2018 Student Achievements – Other than Year 12

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

Schools are reminded they have until Thursday 28 March 2019 to verify and confirm the achievement data submitted to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) for students in Year 12.

The achievements required include:

• Course units (ATAR, General, Foundation, Preliminary and VET Industry Specific courses) for semester 1, 2 or full year
• VET qualifications
• VET units of competency
• Endorsed programs.

The declaration forms for course units, VET and endorsed programs are to be completed and signed by the principal. The declaration forms were emailed to schools on 15 January 2019, as per the 2019 Activities Schedule.

Some schools have not finalised the transfer of their data by the end of the 2018 school year. If your school has not uploaded the appropriate data files to the Student Information Records System (SIRS), please do so as a matter of urgency.

A mark and a grade are required for all Year 11 students:

• a student’s school based achievement for a Year 11 course may be recorded for each pair of units (i.e. one mark and grade), OR
• for each unit completed (i.e. two marks and two grades).

Additionally, the VET Unique Student Identifier is a requirement for VET achievement intended for contribution towards the WACE requirements.

The results for students who have left your school need to be finalized if they had enrolments. If the students should have been withdrawn from a course unit, this withdrawal will need to be uploaded through the ENCOS file to SIRS. If students have been withdrawn from VET units of competency and endorsed programs, this will need to be uploaded using the correct code through the RSVET and RSEND files respectively.

Change to the application of U status for non-completion of a course

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

Schools are advised that changes have been made in the 2019 WACE Manual related to the application by schools of the U status. These changes relate to the:

• removal for Year 12  courses of the U status as an option when allocating grades
• requirement for Year 11 courses that following the RSCOS upload to SIRS of grade allocations that schools will need to review and update all indicated U status data before the deadline provided in the Authority Activities Schedule. After the deadline all students with a U status will have their U status default to an E grade.

Details of this can be found in the 2019 WACE Manual in Section 2.4.3 Grading. https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/wace-manual.

OLNA 2019 Round 1 – Preparations

Contact
OLNA helpdesk (08) 9273 6726
olna@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools with Years 10 to 12 students are reminded about the following important dates and information.

OLNA 2019 Round 1 testing window

Student and Staff preparations

Principals are reminded to complete the tasks in the Checklist for principals on page 27 of the OLNA Handbook. This includes:

• emailing the OLNA Declaration form to olna@scsa.wa.edu.au by Friday, 8 February. The OLNA Declaration form is available via https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/olna/schools.
• identifying any students requiring disability adjustments and adding them to the OLNA Dashboard by Friday 15 February. The OLNA Dashboard can be accessed at https://assess.scsa.wa.edu.au/admin.

Coordinators are reminded to complete the tasks in the Checklist for OLNA coordinators checklist on pages 29 – 30 of the OLNA Handbook. This includes:

• ensuring any students requiring disability adjustments have been added to the OLNA Dashboard by Friday 15 February. The OLNA Dashboard can be accessed at https://assess.scsa.wa.edu.au/admin
• providing students, by Friday 22 February, with the OLNA Information for students sheet. A template copy is available via https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/olna/schools. The OLNA Handbook is available via https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/olna/schools.

Technical preparations

IT staff/Coordinators are reminded to conduct system and network checks as contained in the OLNA Test-delivery website user guide available via https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/olna/schools under OLNA Test-Delivery Website User Guide.

OLNA publications and forms
All OLNA publications and forms are available from the Authority website at:

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/olna/schools.

Non-school candidate enrolments, 2019

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

In 2019, an individual may enrol to sit an ATAR course examination as a non-school candidate (formerly private candidate) in the event that the individual is:

• seeking entry to university as a mature-age applicant, or
• a student who has previously completed Year 12, or
• a Year 12 student undertaking language course examinations through Interstate Language offerings where the course is not offered by the school, or
• a Year 12 student undertaking French, German and Italian Background language examinations where the course is not offered by the school.

To enrol as a non-school candidate in an Interstate Languages course examination or in the French, German or Italian Background language course examination, the candidate must be enrolled to sit at least three other ATAR course examinations as a school candidate in 2019.

An individual may not enrol in:

• an external examination for an Interstate Language at the same time as being enrolled in that course with the State that hosts the language, and
• more than one Interstate Language examination.

An individual enrolled in an ATAR course examination as a non-school candidate is unable to use the mark from that examination to contribute towards the achievement of an exhibition or award.

