Nearly 6000 Year 12 students in danger of not getting their HSC
No matter how hard they study, up to 6000 students are at risk of not receiving their HSC this year because of new reading, writing and arithmetic tests. It comes as some schools hire teachers specifically tasked with helping students pass the minimum tests.
Education
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Nearly 6000 Year 12s are in danger of not getting a Higher School Certificate this year, regardless of how hard they study.
This year, students have to meet standards in reading, writing and numeracy to obtain a HSC and 5926 have not done so.
The Sunday Telegraph has obtained data under freedom of information laws, which has revealed close to 4500 students have not passed the writing test, more than 3700 students have not passed the numeracy test and 1669 students have not passed the reading test.
Some of those students may have failed multiple tests.
Students who do not pass the online tests by the time they finish Year 12 will be able to sit their HSC exams but will receive a Record of School Achievement (RoSA) instead of the HSC. They will still be able to receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and apply to university.
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In response to COVID-19, students will this year be able to sit the reading, writing and numeracy tests up to six times, instead of the usual two tests a year.
But Specific Learning Difficulties Association of NSW executive officer Georgina Perry said teens with a “specific learning difficulty … would need significant intervention to pass”.
Bondi mother Martine Beaumont’s son Jackson is in Year 12 but it is hard to motivate him, given he is ineligible for a HSC.
“My kid goes to school every day and hands in every test but he knows he won’t get a HSC so it is hard to motivate him knowing there’s nothing at the end of it,” Ms Beaumont said.
According to NSW Education Standards Authority CEO Paul Martin, teachers will spend the next five months helping their students pass the minimum standards tests.
They could also take online practice tests and will receive feedback on their results.
Bondi mother Martine Beaumont's son Jackson is in Year 12 but it is hard to motivate him to keep studying, given he is ineligible for a HSC.
"My kid goes to school every day and hands in every test but he knows he won’t get a HSC so it is hard to motivate him knowing there’s nothing at the end of it,” Ms Beaumont said.
"He’s not the sort of kid who would go to uni but when he goes for a job he won’t have a HSC, so potential bosses will assume he is either lazy or delinquent and cast him to the bottom of the pile.
"My son will never pass the numeracy test because he has dyslexia and can’t hold two numbers in his head at once, so it doesn’t matter how many tests they offer him.
“He is doing well in his HSC subjects like English, ancient history and drama but he won’t have anything to show for it."
Students with doctor’s notes proving they have learning disorders qualify for extra time to sit the test or someone to type their answers, but do not qualify for extra marks.
According to NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) CEO Paul Martin, teachers will spend the next five months helping their students pass the minimum standards tests over and above their HSC coursework.
"Students need functional reading, writing and numeracy skills to achieve in all their subjects, as well as for life after school,” Mr Martin said.
"The development of literacy and numeracy skills is a progression and students have 13 years of school to develop their skills through different stages of the curriculum.
"Online practice tests are also available to help students prepare.
"The test platform issues students with a report after they have completed a numeracy or a reading tests. The report provides feedback on the types of questions answered correctly and incorrectly, as well as the overall level achieved."
Chifley College Senior Campus in Mount Druitt has hired a teacher specifically to help students pass the minimum standards tests, which they learn during class time and catch up on their HSC work after hours.
Chifley College Senior Campus’ pass rate among its Year 12 cohort has skyrocketed from 29 per cent last year to 97 per cent with five months left until HSC written exams begin.
Chifley College Senior Campus student Taryne Azzopardi, 18, benefited from one-on-one tuition for a day a week over six week, which helped her pass all three minimum standards tests.
"I thought I’d have to miss important stuff in my classes, but I took it seriously and had the determination to get in and get out,” Taryne said.
"I didn't think I would ever feel confident enough to take the maths test but the teacher knew I was ready and I was stoked when I passed.”
Chifley College Senior Campus pays for the extra resources with its needs-based equity funding, which it is paid for teaching students from low socio-economic backgrounds and students who do not speak English at home.
“It is important our students are given an opportunity to get a HSC, because it matters to employers and shows students have resilience, commitment and the skills to sit an exam,” deputy principal Joyce Berry said.
“Our kids don’t stick around for Year 11 and 12 if there’s nothing in it for them, so they are driven to pass minimum standards tests and qualify for the HSC."