‘Unfit for study’: Year 12 students at four schools caught up flu, gastro outbreaks amid exams
At least four Victorian schools have made alternative arrangements for students who have caught the flu or gastro in the lead-up to exams. Find out what to do if your child is impacted.
A cruel flu and gastro outbreak has threatened months of hard work for numerous year 12 students, who have fallen ill just as the exam season kicks off.
Multiple students from at least three schools have been rocked by influenza, while some pupils at another secondary college were struck down with gastro in the lead-up to Tuesday’s highly anticipated English exam.
Consequently, schools are now in damage control and making alternative arrangements to ensure unwell students unfit to sit their exams don’t compromise the health of their peers.
This includes providing them with rest breaks, putting them in separate rooms, and giving them access to food, drinks and medication.
At one school, about six students were moved into a separate classroom to complete their three-hour English exam to prevent others from getting sick.
Meanwhile, those too sick to do their final tests are frantically visiting doctors for medical certificates which will allow them to apply for a derived score.
Methodist Ladies College in Kew is one school where a small number of year 12 students have reported being unwell in recent weeks.
A spokesman for the school said: “the college has contacted families to reassure them that support is available and is assisting any affected students to ensure they can sit their exams or access the usual VCAA and IB (international baccalaureate) processes where needed”.
Meanwhile, Ave Maria College acting principal Dane Calleja said it has been a longer than usual flu season this year.
“Like many schools, we have had several students unwell during exams,” he said.
“With the support of the VCAA, we have been able to make the necessary adjustments where needed so that every student has the opportunity to do their best.
“Processes such as special consideration and derived scores exist to make sure no young person is unfairly impacted by illness or circumstances beyond their control.”
While schools have thanked the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) for its support when making alternative arrangements for sick students, frustrated families haven’t been as pleased.
One parent said they had contacted the VCAA for advice when their child was diagnosed with influenza A and was shocked when the person who answered the phone described the condition as “not serious”.
“The VCAA has delivered serious exam blunders year after year and failed the test in a review of its own processes,” she said.
“To then have a staff member describe influenza A as not serious unless it turns into pneumonia shows no compassion for the health of the students whose VCE outcomes it controls.”
Another parent said their child had been unable to get out of bed for the four days leading into their first exam, with persistent fever, nausea, brain fog, and muscle aches.
“The doctor said they are unfit for study. They have worked so hard all year. There needs to be a safety net when something unexpected happens like this,” he said.
“These are the kids who had Covid lockdowns in early high school and now this. It’s stressful and just really sad.”
More than 98,000 influenza cases have been reported to the Department of Health this year, 26,000 more cases than what was reported in all of 2024.
A VCAA spokesman said there were measures in place to ensure all students were assessed fairly and equitably, with schools being supported to manage students with influenza and other illnesses through the special provision process.
“If a student cannot attend an exam, they should notify their school principal or VCE exam co-ordinator as soon as they can to initiate a Derived Examination Score application,” he said.
In 2024, 3378 students received a derived score.
Originally published as ‘Unfit for study’: Year 12 students at four schools caught up flu, gastro outbreaks amid exams