Enrolments as non-school candidates in ATAR course examinations are due by Thursday, 4 April 2019. No further applications will be accepted after this date.

Year 11 and Year 12 student enrolments in course units 2019

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

In 2019, Year 11 and Year 12 students can enrol in ATAR, General, Foundation, Preliminary and VET industry specific courses.

Schools are reminded that Year 11 and Year 12 student enrolments in these courses must be uploaded to the Student Information Records System (SIRS) by Thursday, 28 February 2019.

Enrolments in course units

The instructions to assist schools to enrol their students in courses are detailed in the Data Procedures Manual 2019. The manual is available on the Authority website at the following address: http://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Publications/Data_Procedures_Manual.

The specific sub-sections for information relating to extracting data of students enrolled in courses, uploading the enrolments into SIRS and verifying these enrolments in SIRS are listed below.

Details relating to enrolments in course units
Further information relating to the study of courses can be found in Section 5: Enrolments of the Data Procedures Manual 2019.

Introduction to SIRS 2019 – Secondary schools

Contacts

Lynn Galbraith (08) 9273 6702
Lynn.Galbraith@scsa.wa.edu.au opens in new window

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

There are still a few places available for secondary school staff, using the Student Information Records System (SIRS), to attend a familiarisation seminar at the School Curriculum and Standards Authority. The seminar is aimed at new and existing secondary school users who have not previously attended a seminar.

Ideally, two staff members should attend: the clerical staff member who may be responsible for maintaining the changes on the school database and the Deputy or Associate Principal who is responsible for timetable changes for students.

The seminar will cover the basic operations and functions of SIRS. This includes data transfer and the generation of reports which enable the information transferred to SIRS to be checked.

The seminar will be approximately two and a half hours duration. Participants will log into SIRS using their own school login and password.

Remaining seminar dates and times (2019)

The seminars will be held in the Mason Bird Building Training Room 1 at 303 Sevenoaks Street, Cannington. Further details will be supplied to participants once registered.

Registration of students on SIRS in 2019

Contact

Lynn Galbraith (08) 9273 6702
lynn.galbraith@scsa.wa.edu.au

dataservices@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools and other education providers are asked to note the following important dates as the absolute deadline for the initial upload of student registration and demographic information to the Student Information Records System (SIRS) in 2019.  Please do not leave it until the last date to upload your data.

Thursday, 14 February 2019

• Initial 2019 registration and demographic information for Years 10–12 students (required for Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) student lists and password generation)
• Initial 2019 registration and demographic information for ALL Kindergarten–Year 6 students where these students attend schools either administering National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Online or delivering Brightpath
• Initial 2019 registration and demographic information for all Year 7 and Year 9 students where these students attend schools administering NAPLAN Online
• Initial 2019 registration information for all teachers where students attend schools delivering Brightpath.

Thursday, 14 March 2019

• Registration and demographic information for all remaining Years 7–9 students is due to be uploaded to SIRS on Thursday, 14 March 2019.

Thursday, 11 April 2019

• Registration and demographic information for Kindergarten–Year 6 students where these students attend schools not administering NAPLAN Online or delivering Brightpath is due to be uploaded on Thursday, 11 April 2019.

Updates to registration and demographic information should be uploaded into SIRS on a regular basis for the remainder of the year.

Details of how to register students are provided in the updated Data Procedures Manual 2019 - https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/data-procedures-manual, with links to assist schools using Reporting to Parents, MAZE, and Excel. There is also a separate Student Registration Procedures Manual found at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/sirs-info/primary-schools to assist primary schools with creating and uploading their Student Registration and Demographic File (SRGDG).

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

WASN requests for 2019

Contact
Lynn Galbraith (08) 9273 6702
lynn.galbraith@scsa.wa.edu.au

numbers@scsa.wa.edu.au

All current students in Western Australia should have been allocated a Western Australian Student Number (WASN), and be registered with the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority).  This number remains with the student throughout their school life. Schools need to recognise the importance of the WASN to avoid duplication of records and maintain continuity of student data.

In 2019 schools will only be able to request WASNs through the Student Information Record System (SIRS) for Kindergarten students commencing in 2019.

For students in all academic years other than Kindergarten, contact numbers@scsa.wa.edu.au and give details of the student’s legal family name, legal given name, date of birth and academic year.  It is also useful to include your school code in any correspondence.  Numbers will be sent back if the student already has one allocated and new numbers requested and generated by the system for those students without a number.

