School Certificate Review update

A new Question and Answer page has been set up on the Board's website to help teachers, parents and students understand the review of the School Certficate.

The School Certificate tests will be held for the last time in 2011.

From 2012 onward, a new credential will be provided for students who leave school prior to receiving their HSC. The Board will release a model for a new credential for consultation in the next few weeks.

The new Q&A page will be added to as needed and has been designed to tell teachers and parents what they need to know for 2011 and beyond.

Source: BoS

Remind HSC students about the importance of their HSC PINs

As they prepare to leave school for the study period, it is important to remind HSC students to check they know their HSC PIN.

Students need their HSC PIN, along with their student number, to log in to their Students Online account and see their assessment ranks (from 4pm Friday 11 November) and results in December.

If a student has lost or forgotten their HSC PIN they can:

• have a "one time only" link emailed to them to access their account to then change their HSC PIN to something they will remember. The online Forgotten PIN service is only available if you have already submitted your email address and answered a security question.
• contact the Student Records Unit on 02 9367 8001 and be prepared to answer some identification questions.

All students are encouraged to submit their email address via their Students Online account to help recover their HSC PIN and receive HSC updates from the Board.

The Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) also issue HSC students with a UAC PIN, which they need to use when applying to study in 2012 at UAC participating institutions.

Source: BoS

'Fonz' is honoured by the Queen

Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz on US sitcom Happy Days, is awarded an honorary OBE at the British embassy in Washington for his work on dyslexia.

Source: BBC News

Migrants embrace e-portfolios

05/09/2011

Newly arrived migrants have participated in an e-learning project that provided them with a method to record their learning and employment experiences.

The project which was conducted by AMES (Adult Multicultural Education Services) piloted the use of e-portfolios by adult Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) learners.

read more

Source: EdNA

2012 courses available for students interested in HSC-University pathways

Students who have accelerated in at least one HSC course and achieved high-level results can apply to begin their university studies and fast-track their university degree.

The University of New England, the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University offer a program of first-year university courses that students can undertake while finishing HSC studies at school.

Students who participate in the program will earn university credentials. These courses are separate to the HSC and results do not contribute to the ATAR.

Applications need the principal’s support.

Read more about the range of courses on offer and how to apply.

Source: BoS

WriteOn 2011 winners announced

The president of the Board of Studies, Tom Alegounarias has announced the winners of this year’s WriteOn competition.

Experienced teachers on the WriteOn judging panel selected nine gold, 13 silver and nine bronze award winners from schools across the state.

“Congratulations to all the students who entered WriteOn,” Mr Alegounarias said.

“The judges were amazed by the standard of writing and I’m sure anyone who reads this year’s winning entries will also be impressed by the quality of students’ work.

“The lighthouse features in many great literary works and it’s clear Nick Moir’s moody photograph of Macquarie Lighthouse has been a great inspiration for students this year,” Mr Alegounarias said.

WriteOn is sponsored by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun-Herald. Gold award winners will be presented with a certificate, Dymocks gift card and a 12-month subscription to these newspapers.

Certificates will be sent to students, care of their school, who achieved a Silver and Bronze award. Schools can also download a participation certificate from Schools Online for all students who entered the competition.

An anthology of students’ works will be published early next year and WriteOn 2010 is available through Shop Online.

Source: BoS

Australian curriculum update

The NSW Minister for Education has announced that the teaching of the Australian curriculum in NSW classrooms will be delayed until 2014.

This delay is consistent with the Board’s approach to developing syllabuses which are of a high quality; an approach based on working with teachers, and on ensuring sufficient time for professional development and preparation.

Finalisation of the draft syllabuses and the development of implementation support material will occur throughout the remainder of 2011 and 2012. This will mean that the implementation of professional development for teachers can take place in 2013, with Australian curriculum content delivered through NSW syllabuses from 2014.

This announcement will not impact on the consultation process currently underway for the draft K-10 syllabuses for English, mathematics, science and history.

The Board’s Australian curriculum webpage provides more information.

Source: BoS

Update on the School Certificate

The NSW Minister for Education’s announcement on 4 August, 2011 that the School Certificate tests would not be administered beyond 2011 has been widely supported.

The Board will be working hard over the next few months to consult with key stakeholders as part of the process of developing a new credential for students who leave school prior to receiving the Higher School Certificate.

In the interim, there are some key points to remember:

• There are no changes to the existing School Certificate mandatory curriculum requirements;
• There are no changes to requirements for accreditation or registration of non-government schools;
• There will be a new credential to replace the School Certificate. The details of exactly what it will be called and how it will be administered will be determined over the next several months. For more information on the over-all directions for a new credential, read the Board’s Discussion Paper on the review of the School Certificate.
• School Certificate tests will go ahead in 2011 according to the published schedule.

Please contact Board Liaison Officer Margot Braithwaite on (02) 9267 8387 if you have any enquiries.

Source: BoS

Minister announces delay of classroom implementation of Australian curriculum

The NSW Education Minister, the Hon. Adrian Piccoli, announced today that the implementation of the Australian curriculum in NSW will be delayed with schools not required to teach the new K -10 English, Mathematics, Science and History syllabuses until 2014.

Mr Piccoli said that the new timeframe will allow sufficient time for the syllabuses to be finalised, and for teachers to prepare for implementation.

All four K-10 syllabuses are currently in draft form and the Board of Studies schedule of consultations will not be affected by the announcement.

For more information, read the Minister's media release and the Board President’s fax to school Principals.

Source: BoS

Major changes to School Certificate from 2012

On 4 August 2011, the NSW Minister for Education announced that School Certificate tests would not continue beyond 2011.

The Minister's announcement also outlined plans for the Board of Studies to continue to consult with stakeholders to develop a plan for a new credential for students who leave school before receiving their HSC.

The 2011 School Certificate will not be affected.

To read the Ministers media release or the Board's Discussion Paper outlining the principles for further consultation, visit the Board of Studies web page on the School Certificate Review.

Source: BoS

Parents 'should follow five tips'

Parents should follow a "five-a-day" approach to raising children with daily activities to help them reach their full potential, a report says.

Source: BBC News

HSC practical examinations start this week

Once again, the first of the HSC practical exams will be Languages, starting with Vietnamese Continuers on 2 August.

Dance students will follow from 8 August, the first of the major projects are due 15 August and Drama students will have their moment on stage soon after, with performance exams starting 22 August. Music students have until 5 September to prepare for their performance exams.

See all dates for practical examinations in the 2011 Higher School Certificate Practical Submissions/Marking schedule and also the Languages Oral Examinations Timetable.

Principals should visit the 'My Reports' section of Schools Online for specific dates and times of practical examinations taking place at their school.

Information about certification and operational procedures for practical performances and major projects is also available in ‘Memos and Documents’.

The HSC written examinations start on Monday 17 October 2011 with the Business Studies exam at 9.25am.

Source: BoS

Information on 2011 HSC practical works and exams available

Information for schools on the submission of HSC practical works, preparation for practical exams and marking of practical exams has been sent to principals as listed below and is available in the Memos and Documents section of Schools Online. The information includes submission dates, certification requirements, packaging instructions, exam room setup and conduct, arrangements for markers and Board of Studies contact details if further information is needed. English Extension 2 Major Works Society and Culture Personal Interest Projects Textiles and Design Major Textiles Projects Dance Performance Examinations Music Performance Examinations Drama Performance and Project Marking Visual Arts Body of Work - Corporate and Itinerant Marking Industrial Technology Major Projects Design and Technology Major Design Projects

Source: BoS