Principal, students claim Randwick High co-ed merger will have impact on HSC scores

The principal of a girls’ school fighting a state government plan for it to become co-ed wants education authorities to take into account the impact the decision has had on students sitting the HSC.

The principal of a girls’ school fighting a state government plan for it to become co-ed wants education authorities to take into account the impact the decision has had on students sitting the HSC.

The Sunday Telegraph has been told Randwick Girls High School principal Lucy Andre and some of the school’s Year 12 students have spoken about potentially lodging an­­ “illness/misadventure” application to the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

NESA guidelines state that schools can apply for illness/misadventure where a student or cohort has experienced an illness, accident or other misadventure at the time of a HSC exam.

Applications from students — which include statements from the presiding officer and principal — are then reviewed by a NESA panel.

If the application is upheld, students will receive either a moderated school assessment mark or the actual exam mark, whichever is higher.

Education Minister Prue Car. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Students impacted by floods or bushfires have been among those who have lodged illness and misadventure applications in previous years.

Deaths of a fellow student or family member, along with car accidents, illness and sexual assault have also been reasons students have given.

A NESA spokesman said applications were approved where there was evidence of a direct impact on student ­performance.

“Applications are approved where they demonstrate, with current and independent evidence, a direct impact on a student’s exam performance,” the spokesman said.

The latest NESA figures show 4205 students lodged an illness/misadventure application last year.

The applications related to 8106 separate exam courses, of which 6933 were “fully or partially” upheld. The figures showed there were 5482 course mark changes.

Ms Andre declined to speak to The Sunday Telegraph.

A NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said no application had been lodged by the school.

Current and former school students have spoken of being blindsided by the possible merger of the girls’ and boys’ campuses, with the announcement by the government last month leaving some in tears.

Some students began a online petition against the move, although last Friday it appeared to have been removed, despite amassing hundreds of names.

The government has proposed Randwick Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools will merge from 2025.

The move follows lobbying by local community groups for a co-ed option for children who did not want to go to a private school.

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