All secondary schools with a Year 7 intake can send a complete list (spreadsheet) of Year 7 students entering their school, including the student’s legal family name, legal given name and date of birth and we will look up the numbers on their behalf.

A reminder that details of how to register students can be found in the Student Registration Procedures Manual on the Authority website at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/sirs-info/primary-schools, where there is also a Guide to uploading Student Registration and Demographic (SRGDG) file and some online training videos.  The Data Procedures Manual at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/data-procedures-manualalso contains full instructions for locating student numbers as well as creating a Student Registration and Demographic File (SRGDG) for uploading to SIRS.

Sample Senior Secondary Assessment Policy 2019

Contact
Mandy Hudson (08) 9273 6755
Mandy.Hudson@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are advised the School Curriculum and Standards Authority has updated the Sample Senior Secondary Assessment Policy to reflect the changes in the WACE Manual 2019. The link to the document is provided below:

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/school-based-assessment/school-assessment-policy.

Year 11 and Year 12 student achievements where students transfer schools between Terms 2 and 3

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

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) would like to draw your attention to a date introduced in 2019 which relates to the upload of achievements, into SIRS, for Year 11 (and Year 12) students who transfer schools between Terms 2 and 3.

By Friday, 26 July 2019, schools are strongly advised to upload achievements for semester courses where Year 11 (and Year 12) students have transferred between schools at the end of Term 2. This date has been listed in the 2019 Activities Schedule (which is available on the Authority website via: https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/publications/activities-schedule).

The Authority has 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 and the new school enrols 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.

By highlighting the new date, this will allow schools to plan for 2019 and change or modify practices. While this practice is not mandatory in 2019, it is likely to be a requirement in 2020.

Written examination design brief change to French: Background Language, German: Background Language and Italian: Background Language

Contact (French: Background Language, German: Background Language)
Adriana Douglas (08) 9273 6784
Adriana.Douglas@scsa.wa.edu.au

Contact (Italian: Background Language)
Nadia Civa (08) 9273 6355
Nadia.Civa@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers of French: Background Language, German: Background Language or Italian: Background Language are advised of a minor change to the Written examination design brief effective from January 2019.

French: Background Language

German: Background Language

Italian: Background Language

The links to the updated syllabuses are provided below.

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/10924/French-Background-Language-Y12-SyllabusATAR.pdf

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/11072/German-Background-Language-Y12-Syllabus-ATAR.pdf

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/11215/Italian_Background_Language_Y12_Syllabus_ATAR.pdf

Where the Year 12 course has been commenced in Term 4, 2018, schools will be required to provide an amended Syllabus document to students, and to ensure any changes are reflected in assessment practice.

Practical (oral) examination design brief change to Japanese: Second Language

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

Teachers of Japanese: Second Language are advised of the minor changes to the Practical (oral) examination design brief effective from January 2019. The changes are summarised below.

Part C: Original (second paragraph, third sentence)

The topics discussed do not include the topic related to the stimulus in Part B of the examination.

Minor changes (second paragraph, third sentence)

The conversation does not include the focus of the stimulus discussed in Part B of the examination.

The link to the updated Japanese: Second Language syllabus is provided below.

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/11240/Japanese-Second-Language-Y12-Syllabus-ATAR-dec18.pdf

Where the Year 12 course has been commenced in Term 4, 2018, schools will be required to provide an amended Syllabus document to students, and to ensure any changes are reflected in assessment practice.

Practical (oral) examination design brief change to Italian: Second Language

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

Teachers of Italian: Second Language are advised of the minor changes to the Practical (oral) examination design brief effective from January 2019. The changes are summarised below.

Part A: Original (paragraph one)

Each stimulus includes: an image, or a set of images, a related statement and a focus question in Italian, related to the topics from Unit 3 and/or Unit 4.

Minor changes (paragraph one)

Each stimulus includes: an image, or a set of images, a related statement and a focus question in Italian, related to a topic from Unit 3 or Unit 4.

Part B: Original (paragraph two)

The candidate talks in Italian about the stimulus and how it relates to the topics of Unit 3 and/or Unit 4. The marker asks questions to progress the discussion. Questions provide the candidate with the opportunity to express ideas and/or opinions.

