Application for permission to enrol in a WACE Languages course - information session

Contact
Nadia Civa (08) 9273 6355
Nadia.Civa@scsa.wa.edu.au

Susan McGrath (08) 9273 6747
Susan.McGrath@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers of Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 Languages, and any school staff involved with the Application for permission to enrol in a WACE Languages course process in the Student Records Management System (SRMS) are invited to an information session about the process.

The aim of the online session is to provide:

• an overview for staff new to the Languages enrolment application process
• updates on recent adjustments to the process
• suggestions on how to manage the process and to support students in their completion of the application
• strategies to ensure the processing of applications is not delayed.

The 90-minute online presentation will take place on Tuesday, 27 June 2023 from 3.45 to 5.15 PM.

Please register at https://scsa.wa.edu.au/events/application-for-permission-to-enrol-in-a-wace-languages-course-information-session.

WACE Language course applications – Year 11 or 12 2024

Contact
Adriana Douglas (08) 9273 6784
Adriana.Douglas@scsa.wa.edu.au

Nadia Civa (08) 9273 6355
Nadia.Civa@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are advised that the School Curriculum and Standards Authority’s (the Authority) online Application for permission to enrol in a WACE language course in 2024 was available from Monday, 12 June 2023 via the Student Records Management System (SRMS) student portal (https://studentportal.scsa.wa.edu.au/).

The purpose of the languages enrolment process is to ensure that students with a linguistic advantage in a language are not assessed against students who do not have the same advantage.

When students have submitted the online applications in the student portal, schools complete the three school stages in the SRMS portal (https://srms.scsa.wa.edu.au/). Once the three school stages have been completed, the Authority reviews the applications and determines students’ WACE language course enrolment status in the SRMS portal. Students can see their WACE language course enrolment status in the student portal and school users can monitor the progress of applications in the SRMS portal.

It is recommended that all Year 10 students, and Year 9 accelerated students currently studying a language, complete a language application for study in one or more of the following Languages courses:

*new WACE language course available to schools from 2024 (Year 11, and Year 12 from 2025)

Schools are advised that the 2023 dates for submission of an Application for permission to enrol in a WACE language course in 2024 are:

• Wednesday, 26 July 2023 or earlier if students start the 2024 school year in Term 4, 2023
• Friday, 25 August 2023 or earlier if students start the 2024 school year in Term 1, 2024.

It is advised that schools use the School guide for online applications for WACE language courses or inform students to access the Student guide for online applications for WACE language courses (both guides are available on the course page on the Authority website) to assist when completing the applications, or email languagesenrolment@scsa.wa.edu.au.

Indonesian: Background Language Notification of Development of New Syllabus for ATAR Year 11 2024

Contact
Adriana Douglas (08) 9273 6784
Adriana.Douglas@scsa.wa.edu.au

Lisa Djanegara (08) 9273 6382
Lisa.Djanegara@scsa.wa.edu.au

School Leaders, Heads of Learning Area – Languages, and Teachers of Languages are advised that the New South Wales Education and Standards Authority (NESA) has advised the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) of the suspension of Indonesian: First Language (Indonesian and Literature) from 2025 due to very low candidature of the subject nationally.

To ensure a pathway for students who are background or first language speakers of Indonesian, the Authority is currently developing an ATAR Indonesian: Background Language course for implementation from 2024 for Year 11, and 2025 for Year 12.

Students wishing to enrol in Indonesian will still be required to complete an Application for permission to enrol in a WACE language course. A determination is made against three criteria (Education, Residency and Use of the language outside the language classroom for communication). Students deemed to be background language, or first language speakers of Indonesian will be permitted to enrol in the ATAR Indonesian: Background Language course.

ATAR Music Year 11 Composition Moderation Workshop

Contact
Nick Fielding (08) 9273 6756
Nick.Fielding@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers are invited to register to attend a workshop to support the implementation of the new ATAR Music course.

This workshop is for teachers and other stakeholders involved in, or interested in, the delivery of the ATAR Music course. The workshop will focus on:

• reinforcing the new approach to teaching and assessing composition
• moderating standards through cross marking of the student composition work samples provided by participants
• sharing composition assessment tasks and teaching resources provided by participants
• facilitating discussion and collaboration between colleagues to support each other through implementation of the composition component of the new syllabus.

