Certification

Last date for changes to Year 12 student enrolments

Contact
Jenny Offer (08) 9273 6313
jenny.offer@scsa.wa.edu.au
Jenny Morup (08) 9273 6309
jenny.morup@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are reminded that the last date for changes to Year 12 student enrolments in Stage 3 course units that do not have a practical examination is Wednesday, 24 September 2014.

Schools can upload changes to Stage 3 course unit enrolments which do not have a practical examination (up until Wednesday, 24 September) directly into SIRS, instead of providing the changes in writing to the Authority.

Please note:

  • no changes will be made to Year 12 student enrolments in Stage 2 course units, after Wednesday, 2 July 2014.
  • changes to student enrolments to sit the 2014 WACE examinations in Stage 3 courses with a practical examination will close on Friday, 1 August 2014.

Courses, VET and endorsed programs

Accounting and Finance Stage 2: minor syllabus amendment

Contact
Maria Tsovleas (08) 9273 6363
maria.tsovleas@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers of Accounting and Finance are advised the following content dot point has been amended in the syllabus for teaching and examination in 2014.
Unit 2A

Text from the 2014 version of the syllabus

Updated text

The role and influence of governments and other bodies

  • legislation relating to the formation of sole trader, partnership and small proprietary companies e.g. GST Act (1999) Business Names Act of WA (1962), Partnership Act of WA (1895), Corporations Act (2001)

The role and influence of governments and other bodies

  • legislation relating to the formation of sole trader, partnership and small proprietary companies e.g. GST Act (1999), Business Names Registration Act (2011),  Partnership Act of WA (1895), Corporations Act (2001)

The updated syllabus is identified with the following footnote:

Accounting and Finance: Accredited April 2008 (updated April 2014)
For teaching 2013 and 2014, examined in 2013 and 2014

The Scope and Sequence for Accounting and Finance has been updated accordingly.


Changes to list of prescribed sports for 2016 Physical Education Studies WACE practical examination

Contact
Dino Manalis (08) 9273 6356
Dino.Manalis@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are advised that the Board of the Authority have endorsed the removal of seven sports from the list of those available for the WACE practical examination in 2016.  All secondary principals have been advised of this change in a letter sent to schools on
23 June 2014.
The following sports will be removed from the prescribed list:

  • Athletics
  • Equestrian
  • Gymnastics
  • Golf
  • Softball
  • Squash
  • Swimming.

Although these sports will not be examined, schools may continue to teach them.
Schools are requested to ensure all teachers of Physical Education Studies and prospective students are advised of these changes.


Student enrolments in VET and endorsed programs

Contact
Jenny Offer (08) 9273 6313
jenny.offer@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are reminded that the Authority requires Year 10 and Year 11 student enrolments in VET and Year 10 to Year 12 student enrolments in endorsed programs to be uploaded into SIRS as soon as possible, but not later thanFriday, 15 August 2014.

A school working with a registered training organisation (RTO) needs to ensure that students are enrolled in the relevant units of competency and qualifications. It is important that schools acquire the appropriate documentation from the RTO to confirm enrolments before submitting the data to the Authority. This also ensures that accurate information is uploaded in SIRS to avoid issues at the time of providing student achievement reports.

Section 6 of the WACE Procedures File 2014 provides instructions relating to:

  • extracting data on students enrolled in units of competency and endorsed programs
  • uploading these enrolments into SIRS
  • verifying these enrolments in SIRS.

This information is available online at:
http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Publications/WACE_Procedures_File.

It is important that schools delivering VET integrated into a WACE course unit enrol the students in the units of competency as VET integrated in the ENVET file. No unit equivalence will be given for units of competency delivered and achieved.

Schools are also reminded that if they are enrolling students in endorsed programs they need to complete theEndorsed programs enrolment declaration form. This form is available in section 3.6 of the WACE Procedures File 2014 and is availableonline at the above link. It is due at the Authority by Friday, 15 August 2014.


Examinations

Clarification of WACE Media Production and Analysis (MPA) Stage 2 and 3 practical (production) examination requirements 2014

Contact
Naidina Avery (08) 9273 6334
naidina.avery@scsa.wa.edu.au
Rikki James (08) 9273 6361
rikki.james@scsa.edu.au

The following information provides clarification about requirements outlined in the Media Production and Analysis Practical (production) examination requirements 2014 document that was sent to schools and which is available on the MPA course page atwww.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Senior_Secondary/Courses/WACE_Courses/Media_Production_and_Analysis.

The content of the individual documentation of production process (Criteria 5, 6 and 7 of the MPA Provisional practical (production) examination marking key 2014) is clearly outlined in point 12.6 (page 9) of the Media Production and Analysis Practical (production) examination requirements 2014 document as well as in Appendix 5Guidelines for the Individual documentation production process. In responding to the instructions outlined in these two places, the candidates’ responses would, where applicable, contain information that supports addressing marking criteria 1 to 7. Further information is available atwww.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Senior_Secondary/Courses/WACE_Courses/Media_Production_and_Analysis(Clarification of Practical Submission Requirements 2014 under the Examination Materials tab).

Each marker will independently view the submission first then read the documentation before allocating marks for criteria 1 to 7.

A dot point under 6.2 (page 4) in the Media Production and Analysis Practical (production) examination requirements 2014 document states that ‘under no circumstances can any other person work directly on any part of the candidate’s practical (production) examination submission…’ The intent of this statement is that candidates must not use 'professional' help when making their production. The normal input of a teacher and the use of classmates as crew or actors do not fall under this ruling. Normal classroom practice of candidates working as teams on productions should continue as in past practice.

All queries are to be directed to info@scsa.wa.edu.au.