Minor changes (paragraph two)

The candidate talks in Italian about the stimulus and how it relates to a topic from Unit 3 or Unit 4. The marker asks questions to progress the discussion. Questions provide the candidate with the opportunity to express ideas and/or opinions.

The link to the updated Italian: Second Language syllabus is provided below.

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/11187/Italian-Second-Language-Y12-SyllabusATAR-GD.pdf

Where the Year 12 course has been commenced in Term 4, 2018, schools will be required to provide an amended Syllabus document to students, and to ensure any changes are reflected in assessment practice.

Practical (oral) examination design brief change to Chinese: Second Language

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

Teachers of Chinese: Second Language are advised of the minor changes to the Practical (oral) examination design brief effective from January 2019. The changes are summarised below.

Part A: Original (paragraph one)

Each stimulus has an image and a focus question/statement in Chinese and English related to the topics of Unit 3 and Unit 4.

Minor changes (paragraph one)

Each stimulus has an image and a focus question/statement in Chinese and English related to a topic from Unit 3 or Unit 4.

Part B: Original (paragraph two)

The candidate talks in Chinese about the stimulus and how it relates to the topics of Unit 3 and/or Unit 4. The marker asks questions to progress the discussion. Questions provide the candidate with the opportunity to express ideas and/or opinions.

Minor changes (paragraph two)

The candidate talks in Chinese about the stimulus and how it relates to the topic from Unit 3 or Unit 4. The marker asks questions to progress the discussion. Questions provide the candidate with the opportunity to express ideas and/or opinions.

The link to the updated Chinese: Second Language syllabus is provided below.

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/467388/Chinese-Second-Language-Y12-Syllabus-ATAR-GD-2019.pdf

Where the Year 12 course has been commenced in Term 4, 2018, schools will be required to provide an amended Syllabus document to students, and to ensure any changes are reflected in assessment practice.

Updated Syllabus Documents for Interstate Languages 2019

Contact
Hanneke Rekelhof (08) 9273 6724
Hanneke.Rekelhof@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers are advised that the Authority has updated the ATAR syllabus documents for Interstate Languages for 2019:

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/languages/interstate-languages

Open the menu for ‘WACE versions of interstate language syllabuses’ to see the updated version of:

• PDFHebrew Continuers level ATAR syllabus WACE version opens in new window
• PDFPolish Continuers level ATAR syllabus WACE version opens in new window
• PDFModern Greek Continuers level ATAR syllabus WACE version opens in new window
• PDFArabic Continuers level ATAR syllabus WACE version opens in new window
• PDFAuslan Continuers level ATAR syllabus WACE version opens in new window.

On the Interstate Languages page, you will also see an updated Guidelines document:

Guidelines for course delivery and assessment of student achievement 2019.

Where the Year 12 course has been commenced in Term 4, 2018, schools will be required to provide an amended Syllabus document to students, and to ensure any changes are reflected in assessment practice.

Syllabus Delivery Audit 2019 – Timeline

Contact
Graeme Quelch (08) 9273 6758
Graeme.Quelch@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are required to submit a separate course outline and assessment outline for each listed course delivered:

NB No Languages courses have been selected for review in 2019.

These documents are to be uploaded through the Student Information Records System 2 (SIRS2): https://sirs2.scsa.wa.edu.au.

Schools are required to upload the documents by 4.00pm Friday 22 February 2019.

Please note that schools will not be able to upload documents after this date.

Further information on the Syllabus Delivery Audit for 2019 is located here:

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/moderation/syllabus-delivery-audit.

Small Group Moderation Seminars for 2019

Contact
Mandy Hudson (08) 9273 6755
Mandy.Hudson@scsa.wa.edu.au

Teachers are advised that the School Curriculum and Standards Authority provides seminars during Term 1 to assist senior secondary teachers who are delivering Year 12 ATAR courses that require their school to take part in the small group moderation process in 2019.

For details of the seminars, and registration, please use the link below:

https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/events/small-group-moderation-seminar.

Registration details for Year 11 and Year 12 ATAR, General and Foundation courses in Consensus Moderation in 2019

Contact
Mandy Hudson (08) 9273 6755
Mandy.Hudson@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are advised that the details for the registration process for Year 11 and Year 12 courses in Consensus Moderation in 2019 will be emailed to Principals on 11 March 2019.

Registrations open on 25 March 2019. Each school will be required to register one teacher for each of the courses the school is delivering that is in consensus moderation in 2019. Teachers are reminded that they need to have procedures in place to ensure that all marked student work is retained for moderation purposes.