There are four opportunities to engage in the workshop:

• Wednesday, 30 August 2023, 9.30 am–12.00 pm (Cockburn)
• Tuesday, 5 September 2023, 9.30 am–3.30 pm (Bunbury)
• Wednesday, 6 September 2023, 1.00 pm–3.30 pm (online)
• Thursday, 7 September 2023, 9.30 am–3.30 pm (UWA)

Note: on 7 September staff from the Conservatorium of Music are offering a free afternoon workshop with a focus on teaching composition in the ATAR Music course.

The workshop is free to attend, however, schools are responsible for teacher relief (if required).

Registrations are now open at: https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/events/atar-music-year-11-composition-moderation-workshop.

Those attendees currently teaching the Year 11 ATAR Music course are asked to bring with them the following (in printed and/or digital format on a clearly labelled USB flash drive):

• the completed composition task of up to three of their Year 11 ATAR Music students
• the composition task and marking key from their school (i.e., the task brief provided to the students)
• teaching resources used to support the teaching of the composition component of the ATAR Music course.

All attendees are asked to bring with them a laptop for the purpose of reviewing student composition work on USB flash drives, and a digital copy of the 2023 Year 11 ATAR Music syllabus for reference during the workshop. The syllabus is available on the Music course page under ‘ATAR’ and ‘Syllabus’.

ATAR Media Production and Analysis Production task workshop

Contact
Gemma Wright (08) 9273 6783
Gemma.Wright@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers are invited to register to attend a Webex workshop for ATAR Media Production and Analysis Production tasks. The focus of the workshop is:

• production tasks
• marking keys
• standards.

There are two opportunities to engage in the workshop:

• Monday, 24 July 2023, via Webex, 3.30 to 5.00 PM
• Tuesday, 25 July 2023, via Webex, 12.00 to 1.30 PM.

The workshop is free to attend, however, schools are responsible for teacher relief (if required).

For reference during the Production task workshop, teachers are encouraged to have a digital copy of the 2023 12 ATAR Media Production and Analysis course:

• practical (production) examination requirements booklet
• practical (production) examination marking key.

These are available on the Media Production and Analysis course page under ‘ATAR’ and ‘Examination Materials’.

Registrations are now open at: https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/events/atar-media-production-and-analysis-production-task-workshop.

Minor syllabus changes for 2024 and 2025 – ATAR Aboriginal and Intercultural Studies

Contact
Carolyn Fleischer (08) 9273 6735
Carolyn.Fleischer@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are requested to note that the revised syllabuses for Years 11 and 12 ATAR Aboriginal and Intercultural Studies are now available on the Aboriginal and Intercultural Studies course page on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) website:
https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/humanities-and-social-sciences/aboriginal-and-intercultural-studies.

Teachers are advised that support materials will be progressively published for Year 11 in Semester 2. The support materials will include:

• a course outline
• an assessment outline
• tasks and marking keys.

A professional development session examining the structure, content and assessment of the revised syllabuses will be offered in Semester 2, 2023. The session will be available via Webex. Schools will be advised of the timing of these sessions through the Authority’s 11to12 Circular.

Major syllabus changes for 2024 and 2025 – General Human Biology

Contact
Julie Weber (08) 9273 6381
Julie.Weber@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are requested to note that the new syllabuses for Years 11 and 12 General Human Biology have now been endorsed for teaching by the Board of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority). The Year 11 syllabus is endorsed ‘For teaching from 2024’ and the Year 12 syllabus is endorsed ‘For teaching from 2025’.

The new syllabuses are now available on the Human Biology course page on the Authority website https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/science/human-biology.

Teachers are advised that support materials will be progressively published for Year 11 in Semester 2. The support materials will include:

• a course outline
• an assessment outline
• tasks and marking keys.

Professional development sessions examining the structure, content and assessment of the new syllabuses will be offered in Semester 2, 2023. These sessions will be available in both face-to-face and via Webex. Schools will be advised of the timing of these sessions through the Authority’s 11to12 Circular.

Notification of the new ATAR Years 11 and 12 Agribusiness Syllabuses

Contact
Nick Ognenis (08) 9273 6354
Nick.Ognenis@scsa.wa.edu.au

School administrators and Heads of Learning Area – Humanitiesand Social Sciences are requested to access the new ATAR Years 11 and 12 Agribusiness syllabuses available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) website:
https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/humanities-and-social-sciences/agribusiness.

