Manuals and Guides

The Board of Studies NSW Annual Reports

Board of Studies NSW Annual reports

The Education Act 1990 established the Board of Studies NSW as a statutory body with a membership representative of community interests.

The Board’s responsibilities are to:

• develop curriculum and curriculum support materials for all schools from Kindergarten to Year 12
• develop and conduct examinations leading to the award of the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate
• advise the Minister for Education and Training on applications from non government schools seeking to operate in New South Wales
• accredit non-government schools to present candidates for the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate.

Curriculum Framework Document

The K–10 Curriculum Framework establishes parameters for Board of Studies NSW curriculum for the compulsory years of schooling. It identifies the learning essential for all students and guides the evaluation and revision of individual syllabuses.

Curriculum Framework Document (PDF)

Updated November 2012

Masters Report - Fair and Meaningful Measures?

The Board of Studies NSW has considered the Masters Review into the New Higher School Certificate examination program: Fair and Meaningful Measures? (PDF) and voted to adopt all 20 recommendations. The Board commissioned Professor Geoff Masters, Executive Director, Australian Council for Educational Research, to undertake the review.

The report is copyright free to schools and school organisations.

Board of Studies NSW Action Plans (PDF)

Related to the Recommendations in the Masters Report

Statement of Equity Principles

This Statement of Equity Principles provides a guide to writers of syllabuses, support materials and assessment guidelines in developing materials which relate to two of the Board's corporate objectives:

• to develop high quality courses and support materials for primary and secondary education suited to the needs of the full range of students;
• to assess student achievement and award credentials of international standards to meet the needs of the full range of students.

The Statement of Equity Principles is derived from the Board's Statement of Values (pp 2-3) which was endorsed by the Board in 1994. The Statement of Equity Principles serves to elucidate the Statement of Values from an equity perspective.

A PDF is also available for download:

Statement of Equity Principles (PDF)

Statement of Values

Overarching values document to guide the development of teaching materials.

Read the Board of Studies Statement of Values.

The Board of Studies NSW Syllabus Development Handbook

This Handbook has been developed to provide an outline of the process of syllabus development and revision. It has been designed principally for those involved directly through Board committees in the process of curriculum development. It includes sections on the operation of the Board of Studies, procedures for syllabus development, the components of a syllabus and administrative information for project members.

Syllabus Development Handbook (PDF)

Updated 28 August 2006

The Board of Studies NSW Syllabus Development Process

The Board of Studies is committed to a syllabus development process that provides opportunities for consultation, establishes achievable timelines and ensures quality syllabuses.

The process, using a project management approach, involves four phases:

1. Syllabus review
2. Writing brief development
3. Syllabus development
4. Implementation.

The process is described on the following pages.

The Board’s syllabus development process (PDF)

School Developed Board Endorsed Courses – Guidelines for Course Proposals

Performance Descriptions for reporting achievement in HSC Board Endorsed Courses

Guidelines for Course Proposals
Revised November 2012

Deadline for applications is 12 April 2013 (for course delivery in 2014).

For further information please email Board Endorsed Programs.

University Developed Board Endorsed Courses – Guidelines and Application Form

Guidelines for Course Proposals
Revised November 2012

Application Form (download)
Revised November 2012

Deadline for applications is 24 May 2013 (for course delivery in 2014).

For further information or to lodge your completed application form, please email Board Endorsed Programs.

Stages 5 and 6 Board Endorsed VET Courses – Guidelines and Application Forms

Schools wishing to offer a VET course which has not yet been endorsed need to apply for endorsement of the course.

• Guidelines for Stages 5 and 6 Board Endorsed VET Courses
• Application forms for Board Endorsed VET Courses

For any enquiries, please call the VET Curriculum team on +61 2 9367 8310

Guidelines for Accelerated Progression

Revised 2000

All children need to receive an education that takes account of their special characteristics as learners.

Gifted students possess such superior intellectual abilities and potential for outstanding achievement in comparison with the total student population that, like other groups, they need differentiated educational opportunity if they are to realise their unique potential.

Report on Data Collection for School Certificate Credentialling for Students with Special Education Needs in Stage 5 (1996)

As at June 2000, the Board's decided that School Certificate Credentialling for Students with Special Education Needs in Stage 5 should be subject to routine data collection in accordance with the procedures established in the revised syllabus development process.

