Narara Valley High: Education Department investigates claims HSC assessment results falsified

Two teachers at an embattled high school on the Central Coast have been investigated over claims HSC assessment results were faked for years.

Allegations HSC assessment results were “falsified for several years” at a NSW high school have been investigated by the NSW Education Department’s secretive Professional and Ethical Standards unit.

NewsLocal can revealed the department’s PES directorate “detailed investigations” at Narara Valley High School, on the state’s Central Coast, following allegations two members of staff failed to record a series of HSC assessment results, instead submitting incorrect figures.

Narara Valley High School's principal Michael Gibson has been sacked after a lengthy investigation. Picture: Google

In a series of questions to Education Minister Sarah Mitchell, One Nation MLC Mark Latham questioned whether two members of staff “engaged in misconduct by failing to appropriately record and manage student assessment marks over multiple years”.

An Education Department spokesman said “we take these matters very seriously and undertook detailed investigations”.

“Appropriate action was taken against all the employees involved,” the spokesman told NewsLocal.

The department also assured parents and students that no HSC students at Narara Valley High School were “disadvantaged or impacted”.

“The accuracy and integrity of academic results is of paramount importance,” he said. “We have taken measures to ensure this does not happen again and are confident in the school’s recording of academic results.”

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the department’s code of conduct “highlights the critical role of educators in ensuring the fair and equitable assessment of students’ capabilities”.

“In circumstances where this does not occur, appropriate action is taken which may include investigation by the Professional and Ethical Standards Directorate.”

This is not the first controversy at Narara Valley High School have been investigated by the PES unit. Former principal Michael Gibson left the school as a result of findings by the secretive investigation unit in an unrelated matter.