Note: the new Years 11 and 12 Agribusiness and Agricultural Science and Technology syllabuses replace the Animal Production Systems and Plant Production Systems ATAR courses.

The General Animal Production Systems and Plant Production Systems courses will continue in 2024. 2023 is the final year for teaching the ATAR Year 11 Animal Production Systems and ATAR Year 11 Plant Production Systems courses, and 2024 is the final year for teaching the ATAR Year 12 Animal Production Systems and ATAR Year 12 Plant Production Systems courses.

Teachers are advised that support materials will be progressively published for Year 11 in Semester 2. The support materials will include:

• a course outline
• an assessment outline
• sample assessment tasks and marking keys.

Implementation workshops will be held during Term 3 for the Year 11 ATAR Agribusiness course.

Professional development sessions examining the structure, content and assessment of the new syllabuses will be offered in Semester 2, 2023. These sessions will be available in both face-to-face and via Webex. Schools will be advised of the timing of these sessions through the Authority’s 11to12 Circular.

2023 ATAR course examination timetables available online

Contact
Gloria Richmond (08) 9273 6732
Gloria.Richmond@scsa.wa.edu.au

The 2023 Year 12 ATAR course written and practical examination timetables can be accessed via the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website:
https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/examinations/examination-timetables.

The 2023 Year 12 ATAR course written examinations are scheduled from Monday, 30 October to Friday, 17 November 2023.

From Tuesday, 5 September 2023, students will be able to download their Personalised written examinations timetable and Personalised practical examination timetable from the student portal: https://studentportal.scsa.wa.edu.au.

The Personalised written examinations timetable will contain the date, time and examination centre for the student’s written examinations. The Personalised practical examination timetable will contain the date, time, venue and location of the student’s practical examination.

2024 ATAR course examination dates

Contact
Gloria Richmond (08) 9273 6732
Gloria.Richmond@scsa.wa.edu.au

The 2024 ATAR course written examinations are scheduled from Monday, 28 October to Friday,
15 November 2024.

The 2024 ATAR course practical examinations are scheduled from Saturday, 21 September to Sunday,
20 October 2024. The 2024 ATAR course practical examinations are scheduled as follows:

1. Saturday, 21 September to Sunday, 29 September (Saturday, Sunday and the public holiday included):  Aviation, Dance, Drama and Music.
2. Saturday, 12 October to Sunday, 20 October (Saturday and Sunday included):
   Chinese: Second Language, French: Background Language, French: Second Language, German: Background Language, German: Second Language, Indonesian: Second Language, Hindi: Background Language, Hindi: Second Language, Italian: Background Language, Italian: Second Language, Japanese: Second Language, Korean: Background Language and Korean: Second Language.

Schools will not be able to specify particular day/s for the practical examinations to be held for any student. Students from a school must be randomly allocated to examination times throughout all of the days allotted for a course. This process ensures anonymity for all candidates.

Schools are advised to plan activities such as school examinations, final-day assembly, graduation, valedictory dinners and leavers’ breakfast on dates other than those listed above.

Schools are requested to communicate the written and practical examination dates to students, teachers and parents. No allowance in the timetable can be made for holidays, work or personal arrangements.

The date ranges for the future Year 12 ATAR course written examinations schedules are below. Note that the proposed end date may alter given the policy states, ‘The written examination period will be for a period of approximately 15 weekdays.’

2025  Monday, 3 November – Friday, 21 November

2026  Monday, 2 November – Friday, 20 November

2027  Monday, 1 November – Friday, 19 November.

Year 11 student achievements where students transfer schools between Terms 2 and 3

Contact
Kerry Tarrant (08) 9273 6770
Kerry.Tarrant@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are required to upload achievements for courses and/or units by Friday, 21 July 2023, where Year 11 students have transferred between schools at the end of Term 2.

Note: this upload is optional for Year 11 students who are continuing their enrolments at the same school.

Details on the process for uploading achievement into SIRS can be found in Section 9 – Results and achievements of the Data Procedures Manual 2023 (available on the Authority website at https://scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/data-procedures-manual.

