The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has reassured HSC students that arrangements are in place to ensure no student is disadvantaged by COVID-19 restrictions.
Chief Executive of NESA, Paul Martin said the Authority was supporting HSC students and schools as the virus continued to impact NSW, particularly those in Greater Sydney.
“Right now, our attention is on plans for the HSC oral language exams on 31 July and dance exams which are due to start on 2 August and we will issue further advice about these exams mid-next week,” Mr Martin said.
“At this stage, we are planning for the drama, music and written exams and the marking of major works and projects to go ahead on schedule in a COVID-safe way,” he said.
Mr Martin said NESA was working closely with NSW Health and the school sectors to plan contingencies for HSC exams and would always follow the Health advice to prioritise the safety of students, exam staff and school communities.
He said that while HSC trial exams were a school-based assessment activity not conducted by NESA, the Authority had made some changes to the rules to help schools respond to the COVID-19 situation, including that schools could postpone trial exams by a few weeks or provide an alternative assessment task.
“NESA will publish further advice to support schools to determine suitable alternative assessment tasks and to estimate marks should the health advice require rescheduled trial exams to be cancelled,” Mr Martin said.
“I want to say categorically that students will have the opportunity to receive the HSC this year.”
Mr Martin said the COVID illness/misadventure process was available for students whose ability to work on their major project or performance had been significantly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
Further information on NESA advice to HSC students can be accessed at this PS News link.