Report on Data Collection for School Certificate Credentialling for Students with Special Education Needs in Stage 5 (PDF)

Also available in Word format

Home Education in NSW Information Package

The Home Education Information Package is intended to provide a description of the steps to be followed when applying for registration for Home Education and to assist parents/guardians in preparing to home educate their child/children. The package also contains an application for registration for Home Education.

The Home Education Information Package, including forms, is available from the Parents page.

HSC Exam Workbooks

HSC study resources are now available to buy online.

Workbooks with real exam questions from the HSC exam papers in Biology, Business Studies, Economics, English (Standard and Advanced) Paper 1, English (Standard) Paper 2, English (Advanced) Paper 2, General Mathematics, Hospitality, Legal Studies, Mathematics, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, and Physics are now available from the Board's Shop Online.

Certification of HSC project, submitted works and performances

The following information relates to those HSC courses that include a project, submitted work or performance as part of the Higher School Certificate examination.

• Information for Principals and Head Teachers/Coordinators, which summarises the roles that principals, supervising teachers and students play in the certification of HSC projects, submitted works and performances
• Information for Students, which reminds students of the requirement that their work must be certified, and of their responsibilities regarding their projects
• Information for Supervising Teachers, which provides guidance and advice on requirements for certification and best practice in monitoring and supervising work in progress
• A pro-forma to assist in monitoring students’ work on their projects. The teacher may use this pro-forma to make notes on progress at various stages in the development of each student’s project.

Presentations for parent information evenings

These Powerpoint presentations will assist schools holding parent information evenings about the NSW Higher School Certificate and School Certificate. The presentations explain the mandatory curriculum requirements for the School Certificate and the HSC, as well as standards-based assessment processes.

Equipment checklist for the Higher School Certificate Examinations and School Certificate Tests

HSC Assessment in a Standards-Referenced Framework – A Guide to Best Practice

This booklet has been produced to assist schools and teachers in designing and implementing good policies and procedures for the Higher School Certificate Assessment Program. It will also assist in the evaluation of the effectiveness of current practices.

This booklet builds on earlier documents in this field, HSC Assessment Checklist (1998), HSC Assessment a Guide to Developing Procedures in Schools (1997), and The New Higher School Certificate Assessment Support Document (1999), and is consistent with the requirements of the current syllabuses and the standards-referenced approach to assessing student achievement.

HSC Assessment in a Standards-Referenced Framework – A Guide to Best Practice

Also available in PDF format (without colour cover)

HSC Distinction Courses – An Information Booklet

The Distinction course program is no longer offered. It has now been replaced by the HSC–University pathways program.

HSC English Prescribed Areas of Study, Electives and Texts

HSC English Prescribed Areas of Study, Electives and Texts for the English (Standard) Course, English (Advanced) Course, English (ESL) Course, and the English Extension 1 Course.

There is also a poster version available for download.

HSC Performances and Submitted Works – Advice to Schools Regarding Content

HSC Performances and Submitted Works – Advice to Schools Regarding Content (PDF)

Also available in Word format

The New ‘Standards-Based’ Higher School Certificate Brochure

Questions covered include:

• How is the New HSC stronger and fairer?
• How will students know the standard they have reached?
• How will students know what the standards are? and
• How will the New HSC examinations help students to perform at their best?

The New Standards-based Higher School Certificate (PDF)

Published 14 May 2001

Mathematics Stage 6 Review and Development Project – Report on Syllabus Review (March-December 2006)

A plan for the review and development of NSW Stage 6 Mathematics courses has been endorsed by the Board of Studies.

The Board’s Mathematics Stage 6 Review and Development Project commenced in 2006. This document reports on the strategies used to gather data in the first phase of the Syllabus Review project.

Mathematics Stage 6 Literature and Curriculum Review

A critical analysis of selected Australian and international mathematics syllabuses for the post-compulsory years of secondary schooling. Prepared for the NSW Board of Studies by Mary Coupland, PhD, MAustMS Department of Mathematical Sciences University of Technology, Sydney.

These materials are provided for research purposes and may contain opinions that are not shared by the Board of Studies NSW.

• Part 1: A critical analysis of selected Australian and international mathematics syllabuses for the post-compulsory years of secondary schooling (PDF)
• Part 2: Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography to Inform the Stage 6 Mathematics Review (PDF)

Mathematics Stage 6 Symposium Proceedings

Held at Georges River College, Oatley Senior Campus, Saturday 19 August 2006.

