Curriculum Matters

The HSC examinations began on Tuesday 9 November and will continue for another 3 weeks. Students have been well prepared for sitting these examinations under the required COVID restrictions and have again demonstrated resilience and focus in their approach.

Year 11

Week 6 signals the beginning of school based HSC assessments. I encourage students to ensure they are well prepared, and ask questions before assessments to ensure they understand what is required. I also suggest you read your Assessment Handbook on the College website,  to familiarise yourself with the Assessment procedures of the College.

This can also be accessed via the Curriculum Matters Google Classroom

Year 10

Students are currently doing the online course titled “All My Own Work”. Completion of this course and a minimum score of 80% is required in the final online test if students are to continue on to Year 11 in NSW.

At SJPC we are supporting students complete this NESA mandated requirement by provided in class opportunities for the completion of the course work and the final test. Students have access to these resources at home via their Curriculum Matters Google Classroom.

Years 7 – 9

What do Achievement Grades A – E mean??

NSW schools report on student achievement using a standards-referenced approach. Achievement standards are based on what students are expected to learn, as stated by the NSW syllabuses, and how well they have achieved. Stage 4 students are graded according to the Common Grade Scale, whilst Stage 5 students are graded with reference to the Course Performance Descriptors of each Board Developed Course syllabus.

Teachers make professional on-balance judgements to decide which grade description best matches the standards their students have achieved at a particular point-in-time. These decisions are based on evidence of achievement and information teachers have collected during the teaching and learning, it does not just focus on a single piece of work or the results of a test.

The information is derived from learning activities, observations and other methods of assessment that are collected over time and in different situations.

NESA supports the assessment for, as and of learning approach. Information on a student's achievement is collected during the course of learning and used as part of this broader assessment strategy to allocate grades.

The College’s Semester 2 reports inform students and parents of the level of achievement of syllabus outcomes which have been attained by students in Terms 3 and 4. Feedback to students outlines areas of strength and areas which need further development. This enables students to focus their efforts in this continuous learning cycle.

Claudia Brown
Leader of Curriculum