Students wishing to attend university when they finish Year 12 must have an ATAR. Universities choose students for their course by ranking them in order of their HSC results. This rank – the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, or ATAR, is calculated by including the marks achieved in a student’s best 10 Board Developed or Vocational Education Curriculum Framework units. Details of ATAR requirements can be found in the University Admissions Centre Handbook www.uac.edu.au

To get an ATAR:

• you must qualify for the award of a HSC

• you must study a minimum of 10 Board Developed or Vocational Education Curriculum Framework Units for two years

• 2 units of English must be included

• For a VET course to be included in the ATAR calculation, a student must sit the optional examination.

These courses are examined externally at the end of the HSC course and can count towards the calculation of an ATAR. Students studying these courses must sit the examination. There is a syllabus for each course that contains:

• the course objectives, structure, content and outcomes

• specific course requirements

• assessment requirements

• sample examination papers and marking guidelines

• the performance scale (except for Vocational Educational and Training Courses.

There are two types of Board Endorsed Courses – Content Endorsed Courses and School Designed Courses.

Content Endorsed Courses have syllabuses endorsed by the Board of Studies to cater for areas of special interest not covered in Board Developed Courses. TAFE delivered courses (which are written and delivered by TAFE) have Content Endorsed status granted by the Board. Schools may also design special courses in order to meet student needs. The Board of Studies must approve these courses. Once approval is granted, schools offer selected courses to senior students as part of the Higher School Certificate.

There is no external examination for Board Endorsed Courses. Assessment is school based.

All Board Endorsed Courses count towards the Higher School Certificate and appear on the student’s Record of Achievement. However, Board Endorsed Courses do not count in the calculation of the ATAR.

Content Endorsed Courses may be studied as 2 units and as Preliminary and/or HSC courses at Cranebrook High School.

Vocational Education and Training Courses (VET) are Board Developed Courses that allow students to gain both HSC qualifications and Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) VET accreditation.

VET AQF qualifications are recognised by industry and employers throughout Australia. These courses require you to spend a minimum number of hours in the workplace. Under the AQF, students will receive a Certificate or Statement of Attainment, which reports the competencies that have been achieved.

The Board Developed VET courses available to study at Cranebrook High School are:

- Business Services

- Entertainment Industry

- Hospitality

These courses can be studied as a 120-hour course (one year) or as a 240-hour course (two years). The 240-hour VET course has an optional written HSC examination. Students who choose to sit for the examination may have the result for that course included in the calculation of their ATAR.

More information can be found on the Board of Studies website: www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au

(These course costs will be finalised at the start of 2023)

- Business Services

Office Administration $20 p.a.

Typing Textbook $50 (approximately)

- Construction

Steel-capped boots $70 p.a.

Work Cover General Introduction to

Construction Course fee $20

Course Fee $60

- Entertainment $75

- Hospitality

Food Contribution $100 p.a.

Equipment (knife kit) $75 (approximately)

Uniform $70 (approximately)

- Retail Operations $20 p.a.

Additional Course Costs

• Special equipment for individual student projects

• The student must supply uniform/special clothing/footwear and equipment for all courses

• Cost of transport to school, work placement and excursions

• Schools may be able to provide some items at reduced cost

• Student payments are to be made to Cranebrook High School. Receipt is then to be shown to the teacher responsible for the course

• Cost of First Aid Certificate if required

• The costs referred to in each of the courses refers to the Subject Materials Contribution. By paying this contribution, students will have access to the materials necessary to complete course requirements. Non-payment may limit student access to appropriate experiences and specific projects.

• Students having difficulties meeting these costs should seek advice from the Principal.

• The costs indicated are for the Preliminary Course only. A separate cost will be incurred in Year 12.

• Students studying Visual Arts, Photography and Industrial Technology are required to complete a compulsory Major Work as part of their HSC. This cost is in addition to Materials Contributions. The cost varies widely, depending on the nature of the work and the materials the students use. Individual Head Teachers will be able to give a cost range.

What are TVET Courses?

TVET Courses

• are vocational courses studied at a TAFE College in Years 11 and 12 as part of your HSC

• all these courses count as 2 or more units towards your HCS and some of these courses count towards your ATAR

• provide you a nationally recognised qualification - from a Statement of Attainment to a Certificate III

• allow you to gain work related skills

• may provide advanced standing for TAFE or further education

• are designed for all students

• are available in a wide variety of industry areas

For the award of the Higher School Certificate, students must have satisfactorily completed courses. This includes the completion of the practical, oral or project works required for specific courses and the assessment requirements for each course. Students will receive a separate Assessment Booklet for the Preliminary and HSC. Students must also sit for and make a serious attempt at the Higher School Certificate examinations. Students studying VET Curriculum Frameworks must also complete 35 hours of work placement each year.

On satisfactory completion of your HSC you will receive a portfolio containing:

• The Record of Achievement: This document lists the courses you have studied and reports the marks and bands you have achieved.

• Course Reports: For every HSC Board Developed Course and VET Curriculum Framework course that you sit the external HSC Exam, you will receive a Course Report showing your marks, the Performance Scale and the band descriptions for that course indicating the knowledge, skills and understanding attained in that subject. A graph showing the state-wide distribution of marks in the course are also shown.

• The HSC Testamur: This is the official certificate confirming your achievement of all requirements for the award.

• • School-based assessment tasks contribute to 50% of the HSC mark. The school assessment mark will be based on the student’s performance in assessment tasks undertaken during the course.

  • The other 50% will come from the HSC external examination.

  • The HSC mark for 2 unit courses will be reported on a scale of 0 to 100. A mark of 50 will represent the minimum standard expected. If you achieve the minimum standard expected in a course, you will receive a mark of 50. There will be five performance bands above 50 that correspond to different levels of achievement in knowledge, skills and understanding. The band from 90 - 100 will correspond to the highest level of achievement.

• • These courses lead to a dual qualification, a HSC subject and full or part qualification of an Australian Qualifications Training Package. This means that you achieve credit towards your HSC as well as a vocational qualification.

  • For the HSC, students are assessed as to whether they have completed the course as set by NESA and the course is recorded upon their HSC as being completed. The HSC exam is not compulsory for these courses. If students wish to have a mark or grade recorded for the course, or wish it to count towards a ATAR, then they must attempt the HSC exam in the course. Marks and grades awarded are based 100% on the HSC exam and are recorded similarly to Board Endorsed courses.

  • For the Australian Qualifications Training Package qualification, students have to demonstrate competence in a number of units and elements. These are recorded on a separate document to the HSC. Competence means that you can perform the task or show an understanding to the standard required by industry. There is no pass / fail, you are either “competent” or “not yet competent”. You will be given a number of opportunities to demonstrate competence.