Barrenjoey High School

BARRENJOEY HIGH SCHOOL

PHSC & HSC ASSESSMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 

1. General Information

 

HSC assessment in Year 12 gives credit for consistent performance. It may assess aspects of the course that are not examined in the Higher School Certificate examination.  Barrenjoey High School has developed a program that covers Board requirements, with complete fairness to students, and balance between courses.  Students are required to be diligent and complete all tasks presented to them.

 

This assessment process will begin Term 4 of the preliminary year, and will finish one week before the Trial Higher School Certificate examinations (excepting practical tasks, LOTE speaking tasks and culmination of practical projects).

 

Not every piece of work completed will be part of the “assessment” mark, some work is set to practise skills so that the students can see how well they understand the topic.  All set work should be regarded as an essential course requirement, even when it is not included as an assessment task.  Students will automatically fail a course if they do not make a satisfactory attempt to complete assessable tasks with a weighting of over 50%.

 

Attendance at all timetabled lessons is an important step to fulfilling course requirements.  The Principal may decide that a student’s attendance has made it impossible for course outcomes to be achieved.  The Board of Studies suggests that absences greater than 15% make it difficult to satisfactorily complete a course.

 

Students may also be deemed not to have satisfactorily completed a course if there is sufficient evidence of:

a)    failure to complete experiences specified in the syllabus, eg fieldwork, oral presentations, assignments, practical work, participation in class;

b)    non-serious or trivial preparation for exams.

 

2. Notification of Assessment Results

 

Students are provided with information on their performance in each task (mark and / or rank).  Students are NOT told their final school assessment mark, but will be given their progressive ranking.  Students may collect the final Assessment Rank Order Notice on completion of their HSC exams.

 

3. Student Responsibilities

 

§ YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ASSESSMENT in a number of ways. If you act irresponsibly you may end up with a ZERO MARK (0).

 

§ YOU MUST BE FAMILIAR with the assessment policies set out in this book for each subject you take.

 

§ It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to:

 

(a) ATTEND SCHOOL, be AWARE OF DUE DATES for assessment tasks and complete tasks ON TIME.  If you are absent for any number of days you must check with your teachers to see if any assessment tasks have been set on the FIRST DAY of your return to school.

 

(b) BE ON TIME to assessment tasks: you will NOT be given an extension of time.  If you are late to any task held in school time or at the beginning of the day, then the Deputy Principals or the Principal must verify that you have a LEGITIMATE reason for being later and give you a note to that effect.

 

(c) BE PRESENT to do all in-school assessment tasks.  This means being PRESENT THE DAY BEFORE AND ALL DAY that a task is due or that a task is set as an exam.  IT IS NOT PERMITTED TO TAKE DAYS OFF FROM SCHOOL IN ORDER TO COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT TASK OR STUDY FOR A TEST. If you miss lessons prior to Assessment Tasks you will be asked to explain your absence in writing and to accompany this with a medical certificate or other appropriate documentation (see “What happens if you miss a task?”).  If you are absent you risk receiving a ZERO MARK for the task.

 

(d) HAND IN any homework assessment task on time.

 

YOU MUST NOT under any circumstances leave a piece of work on a teacher’s desk as no record will have been established of its presentation. Therefore any work not personally handed to the class teacher or a person nominated by the class teacher will be dealt with in the same manner as for failure to complete a task and a ZERO MARK will be awarded accordingly.  Friends are NOT to hand in your task.

 

If absent on the day a task is due, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher or Head Teacher of the faculty (9747 3355) ON THE FIRST DAY OF ABSENCE.

 

(e) BRING A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE or other documentation justifying your absence to your teacher (and a copy to the front office) on your FIRST DAY back at school if you are absent for an assessment test or are absent on the day a task is due.  Back-dated medical certificates are not acceptable.  Students who habitually present doctors' certificates for assessment tasks will be deemed to be non-serious students unless the school is aware of a prior medical condition. On return to school submit “Illness, Accident or Misadventure Application” form (see Appendix) to the subject teacher with medical certificate, which will be referred to the Assessment Committee.

 

(f) NOTIFY your teacher of any assessment problems in advance, if possible.  If you are ill on the day of an assessment task or have suffered a misadventure immediately prior to the day of an assessment task, you must inform the teacher on the day of the task before the task begins. Illness/misadventure forms must be submitted to the teacher, supported by a doctor’s certificate, within 48 hours.

 

(g) CHECK THE MARKING of each task when it is returned to you.

 

(h) CHECK YOUR ASSESSMENT RANK when it is given to you from time to time.

 

(i) REFER to the Board of Studies website for current course information, including course outcomes - .www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc.

 

Some prolonged absences, eg a holiday overseas, cannot be taken into account and could lead to you not meeting outcomes in that subject.  You must seek approval from the Principal before you take your leave.

 

4.  Assessment Task Procedures

 

§   You will be given at least 2 weeks notice in writing of any assessment task.  All the class will be asked to sign a “record of issue/collection of task” form stating the date and time of day the task is due.  It is up to you to abide by the guidelines set out in this assessment booklet.

§   Assessment tasks must be submitted on the due date.  A zero mark will be awarded for work submitted late, unless a doctor’s certificate or exceptional circumstances deemed acceptable by the Head Teacher are supplied (in writing).

§   It is your responsibility to see your teacher as soon as practicable on the morning of your return to school to hand in the task or to arrange to complete a missed in-class task. The teacher and Head Teacher of the course will decide what sort of task will need to be submitted, eg an alternative task or the original task.

