Frequently Asked Questions

What is required for progression to Stage 6?

To progress to Stage 6, students are required to study courses in each year in Years 7-10 in English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. At some time during Years 7-10, students are also required to study courses in the Creative Arts (Visual Arts and Music), Technology and Applied Studies and Languages other than English (see further down this page).

Students are awarded a grade for each of the courses they have studied in Years 9 and 10. The grades are awarded by the School and based on a set of Course Performance Descriptors developed by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). They indicate a student’s overall level of achievement in each course. The final grade in Year 10 is recorded on the students individual Record of School Achievement (RoSA).

How am I eligible for progression to Stage 6?

To be eligible for progression to Stage 6, students need to have studied the following courses:

English – studied substantially in each of Years 7 - 10 with 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.

Mathematics – studied substantially in each of Years 7 - 10 with 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.

Science – studied substantially in each of Years 7 - 10 with 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.

Human Society and Its Environment – studied substantially in each of Years 7 - 10 with 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10. Included in this requirement is the study of 100 hours each of History and Geography in Years 7–8 and 100 hours each of History and Geography in Years 9–10.

Creative Arts – studied for 200 hours and comprising 100 hours in each of Visual Arts and Music.

Technological and Applied Studies – studied for 200 hours and consisting of the Board’s Technology (Mandatory) course in Years 7 and 8.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education – studied in each of Years 7 - 10 with 300 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.

Languages – studied for at least 100 hours, to be completed in one language over one continuous 12 month period between Years 7 and 10 but preferably in Years 7–8.

What is the Record of School Achievement?

The Record of School Achievement (RoSA) is the current credential for all students to recognise school achievement before receiving their Higher School Certificate (HSC). It replaced the former School Certificate, with school-based assessment instead of State-wide tests.

RoSA is a cumulative credential which will show Year 10 grades, as well as any Year 11 grades completed after that. VET and Life Skills courses can also be included on the RoSA. The credential will be available for students when they leave school, provided that students have met the requirements for each subject. Grades for Years 10 and 11 will be based on results on assessments completed throughout the year and may include tests developed at the school level. Students who leave school during Year 11 may also be eligible to complete a standardised Literacy and Numeracy test which may be of interest to future employers. However, this test is not designed for students who intend to go on to complete their Higher School Certificate in Year 12.

More information on the new credential can be found here.

What about the new minimal Literacy and Numeracy Standards?

NESA has just introduced a new minimal requirement which will have an impact on our current students Year 10 students, who will be sitting the HSC in 2020. An online test will be compulsory for students to take during Years 10, 11 or 12.

Students who do not meet the standard will be eligible for a Record of School Achievement (RoSA) and will have up to five years after leaving school to meet the literacy and numeracy standard and receive a HSC.

If students do not reach the standards in Year 10 tests, they will not be precluded from entering Year 11. However, certain patterns of study may be recommended or prescribed.

More information on the new minimal standards can be found here.  

How do I enrol?

The School will complete an online entry for each student and lodge it with NESA in Term 1 of Year 10. The entry will indicate the mandatory courses being studied along with the elective courses. Students will be given their Confirmation of Entry notice to check to ensure that all details are correct. They will then be required to sign their Confirmation of Entry. In special situations where students have been permitted to change electives between Years 9 and 10, 100 hour courses will be indicated for two of the four courses completed (the usual pattern of study is 200 hour courses for electives in Stage 5).

Are there any rules regarding attendance?

Absences during the year

Principals may grant students leave for legitimate reasons such as illness, physical injury or representative sport. If leave has been granted during the year there will be no effect on course completion requirements provided that compensatory assignments and other work issued during the period of absence has been completed upon return to school.

If absence is prolonged and work is not possible during the period, the Principal may judge that it is not feasible to make up the work during the year. Any extensive period of unexplained absence may result in non-completion of a course(s) and may impact on eligibility for progression to Stage 6.

Approved student exchange

The Principal may grant leave for approved student exchange programs. Where such leave is granted, every reasonable effort will be expected by the student in completing course requirements, but estimates on assessment tasks and final grades may be necessary in some instances. Longer term exchanges will need careful consideration, and in some instances, students may not be eligible for a Record of School Achievement for Years 10 and 11, if they effectively complete a year’s study overseas and do not ‘repeat’ the year at School.

Final date for attendance

It is a requirement for progression to Stage 6 that Year 10 students attend school until the final day of Year 10 as determined by the Principal, unless an exemption has been granted by the Principal. Students who leave before the last day of Year 10 without an exemption or leave approval may not be permitted to progress to Stage 6. In recent years an engaging enrichment program has concluded Year 10 and formed part of the important transition into Year 11.

What are the requirements regarding satisfactory completion of a course?

To satisfactory complete a course, students must:

1. follow the course developed or endorsed by NESA; and
2. apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school; and
3. achieve some or all of the course outcomes.

Satisfactory completion of courses is judged therefore on attendance and level of involvement in class, the quality of assessments and homework completed, and level of achievement.

If the Principal determines that a student is in danger of not completing a course satisfactorily, a warning will be provided in writing in time for the student to correct the problem and satisfactorily complete the course. Such warning letters will generally be sent by the appropriate subject head.

What are the guidelines regarding flexible progression?

The Principal may approve acceleration in a course of study, where the needs of the student are best met through the development of a more flexible program. However, the design of the Honours program is based on enrichment rather than acceleration and this is indicative of the School’s approach to meeting the needs of Gifted and Talented students. Questions in this area should be directed to the Director of Learning & Teaching in the first instance.

How are grades awarded?

For each Stage 5 course studied, achievement will be reported as a grade A–E. The grade is determined by the School, based on performance in the course throughout the year.

NESA has developed a set of General Performance Descriptors that describe performance at each of the grade levels, A–E. The table below gives an indication of how these levels help to describe student performance. For each course, a set of NESA Course Performance Descriptors has been developed based on the General Performance Descriptors. Each descriptor provides typical characteristics of students working at each of the grade levels in relation to the knowledge and skills relevant to the course.

The Course Performance Descriptors for each course can be viewed on the NESA website.

Teachers will collect ongoing assessment information about achievements in a course and relate it to the Course Performance Descriptors. This information will assist the School in making the final judgement of the grade to be awarded at the end of Year 10.

What are the General Performance Descriptors?

The general performance descriptors describe performance at each of five grade levels:

A	The student has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. In addition, the student has achieved a very high level of competence in the processes and skills and can apply these skills to new situations.
B	The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the processes and skills. In addition, the student is able to apply this knowledge and these skills to most situations.
C	The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills.
D	The student has a basic knowledge and understanding of the content and has achieved a limited level of competence in the processes and skills.
E	The student has an elementary knowledge and understanding in few areas of the content and has achieved very limited competence in some of the processes and skills.

Are any Disability Provisions available?

Disability Provisions such as writers or large print test papers, are available to students who are eligible for such provisions under NESA criteria. To apply for disability provisions, students should speak to the Head of Administration and Planning, or School Counsellor, as soon as possible.