Over 20 SA schools to close Tuesday as year 12 exams cancelled

Year 12 exams for many students have been cancelled as dozens of South Australian schools remain shut due to power blackouts from Saturday’s storms.

More than 20 schools will remain closed on Tuesday due to widespread power outages, forcing their year 12 students to miss out on exams.

Education Department chief executive Martin Westwell told ABC Radio Adelaide on Monday morning year 12 students enrolled at any of the 30 listed schools, including Blackwood High School and Marden Senior College, will receive a predicted grade.

“Just like if a student was ill or if there was a bushfire, the students don’t do the exam,” he said.

Mr Westwell went on to say students who could not sit the exam would not be disadvantaged.

“The SACE Board have a robust approach for imputing the exam grade,” he said.

“I understand they use a range of indicators including previously submitted work and from those grades and other information about students, they can predict an exam grade.

“Data from years gone by show that is a really reliable way to predict exam grades.”

It is understood, independent schools will be contacting students and parents directly.

The department previously said it and the SACE Board would work with the students affected.

Dozens of South Australian schools will shut on Monday due to power blackouts from Saturday’s storms. Picture: Kelly Barnes

On Sunday, it was reported thousands of South Australian school students would be forced to stay home on Monday due to power blackouts and storm damage.

The Education Department announced more than 50 public schools – mainly pre and primary schools – across swathes of Adelaide will close.

That list has since been updated to include just 30 schools after power was restored to 20 of them, and does not include private schools.

The department is advising parents and year 12 students to keep an eye out for further information from individual schools.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told The Advertiser that SA Power Networks was working “furiously” to fix fallen power lines through the night, which could mean many schools slated for closure may open.

He urged parents to closely monitor social communications.

2/2: The situation is constantly evolving as some schools have power restored so please keep an eye on @edu_sagov socials for the latest info.

We are working as fast as we can to ensure students can return to school as soon as possible.

Stay safe everyone.

— Blair Boyer MP (@BBoyerMP) November 13, 2022

At least one independent school, Pilgrim at Aberfoyle Park, in Adelaide’s south, was planning to close but would stay open for those who couldn’t find last-minute care.

Another two Catholic sites, Stella Maris at Seacombe Gardens, also in the southern suburbs, and School of the Nativity. Aberfoyle Park, were also due to close but officials were trying to open. St Catherine’s in Stirling will also close.

Mr Westwell said outages, which may be lengthy in some areas, were “having the biggest impact”.

“I expect that the repair work will prioritise the return to full operation by schools and preschools,” he said.

The cost was still to be tallied, he said.

SCHOOLS CLOSED AS OF 7PM NOVEMBER 14

– Aberfoyle Park Campus Preschool

– Bel Air Jean Bonython Kindergarten

– Bellevue Heights Primary School

– Blackwood High School

– Blackwood Kindergarten

– Blackwood Primary School

– Clarendon Kindergarten

– Clarendon Primary School

– Coromandel Valley Kindergarten

– Coromandel Valley Primary School

– Craigburn Primary School

- Eastern Fleurieu School 7-12

– Eden Hills Kindergarten
- Eden Hills Primary School

– Edwardstown Primary School

- Hawthorndene Kindergarten

– Hawthorndene Primary School

– Kangarilla Primary School

– Marden Senior College

– McLaren Flat Primary School

– Morphett Vale East Kindergarten

- Morphett Vale Primary School

- Morphett Vale Primary Preschool

– Reynella Kindergarten

– Upper Sturt Primary School

Source: Education Department

Originally published as Over 20 SA schools to close Tuesday as year 12 exams cancelled