The Preliminary Higher School Certificate

The Certificate

NESA is a Statutory Board that awards students completing Year 11 the Preliminary HSC. To be eligible for this award, students must comply with the entry requirements, course restrictions and the rules and regulations as set down by NESA and supported by the NSW Department of Education.

NESA Requirements and Expectations of Oxley High School

NESA expects students to have:

(a) followed the course developed or endorsed by the Board;

(b) applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school1;

(d) completed all assessment tasks;

(e) successfully completed the ‘All My Own Work Program’.

However, if you fail to seriously attempt assessment tasks worth 50% or more of the final assessment mark, you may be awarded an ‘N’ determination for that course.

Where a candidate has failed to satisfactorily study a course, the Principal will:

(a) apply a ‘N’ (Non-completion) determination and advise the Board of Studies accordingly. Courses which were not satisfactorily completed will not be printed on HSC or Result Notices. This may result in a student being ineligible for the award of a Higher School Certificate

(b) advise the candidate of the submission and the right of appeal.

It is also expected that:

a. the student’s attendance, conduct and continued progress will be deemed satisfactory as set and determined by the Principal

b. the student will complete the requirements of each course including any necessary oral, aural, practical or field work

c. the student will have performed all tasks required as part of the program of assessment, and

d. the student will sit for any examination set as part of the course and will sit for the Higher School Certificate examination in Year 12.

What is Meant by Assessment

Assessment is the measurement of student performance in various tasks. It is not a measure of their potential performance or an estimate of their general ability.

The Purpose of Assessment

Assessments are intended to provide an indication of student attainment that is based on:

- a wider coverage of the syllabus than is measured by the external examination, and

- measures and observations obtained through the course rather than at a single examination.

Assessments

The School is required to provide an assessment program for student achievements for each course presented. It is emphasised that the assessment is a measure of actual achievement during the year for the Preliminary HSC, not a prediction or estimate of performance in the HSC in the following year.

1 This clause will apply to any students who continually hand in class work late, truant or who are absent without justification, as determined by the NSW Department of Education.

The School's Responsibilities

In accordance with the NESA requirements, this school has developed an Assessment Program for each course. We have:

• identified the student tasks which best measure the components

• specified weightings to be applied to each of the tasks to maintain the relative importance of each component

• scheduled the various tasks throughout the course

• prepared information for students, setting out the requirements of each course

• undertaken to keep records of the student’s performance on each task and provide information to the students on their progress.

Reporting Results

During the course, the school will provide information to students which will show their achievements relative to each other. This will occur in the form of school reports, parent/teacher interviews and written feedback.

The Role of the Principal

The Principal or their delegate will be responsible for overseeing all the requirements of NESA are met regarding subject content, regulations and assessment procedures. Students may formally apply to NESA to review an appeal of an ‘N Determination’ that has been upheld by the Principal in a subjec