Mathematics Stage 6 Symposium Proceedings (PDF)

Overseas Recognition

Manual for the recognition of schools outside NSW to present candidates for the NSW School Certificate and/or Higher School Certificate. This document contains the Expression of Interest and application forms and the criteria used for the assessment of these forms.

Manual for the recognition of schools outside NSW to present candidates for the NSW School Certificate and/or Higher School Certificate (PDF)

Published 10 October 2008

Updated 9 December 2009

Registered and Accredited Individual Non-government Schools (NSW) Manual and Registration Systems and Member Non-government Schools (NSW) Manual and Forms

Manuals

Documents containing tracked changes of amendments to the manuals are available on the Registration and Accreditation of Non-government Schools (RANGS) website.

Forms

Applications and notifications with regard to registration and accreditation may be made using the Board's online facility, RANGS Online.

To access RANGS Online:

• go to the eBos Online Services menu located on the right side of the Board of Studies homepage
• click on RANGS
• on the RANGS welcome page click on the RANGS Online link
• enter your User ID and Password.

If you require advice or you are a new user please contact the Registration Unit on 02 9367 8432.

Also available are lists of the requirements in the form of proforma checklists. Many schools find the proformas helpful in planning for renewal of registration.

Further Information

Education Act 1990

Education Amendment (Non-Government Schools Registration) Bill 2004

Assessment, Certification and Examination (ACE)

The ACE Manual (2005) is superseded by the Assessment Certification Examination (ACE) website.

Drug and Alcohol Education Resource List

Schools are provided with a range of resources to assist teachers to develop teaching and learning programs that meet the educational needs of their students. The following resources support the implementation of drug and alcohol education.

Drug and Alcohol Education Resource List (PDF)

Also available in Word format

K-12 Technology Statement Development

The Technology Statement K-12 broadly defines the continuum of learning in technology syllabuses K-12 and defines identified areas of study and elective syllabuses in the TAS KLA that appropriately address advances in technology.

Report on the development of a K–12 Technology Statement (PDF)

Published February 2002

Middle Years Literature Review

A report by Associate Professor Roslyn Arnold (University of Sydney, Faculty of Education)

Middle Years Literature Review Part 1 (PDF)

Also available in Word format

Middle Years Literature Review Part 2 (PDF)

Also available in Word format

Modern History Syllabus Stage 6 for Teachers

As a result of consultation and an analysis of feedback from the 2001 HSC examination, the Board of Studies wishes to advise teachers of Modern History of the following:

• Changes to Part II National Studies are identified in the Support Material for Modern History Stage 6 Syllabus Part B: The HSC Course, pages 7-8. This document is available in the Syllabuses and Support Documents section of this website. In particular, teachers’ attention is drawn to changes to National Study Option E: Germany 1918-1945. In the new syllabus, more emphasis is placed on the rise of Hitler to power in the 1930s and his consolidation of power, and less on the early period of Weimar government.
• Concepts, groups and events need to be integrated into the key features of the period. In Part II National Studies, the chosen personality also needs to be integrated into the key features where appropriate. Examination questions can target any section of the syllabus content.

In response to concern about possible ambiguity in relation to the wording of dot point 7 of the key features of World War I and its aftermath 1914-1921 (syllabus page 31): post-war soldier and civilian expectations of the government as a result of war experiences (Britain), the dates 1918-1919 will be included in the bracket. The dot point will now read:

• post-war soldier and civilian expectations of the government as a result of war experiences (Britain 1918-1919)

This will allow teaching and learning about the expectations of the Versailles Treaty, the ‘make Germany pay’ attitude, and Lloyd George’s ‘a home fit for heroes’ vision, without teachers needing to explore content related to the development of the welfare state in Britain.

This amendment to the syllabus is in the Board Bulletin.

The change will apply for the 2003 HSC examination.

Respect and Responsibility

Teachers, students and parents - As part of the NSW Government’s action plan for values education, the Board of Studies coordinated a project during 2006 focusing on the values of Respect and Responsibility. This included a Schools Forum involving students, teachers, parents and community members from government and non-government schools. This website contains excerpts from the Forum on Respect and Responsibility in audio, video, and text formats. Other aspects of the project on this site are curriculum mapping K-10 which identifies opportunities to incorporate respect and responsibility into teaching as well as resources to promote respect and responsibility in education. There are also links to other websites on values education.