to uphold or decline illness/misadventure appeals by students. Should the appeal be declined, students may elect to have the principal's determination reviewed by the Board of Studies.
Students whose illness/misadventure appeals are upheld, either at school level or by the Board, will receive an estimated mark for that test. Students who do not present for one or both of the tests, and whose illness/misadventure appeals are subsequently declined will be ineligible for the award of a School Certificate.
Principals will be asked to provide an estimated mark for all students who submit an illness/ misadventure appeal. Principals will determine this mark after the school receives its test results in December thus enabling principals to use the results as benchmarks. The estimated mark will be advised to the Office of the Board of Studies and incorporated into the student's credentials. The results for students affected by illness/misadventure whose appeals are upheld by the school will be forwarded to the students following receipt of the school's recommendations. Students who have applied to the Board for a review of the school's decision declining their appeal will be advised of the result of the review early in 1999.
There will be instances where, despite the student's illness/misadventure, the test mark achieved is equal to or better than the school's estimate. This has been found in a significant number of cases at HSC level. In such cases the test mark remains unchanged.
Absence from the tests to attend sporting functions or to participate in family holidays will not be grounds for appeal against ineligibility for the award of the School Certificate.
Detailed information regarding School Certificate illness/misadventure procedures will be sent to schools in Term 3.
Special Examination Provisions
Changes have also been necessary for the Board's Special Provisions program. The 1998 School Certificate English-literacy test examines specific skills in reading, viewing and writing, and the new credentials include descriptors of the standards achieved. After consultation with school groups and the Special Provisions Panel, the Board has determined that when a reader provision is used, the student's test report should be annotated accordingly. A student who uses a reader in the English-literacy test will, therefore, have the following notation reported on the English-literacy test report: 'Test undertaken with the provision of a reader'. The notation will not appear on the Testamur or the Record of Achievement Part A.
Trial Tests
In cases where schools have indicated their wish to participate in the Science and Australian History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship trial tests, students granted special provisions in English-literacy and Mathematics will, wherever possible, be allowed the same provisions in these tests. As these are trial tests only, the Board may not be able to produce special papers. Schools will be advised on a case by case basis.
Commencement date for Preliminary Courses
The Board of Studies has determined that, in keeping with the recommendations
of the White Paper, Securing Their Future, the study of Preliminary
courses may not commence before day 1, Term 1 of Year 11. This requirement
will apply to the Year 10, 1999 cohort of students which will be
the first cohort undertaking Preliminary and HSC courses under the
new HSC structure.
(Professor) Gordon Stanley
President, Board of Studies
12 June, 1998.