Higher School Certificate Requirements and Students with Special

Higher School Certificate Requirements and Students with Special Education Needs Key Messages NSW Education Standards Authority

HSC Rules and Requirements The eligibility requirements for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) are the same for all students. Students must: n have gained the Record of School Achievement or such other qualifications as the NSW Education Standards Authority considers satisfactory; n have attended a government school, an accredited non-government school, a school NSW Education Standards Authority outside NSW recognised by the NSW Education

HSC Rules and Requirements continued n have completed HSC: All My Own Work (or its equivalent); n have satisfactorily completed courses that comprise the pattern of study required by the NSW Education Standards Authority for the award of the HSC; and n sit for and make a serious attempt at the NSW Education Standards Authority

HSC Minimum Standards n From 2020, all Year 12 students in NSW must reach the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive an HSC. n The standard is mapped against the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) Level 3. n Students can demonstrate they meet the standard by achieving a Band 8 in the Year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing and numeracy tests or passing the online reading, writing and numeracy tests in Years 10, 11 and 12. NSW Education Standards Authority

HSC Minimum Standards n Disability provisions will be available for the online tests. n Students undertaking Stage 6 English and Mathematics Life Skills courses will be exempt. n Other exemptions will be considered in 2017. NSW Education Standards Authority

Pattern of Study for the HSC To qualify for the HSC all students must fulfil the pattern of study requirements n 12 units of Preliminary courses n 10 units of HSC courses – 6 units from Board Developed courses – 2 units of English – 3 courses of 2 units or greater – at least 4 subjects (no more than 6 units of Science courses). (ACE Website 8005) NSW Education Standards Authority

Curriculum Options n All students with special education needs should choose the most appropriate courses for the HSC in keeping with their needs, strengths, goals, interests and prior learning. n Most students with special education needs will undertake regular Board Developed courses and/or Board Endorsed courses. These students may require adjustments for coursework and/or assessment. n For a small percentage of students with special education needs, particularly those with an intellectual disability, it may be appropriate to develop a pattern of study that includes one or more Life Skills courses. NSW Education Standards Authority

Decisions about Curriculum Options Decisions about curriculum options are made in the context of the collaborative curriculum planning process. A team including the student, their parent/carer and other significant individuals meet to discuss: – the student’s needs, strengths, goals, interests and prior learning – the adjustments required by the student – the student’s transition to post-school life – how the student’s pattern of study will meet the requirements for the award of the HSCStandards Authority NSW Education (ACE Website 7005)

Curriculum Options n Students with special education needs can meet the requirements for the HSC using: – Board Developed courses (including Life Skills courses and Industry Curriculum Framework courses/options) or – a combination of Board Developed courses and Board Endorsed courses (including Content Endorsed courses and School NSW Education Standards Authority

Board Developed Courses n an HSC examination is typically completed (except Life Skills courses) n a moderated assessment mark is awarded (except VET and Life Skills courses) n may count towards an ATAR (except Life Skills or VET courses where the student is not undertaking an examination) n 10 units required for ATAR NSW Education Standards Authority

Board Endorsed Courses n no HSC exam n school assessment mark; not moderated n does not count towards an ATAR, but counts towards the HSC n Content Endorsed courses can be studied as 1 or 2 unit Preliminary and/or HSC courses n School Developed courses are submitted to the NSW Education Standards Authority for endorsement NSW Education Standards Authority

VET ICFs Board Developed Industry Curriculum Framework VET courses: n 13 industry areas, for example, Retail Services count towards HSC as Board Developed units n AQF VET certificate or statement of attainment n ATAR pathway – optional HSC examination n mandatory work placement NSW Education Standards Authority

VET BECs Board Endorsed VET courses: n count towards HSC as Board Endorsed units n AQF VET certificate or statement of attainment n no ATAR pathway n work placement may be strongly recommended, mandatory or not required. NSW Education Standards Authority

VET courses and students with special education needs Students with special education needs may access a VET course in one of two ways: n Option 1 the student undertakes the course under regular course arrangements OR n Option 2 the student undertakes selected units of competency within the course that have been identified through the collaborative curriculum planning process. (VET Courses and Students with special education needs) NSW Education Standards Authority http: //www. boardofstudies. nsw. edu. au/syllabus_hsc/vet-students-with-special-edu-needs. html

Accumulation of courses n Students may accumulate HSC courses towards the HSC (and ATAR) over a ‘rolling’ period of up to 5 years. – No time restriction for accumulation of Preliminary courses. n Students may accumulate extension courses by completing the 2 unit course in one year and the extension course in a subsequent year. NSW Education Standards Authority

HSC: All My Own Work n All students undertaking Preliminary or HSC courses must complete HSC: All My Own Work program (or its equivalent). n Students with disability may require adjustments to access and participate in the program. Schools can decide on the adjustments required. n The HSC: All My Own Work program (or its equivalent) is not required for students undertaking only Life Skills courses. NSW Education Standards Authority

Assessment and students with special education needs n School principals have the authority to grant adjustments for course work, assessment tasks and in-school examinations. (ACE Website 10003) n Some students with special education needs may require: – adjustments to the assessment process – adjustments to the assessment activities – alternative formats for responses. NSW Education Standards Authority

Assessment and students with special education needs n Schools are required to submit grades for students who have satisfactorily completed Preliminary courses. n Schools will use the Common Grade Scale for Preliminary Courses to decide on the best overall description of a student’s achievement. n The Common Grade Scale for Preliminary Courses can be applied to all students, regardless of whether or not adjustments have NSW Education Standards Authority

Assessment and students with special education needs § Students who have satisfactorily completed HSC § § courses are awarded an assessment mark by their schools (with the exception of Life Skills and VET courses). Schools must submit marks for students undertaking a course at a school as a single group. Assessment marks must be moderated to allow comparison of the entire candidature for any course. NSW Education Standards Authority

HSC Credentials As part of the credential for the HSC, students receive: § HSC Testamur § HSC Record of Achievement, listing all courses undertaken – Assessment mark, examination mark, HSC mark and performance band recorded for regular courses – “Refer to Profile of Student Achievement” NSW Education Standards Authority

HSC Credentials continued – course reports for each course with an external examination that has been completed satisfactorily – HSC Profile of Student Achievement, listing all outcomes achieved for each Life Skills course undertaken – VET qualifications if appropriate. For further information, see the NSW Education Standard’s Authority website: http: //www. boardofstudies. nsw. edu. au/hsc-results/credentials. html NSW Education Standards Authority

Contacts For more information, or for assistance, contact the Special Education officers of the NSW Education Standards Authority: Ph: (02) 9367 8036; (02) 9367 8148 @Special. Ed. BOSTES NSW Education Standards Authority