§   The deputy principal in exceptional circumstances may authorise an estimate to be given for a missed task.

§   You will be awarded a zero mark for an assessment task/examination if you have cheated, submitted a non-serious attempt, plagiarised or committed any other form of malpractice.

§   If you are completing compulsory work placement you will not be disadvantaged.  If there is sufficient time prior to commencing work placement the task can be submitted early or handed in by another person on the due date.  It is your responsibility to notify your teacher and Head Teacher once you are aware that you will be on work placement when the task is due.  A new date may be set by the Head Teacher which should be recorded on the “record of issue/collection” form.

§   If you are involved in knockout sport you must notify your teacher and Head Teacher as soon as you are aware of the clash of dates. Permission to attend the knockout game will be at the discretion of the Head Teacher and Head Teacher PDHPE. You may be given the option of completing the task prior to competing in the knockout game or, if it is a research task, you need to arrange for it to be handed in to your teacher on the required day.

§   If you choose to prepare and produce work with the use of computer technology it is your responsibility to ensure a hard copy is made well in advance of the due date.  Computer and associated technology malfunction, even theft, without evidence of “work in progress” is not a reason for late submission.

§   If you believe a task has been incorrectly marked you should discuss the matter with the class teacher concerned as soon as you receive the task back.  Dissent about a mark which a teacher has determined is NOT grounds for appeal.

§ If you believe you have been unfairly treated in being awarded a zero mark for an assessment task you may seek clarification from the Head Teacher of the course or go through the appeals process on page 10.

 

5.  Unsatisfactory Completion of Course

 

§ If you fail to satisfy minimum course requirements you will be awarded an ‘N’ determination.  This means you have failed the course and it will not count towards the HSC. (You must complete at least 12 preliminary units + 10 HSC units.)

 

§ What should ‘N’ Award letters be written for?

 

(a) Failure to submit assessable tasks.  Assessable tasks are those in the assessment booklet.

(b) Lack of diligence.  This is when a student has failed to complete a significant amount of non-assessable work such as class work, homework, practical work and other learning tasks the teacher has assigned – a genuine attempt must be made of all tasks.

(c) Not completing the prescribed course. This is most obvious when the student has poor attendance and misses a large amount of lessons. When student’s absences exceed 15% they may be considered as not adequately completing the course.

 

6.  What Happens If You Miss A Task?

 

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that you be in attendance when assessment tasks are scheduled.  Failure to complete a task without adequate reason will result in a ZERO MARK being awarded for the task.

 

UNAVOIDABLE ABSENCES caused by illness or misadventure must be explained IN WRITING and accompanied by a MEDICAL CERTIFICATE or other APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION.  This documentation must be submitted on the FIRST DAY of return to school to the Head Teacher or teacher in charge of the task. (Copies of documentation of absence to be also handed to the front office.)  You must also contact the teacher or Head Teacher of the faculty on the first day of the absence (9918 8811).

a) Medical certificates/other documentation MUST be issued by a qualified medical practitioner, preferably your family doctor or specialist.

b)    The certificate/document should clearly state the nature of the condition/circumstance and how this might be expected to affect your performance.

c)    The certificate/document should also cover the ENTIRE PERIOD OF YOUR ABSENCE.  For example, if you are absent on the day of the task, the day before and the day after as well, your certificate/document must cover all three days.

d)    The school reserves the right to check all certificates/documentation submitted and will on occasion make contact with the doctor/s concerned.

 

7.  Cheating or Malpractice

 

All assessment tasks must be:

a)    YOUR OWN ORIGINAL WORK.  You cannot submit a task which is the same as another student’s task.  You may work on a task with a friend, relative, etc but the final copy must be in your own words, ie it must be YOUR OWN INTERPRETATION of the task. Failure to comply with this will lead to the award of a ZERO MARK.

b)    Completed in the current assessment period.  You may not hand in a task or part of a task completed for another assignment in this or previous years.  Students found to have committed this form of malpractice will be awarded a ZERO MARK.

 

In situations where it is established that the student has copied from another student or misrepresented work copied from a source or committed any other type of malpractice then a ZERO MARK will be given for the task.

 

The Head Teacher in consultation with the class teacher will establish that malpractice has occurred. Parents/guardians will be advised in writing.

 

8.  Reviews and Appeals

 

Students may request a school review if:

(a) they believe their final rank (as issued by the Board of Studies) is different from the position obtained in the course, or

(b) they believe that the school did not follow the procedures stated in the assessment program for that subject

 

The request for review must be made within three days of the issue of assessment ranks.

 

The way marks were awarded by the teacher for assessment tasks will not be subject to review.

 

The school review panel will consist of the Principal or Deputy Principal, the Head Teacher concerned, and one other Head Teacher.

 

The Year Adviser may act as student advocate in these cases.  A student who is dissatisfied with the school’s review procedures may appeal to the Board.

 

9.  Information and Advice

 

Advice on assessment is available from:

- The Assessment Co-ordinator

- The Head Teacher of the Faculty concerned

- The Careers Adviser

- The Student Adviser

Information is located:

- Board documents – with the Principal or Assessment Co-ordinator

- Board of Studies website – www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au

- Rules and Procedures for Higher School Certificate Candidates - Board of Studies booklet issued to each student

- School Assessment Policy

- HSC Assessment Policy and Procedures – spare copies with the Student Adviser, Deputy Principal

- Faculty Assessment Program – with the Faculty concerned; copy with the Principal

 

ASSESSMENT TASK FLOW CHART