Gold Coast’s Benowa State High School makes Year 12 sit exams day after Covid-19 lockdown lifts, angering parents
One of the Gold Coast’s top schools is under fire for refusing to postpone important Year 12 exams, with parents labelling the move as “absolutely appalling”. FULL STORY
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PARENTS say a Gold Coast school’s decision to make Year 12 students sit exams on the first day out of lockdown is “absolutely appalling” and “ridiculous”.
While many other state and private schools pushed back exams to Wednesday to allow students to ask final questions and face-to-face clarifications after a week of lockdown, Benowa State High School had tests yesterday.
“If it wasn’t Year 12 then it wouldn’t be so annoying, but my child has two exams and an assignment due today yet has had no face-to-face time with teachers for over a week,” said an upset parent.
Worth about 15-20 per cent of their final score, these are the Year 12’s final exams before they sit their external exams, worth about 50 per cent of their year’s work.
“I know All Saints (Anglican School) students were supposed to be having exams Tuesday but they’ve pushed it back to Wednesday and Southport State High School had the exam scheduled during lockdown so had to move theirs,” she said.
“But when they did reschedule, they moved it to Wednesday so students had the chance to talk to teachers face-to-face for any last-minute questions.”
In a message to parents, Benowa High said Year 12s were given the exam schedule long before the snap lockdown and were informed that should lockdown be lifted before Monday, exams would proceed as scheduled.
“Students were encouraged to continue with study and preparation,” it says.
“Also teachers continued to help students prepare via online learning and made sure opportunities to ask questions via Microsoft teams were available.”
But parents at the school reacted angrily to the announcement on social media.
“It is an absolutely appalling decision to go ahead under these circumstances,” said one parent.
“A school’s duty is to support students and to create the right conditions for them to perform as well as they possibly can. We are talking about Year 12 students here, looking to go on to the next stage in their journey. How ridiculous is it to say that an exam schedule cannot be changed by one or two days?”
Another parents said the move was “ridiculous” and that the online learning offered last week “basically consisted of teachers stating they were available on teams if needed”.
“Why on earth is the school belligerently pushing on with this ‘I-told-you-so’ attitude?” asked a parent.
Another parent said “the final week before exams is a critical time for students to have access to teaching staff to work through sticking points commonly experienced with subjects such as maths.
“I’m disappointed that the apparent option to postpone exams is not being exercised.”
The wearing of masks during the exams also angered many parents: “So you can sit at the pub and have a beer and not wear a mask, but you can’t sit your Year 12 exams without one,” one said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “Like all state schools impacted by the lockdown, Benowa State High School has been communicating directly with students, parents and carers about individual arrangements”.
“Teachers have been in regular contact with their Year 12 students including revising content in preparation for today’s scheduled exams in general mathematics, mathematics methods and economics.
“As well as ongoing work around the curriculum, teachers have also been checking on student wellbeing and are confident the Year 12 cohort is prepared for today’s exams.
“Any caregiver with concerns is encouraged to contact the school, which will consider the circumstances of all students.
“The Department of Education has been working closely with schools and families to ensure students have been able to continue their learning during lockdown so no child is disadvantaged.”
The school was approached for comment.
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