A student has the right to appeal if they feel that

• the marks awarded for a particular assessment task. E.g.: the mark isn't supported by marking criteria or an error in the calculation

• the grade achieved in a course 

• the school’s response to the appeal for disability provisions on the grounds of illness/misadventure

• the decision of an Illness/Misadventure application 

• they have been disadvantaged in any way by the assessment task. 

If a student intends to appeal to SMC for any of the reasons above, they need to: 

1. Email concerns to the classroom teacher, relevant Leader of Learning, or AP within two school days of receiving a marked task from a teacher, or as soon as possible before submitting the task. 

2. To lodge an appeal, submit a Student Appeal for School-based Assessment Form within one week to the AP and Appeals Panel

The Appeals Panel will review the circumstances of the appeal and the supporting documentation, then decide whether to reject or uphold the appeal. The Appeals Panel consists of the Assistant Principal, Leaders of Academic Care, and the relevant Leader of Learning. The Leader of Pedagogy may also be included if the AP deems it necessary. 

Further details regarding HSC appeals are outlined in the Years 11 and 12 Year Level tab. 

NESA does not mandate attendance requirements, for the satisfactory completion of a course. However, students who do not attend school or lessons regularly are in danger of being considered by the principal to have not satisfactorily met the course completion criteria in one or more courses. It is expected that students will attend school unless prevented by illness, school excursions and sporting events or other reasons approved by the principal. 

PLEASE NOTE: Students may not miss school for the purposes of studying for or working on assessment tasks. 

If a student is absent the day prior or the day of an assessment task, they are to submit an Illness and Misadventure Form to the AP. 

Malpractice is any process by which a student is unfairly advantaged in the marking of a task. Some types of malpractice are plagiarism, cheating, use of mobile devices, collusion and unfair use of time. 

Responsibilities of Students 

Students have the responsibility to 

• complete all assessment tasks honestly. 

• guarantee that all assessment tasks are their own work. 

• complete out-of-class tasks in legitimate out-of-class time. 

• respect the rights of other students with respect to assessment tasks. 

Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of others as one’s own work. The original work could have been in any form, including printed, handwritten, voice recording, film, AI or electronic form. It is not relevant whether the original work is under copyright. Plagiarism from work that is under copyright could also be a breach of copyright. 

Plagiarism includes 

• the reproduction or presentation of the work of others as a whole assessment task or as a substantial portion of one, whether or not the original works are acknowledged. 

• any quoting or use of another’s work without proper acknowledgement. 

• paraphrasing – the presentation of another person’s ideas in different words – without proper acknowledgement. 

Cheating

 A student who, during an in-class task or examination, accesses any source of information that is not specifically allowed in the task is cheating. A student who helps another student cheat will also be considered cheating. The possession of any possible source of information that is not specifically allowed during such a task will also be categorised as cheating. This includes mobile phones, any other electronic device capable of storing or retrieving information, textbooks, and handwritten or printed notes. 

Talking during in-class tasks or examinations is prohibited. Any unauthorised talking during such tasks may therefore be considered to be cheating. 

Cheating also includes any attempt to gain an unfair advantage over any other student in any task. It includes presenting false reasons for missing assessment tasks or for submitting them late and the use of mobile devices. 

Use of Mobile Phones

The use of mobile phones is prohibited in any in-class assessment task unless it is clearly specified otherwise. 

Collusion

Students can legitimately discuss aspects and approaches to assessment tasks at appropriate times.  Unless it is a specific requirement of the task, however, students may not collude to present essentially the same response to a task or part of a task. 

Unfair Use of Time 

Students are expected to only work on out-of-class tasks in legitimate out-of-class time. Working on assessment tasks during other subjects' lessons or during the lesson without the teacher's permission is unfair to other students and will be considered malpractice. Similarly, working on assessment tasks at home rather than attending school is unfair and will be similarly considered. 

Penalties for malpractice 

• The penalty for plagiarism will normally be a zero mark for the section or sections of the assessment task in which the plagiarism occurred. 

• The penalty for cheating will be determined by the teacher and the Leader of Learning or the Assistant Principal. 

A student who does not satisfy the Course Completion Criteria for any course will be given an “N” Determination for the course. 

If a student is deemed to be in danger of receiving an “N” Determination, a warning letter will be sent to the parents of the student. The warning letter will set out the actions required for the student to remedy the situation and the date by which this situation must be remedied. The effect of the warning is cancelled if the student remedies the situation. 

“N” warning letters will be sent in the following circumstances:

• An assessment task has not been completed within four days and is without the submission of the Illness/ Misadventure Form. 

• The student does not genuinely attempt an assessment task or submits any task containing anything obscene, blasphemous, racist or abusive. 

• The student is in danger of not completing the work placement requirements for a VET course. 

• The student scores a zero mark on the task for any reason. 

“N” Determination can be made in the following circumstances: 

• Work placement is not completed by the scheduled date in a VET course. 

• Two or more warning letters have been sent, and the required actions have not been completed. 

• The student does not complete assessment tasks worth more than 50% of the total mark for any course. 

Below is an outline of the special procedures for Years 11 and 12 assessment tasks at St Mary’s College. 

A student is absent because of illness or misadventure from the start of school on the day of a task.

• SMC is notified by phone/email by 9 am on the day. 

• Complete an  Illness and Misadventure Form and give it to the Assistant Principal (AP) on return to school. 

• Absence supported by documentation e.g. doctor’s certificate. 

• The task or an equivalent task will be done as soon as practical on return to school, normally the next possible school day. 

There has been disruption by short-term illness or misadventure prior to the due date. 

• Student to submit an Illness and Misadventure Form to the AP ASAP. 

• Documentation required to support the claim 

• The Leader of Learning and the Stage 6 Assessment Team, in consultation with the classroom teacher, will determine whether adjustments are required. For example, a change of date or task. 

Student submits the task late without notifying the school on the due date 

• An Illness and Misadventure Form is to be completed and given to AP ASAP 

• Documentation required to support the claim 

• The Leader of Learning, Stage 6 Assessment Team, in consultation with the classroom teacher, will determine if penalties will apply. 

A student knows in advance they will be away on the due date

• Student completes a Request for Alternate Assessment Due Date and sends to AP as soon as the absence is known 

• Documentation required to support the request

• The Leader of Learning, Stage 6 Assessment Team, in consultation with the classroom teacher, will determine if adjustments are required. For example, a change of date or task. 

A student wishes to request an extension to the due date or deferment of the assessment task 

• Student  completes a Request for Alternate Assessment Due Date and sends to the AP a minimum of two weeks before the due date 

• Documentation required to support the request 

• The Leader of Learning, Stage 6 Assessment Team, in consultation with the classroom teacher, will assess the circumstances of the request. 

NESA regulations do not allow factors that may affect a student’s performance, which occur over an extended period, to be taken into consideration in determining assessment marks, such as illness, misadventure or domestic problems .