A fair HSC Year 12 students given special consideration for COVID-19 disruption

Year 12 students across Sydney will be able to opt out of some HSC exams, major projects and works if their studies have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions under a program the NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said was designed to ensure “we have a fair HSC”.

HSC students who live or go to school in an area affected by stage 4 lockdowns will be able to apply for special consideration if they have suffered a substantial impact to the preparation of an oral or performance exam, or development of a major project.

Changes have been made to the way some Year 12 subjects will be assessed this year because of COVID-19 lockdowns.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Schools in areas under stage 4 lockdown, which includes Greater Sydney, will also be able to apply for the COVID-19 Special Consideration Program.

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the program would ensure a fair HSC “with flexible support for students who need it”.

“This is an example of how we can work together during a challenging time to support our students,” she said.

Under the program, a student’s final mark in the affected component work will be based on the mark provided by their teacher rather than external HSC markers, according to the NSW Education Standards Authority website.

“The teacher-provided mark will be moderated using the students’ and cohort’s performance in externally marked components of the course.”

Year 12 students across Greater Sydney who have suffered a “substantial impact” because of a loss of access to school facilities or support are eligible for the program.

“Schools will provide a brief explanation of how their affected students were impacted,” the NESA website said. “Detailed evidence for students who have been impacted by Level 4 restrictions will not be required.”

NESA chief executive Paul Martin said the program was about putting the mental and physical wellbeing of students first.

“We want students, their families and their teachers to be assured that despite disruptions, the hard work of students will be recognised,” he said. “Students will have the opportunity to receive an HSC and move on to the next chapter of their lives.”

Amber Flohm, senior vice president of the NSW Teachers Federation, said teachers welcomed the decision to implement these special consideration provisions for year 12 students.

“They provide a clear path for our schools and students who need it, reducing pressure, anxiety and uncertainty for those impacted by not having access to the required support and resources as a result of COVID,” she said.

“Teachers, as experts in their subject area, are best placed to provide assessment marks reflecting their students’ context, ability and understanding of their HSC course.”

As year 12 students prepare to return to school for face to face teaching, the NSW government is still yet to clarify how they will be tested for coronavirus.

The government announced last week that students would have access to rapid antigen testing ahead of their exams, but it is not yet known whether the state has procured the testing kits, and how they will be administered.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Saturday said the education and health departments were working together over the weekend to finalise the measure and he didn’t believe procuring the tests from overseas would pose any issue.

“Accessing the numbers of rapid antigen testing would appear not to be a problem, the issue is how they will actually be administered and in what circumstances,” he said.

The tests are not currently allowed to be self-administered under Australian medical advice. Mr Hazzard said the government would have more clarity on testing kit supply and their administration in coming days.

Andrew Taylor is a Senior Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Tom Rabe is Transport Reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.

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