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) introduced this process to alleviate the situation, for example, where a Year 11 student transfers from one school delivering the course as year-long to another school delivering the course as single units. The new school can then enrol the student in the second unit of the course. This may affect the student meeting all requirements to achieve the WACE in Year 12.

Before awarding a mark and grade for a course unit, schools must ensure students have met all of the assessment requirements for that unit.

Detailed advice on allocation of grades for Year 11 students enrolled in either single units or year-long courses is provided on pages 37–39 of the WACE Manual 2023 (available on the Authority website at https://scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/wace-manual) in Section 2.7 Assessing students who transfer.

Online Student Declaration and Permission

Contact
Kerry Tarrant (08) 9273 6770
Kerry.Tarrant@scsa.wa.edu.au

This is a friendly reminder that the completion date for the online Student Declaration and Permission is Thursday, 24 August 2023.

Schools are requested to ensure the following students complete the submission process by the deadline.

• all Year 12 students
• Year 11 students who are studying Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) Units 3 and 4 and sitting the 2023 ATAR course examinations.

Students can gain access to the following via: https://student.scsa.wa.edu.au/student-portal.

• Log in to the Student Portal
• Student Portal Helpdesk and
• Student login and navigation guide.

Information for teachers can be found at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/the-wace/student-declaration.

Failure to complete the submission process may impact schools with students who:

• could win an award (including students who are not sitting ATAR course examinations) and who have not indicated their preference to have/not have their name published in the media or on our website.
• are unaware of the requirements for achieving the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).

Schools can monitor in SIRS which students have completed the online Student Declaration and Permission by generating the Report CSE058 – Student Release Choices by Provider. The pathway to the report is: Reports > Other reports > Report type: Students, Report: CSE058.

Please advise students about the purpose of the Student Declaration and Permission and encourage them to discuss this with their parents/guardians/carers prior to completion.

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority appreciates your assistance in obtaining this important information.

2023 Registration of students on SIRS for all students

Contact
Tim Colliander (08) 9273 6385
dataservices@scsa.wa.edu.au

All students are required to have a Western Australian student number (WASN) and be registered in Student Information Records System (SIRS).

To ensure our data is current, updates to registration and demographic information should be uploaded into SIRS on a regular basis for the remainder of the year.

At minimum, it is recommended that schools update and upload their student registration file (SRGDG) at the beginning of each term to record any student/s who may transfer from and/or to a school.

If you require new numbers, please send a request to numbers@scsa.wa.edu.au. Please include the student’s surname, given name, date of birth and academic year the student is being registered in at the school.

Please note we do not issue numbers for Pre-Kindergarten students.

Details of how to register students are provided in the Data Procedures Manual with links to assist schools using various school databases.

There is also a separate Student Registration Procedures Manual to assist schools with creating and uploading their Student Registration and Demographic File (SRGDG) and Teacher Registration File (THREG) for schools participating in Brightpath.

Schools are requested to include their school code in any correspondence.

Final dates for Year 12 students to withdraw from courses, 2023

Contact
Lisa Honczarenko (08) 9273 6763
Lisa.Honczarenko@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are reminded of the final dates to withdraw Year 12 students from courses:

• Thursday, 20 July 2023 – final date for withdrawing students from ATAR courses with practical examination components. No changes will be made to student enrolments in these courses after this date.
• Monday, 7 August 2023 – final date for withdrawing students from ATAR courses which do not have practical examination components. No changes will be made to student enrolments in these courses after this date.
• Monday, 7 August 2023 – final date for withdrawing students from General, Foundation, Preliminary and Vocational Education and Training (VET) industry specific courses. No changes will be made to student enrolments in these courses after this date.

As withdrawing from a course is a significant decision, the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) strongly encourages students and their schools to use the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) checker to test the possible impact of their decision. The WACE checker is available on the Authority website at https://wacechecker.scsa.wa.edu.au/.

Schools are reminded that students who are enrolled in a Year 12 ATAR course must sit the external examination in that course. For ATAR courses with practical components, students must sit both the written and practical examinations. Students who do not sit an ATAR course examination and do not have an approved sickness/misadventure application for that course, will not have the grades for the pair of units completed in that year contribute to the calculation of the WACE.

As a consequence, a student may not meet the requirements to receive a WACE.