Exam theft forces school to stop HSC trials as police investigate

POLICE are investigating a serious security breach at an unnamed Sydney school that has forced HSC trial exams to be rescheduled. At least one student gained prior knowledge of material in an exam paper.

Students sit HSC exams.

POLICE are investigating a serious security breach at a Sydney school that has forced HSC trial exams to be rescheduled.

The Catholic Secondary Schools Association (CSSA) has revealed that students at the unnamed high school will have to sit the exams at a later date due to the security breach.

The Daily Telegraph understands that at least one student gained prior knowledge of material in an exam paper but the breach did not occur during the test, marks from which count towards students’ final HSC score.

The incident occurred just weeks after HSC trials at one of Sydney’s top schools, The Scots College, were thrown into chaos when thieves broke in and stole exam papers from a locked storage room. The prestigious private boys school had to cancel the trial exams for Year 12 students when physics papers were stolen.

The Scots College, Bellevue Hill, where a raider stole physics papers and forced the cancellation of the exams earlier this month.

This morning, the CSSA, which sets exam papers, said police had been informed and were investigating the latest breach at the unnamed school.

“On the basis of the facts known at this stage, provided by the school to the CSSA, the breach does not appear to involve any school procedures or personnel.

“The breach impact affects only one class and three exams which have already been sat.

“Students in the affected class and their parents/carers have therefore been advised that the class will need to re-sit new exam papers for each subject.

“While this is regrettable, it is necessary to uphold the integrity of the exam results.

Exams are conducted in strict security.

The Scots College, Bellevue Hill, reviewed its security after the late-night raid.

“The school and the CSSA Exams Division are reviewing exam paper security procedures at every stage of the process — from printing to delivery, storage and access at the school.

“The review is part of the CSSA Exam Division’s Breaches of Security Policy and Procedures.

“The CSSA Exams Division is highly committed to ensuring the security of its HSC trial exam papers, which are provided to some 480 government, Catholic and independent schools. “Following the police investigation, it will upgrade its security policy and procedures where necessary.”

The CSSA has refused to identify the school involved or whether it is in the government, Catholic or independent sector while police investigate.

Strict security surrounds trial HSC papers which are required to be securely stored before students sit them, and access is restricted.

Earlier this month, The Scots College was forced to cancel Year 12 HSC trials because of a late-night raid. Two copies of the physics trial examination were found missing from a locked cupboard inside the storage room at the eastern suburbs campus at Bellevue Hill just hours before students were due to sit the papers.

Head of curriculum Dr John Montgomery said the college, which charges combined tuition and boarding fees of up to $60,000 a year, had notified police and the CSSA.

“This incident is very upsetting and extremely disappointing,” he said, adding that the college

was reviewing its procedures for storage of trial examination papers and the “opportunity to enhance the existing security”.

The NSW Education Standards Authority can impose severe penalties if students are proved to have broken rules in school-based assessment tasks or cheated in the HSC exams, including zero marks or the loss of the globally recognised end-of school credential.