Participation in this moderation process is compulsory for all schools delivering a Year 11 or Year 12 course involved in consensus moderation in 2019.

Please use the link below to access the Consensus Moderation page on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website to view the complete list of Year 11 and Year 12 courses in consensus moderation this year, and the dates for the consensus moderation meetings.

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/moderation/consensus-moderation

Teachers participating are required to provide a student assessment file for three students (one at each grade from A to C) including all assessment types and all marked assessments up to the time of providing the file. The registration process will provide teachers with additional course specific requirements.

In the Perth metropolitan area and larger regional centres consensus moderation occurs at meetings of typically 10-15 teachers. Schools more than 100km from the nearest scheduled meeting venue will be required to participate in an online meeting in 2019 with the same requirements in relation to student assessment files as a face-to-face meeting.

For each assessment file, feedback from each reviewing teacher is in the form of a grade and a supporting comment for that judgement. The teachers reflect on the feedback received from their colleagues to help determine any adjustments that may be required so that the school’s marking and grading is comparable with the standard of their colleagues in the group. This feedback is provided to the Principal at the conclusion of the consensus moderation cycle.

For enquiries relating to consensus moderation please email consensus.moderation@scsa.wa.edu.au.

Application for writers and checkers of the 2020 ESTs

Contact

Jeni Jakovleva (08) 9273 6761
jeni.jakovleva@scsa.wa.edu.au

Kerry Cribb (08) 9273 6787
kerry.cribb@scsa.wa.edu.au

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority is seeking applications from qualified people who wish to be considered for appointment as writers and checkers of the 2020 Externally set task (EST).

Please see the link below to read the terms of reference and to apply online:

https://scsa.wa.edu.au/about-us/employment/application-for-writing-ests.

Applications must be received no later than 5pm on Friday, 22 March 2019. Successful applicants will be notified after Friday, 12 April 2019.

Year 12 ATAR course specifications booklet, formula sheets and data booklets for teaching and examining in 2019

Contact
Kerry Cribb (08) 9273 6787
kerry.cribb@scsa.wa.edu.au

The following course booklets are available on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website at the links indicated under ‘ATAR’ and ‘Examination Materials’. Each booklet is for teaching and examining in 2019.

Breach of examination rules 2018

Contact
Kaylene Power(08) 9273 6309
kaylene.power@scsa.wa.edu.au

In 2018, the Breach of Examination Rules Committee found that 63 candidates had breached examination rules. There were 34 breaches for the practical examinations and 29 breaches for the written examinations. Five candidates appealed the Committee’s decision. The Breach of Examination Rules Appeals Committee dismissed four appeals and upheld one.

The breaches indicated that students did not follow the practical examination requirements, nor had they followed the instructions written in the Year 12 Information Handbook Part II: Examinations.

The table below summarises the penalties for these breaches of examination rules, after the appeals process.

Procedures and guidelines for 2019

The rules for conduct of the Authority examinations will be published in the Year 12 Information Handbook Part II: Examinations. It is the responsibility of all candidates to ensure that they understand all instructions relating to the examinations. The examination centre supervisor (written examinations) and the chief marker (practical examinations) will report alleged breach of examination rules to the Manager, Examinations Logistics at the School Curriculum and Standards.

Breaches of examination rules and maximum penalties that might apply include but are not limited to:

• Impersonation of a candidate: cancellation of all the candidate’s practical and/or written raw examination marks, exclusion from remaining examinations in that year. The matter will be reported to the police.
• Collusion between candidates: cancellation of that practical and/or written raw examination marks of each of those candidates involved, together with an inspection of prior papers/recordings in any common examination for evidence of collusion.
• Possession or knowledge of examination questions before an examination: cancellation of all the candidate’s practical and/or written raw examination marks. The matter will be reported to the police.
• Possession of unauthorised materials during the examination: cancellation of part or all of the practical and/or written raw examination marks where unauthorised materials are considered to be relevant to the course being examined (whether or not actual use is established).
• Possession of mobile technologies (e.g. smart watch, mobile phone, personal music player) and/or calculator in an examination for which it is not approved: cancellation of all or part of the candidate’s marks for that practical and/or written examination.
• Notes and other markings on authorised materials in the examination room: cancellation of part or all of the practical and/or written raw examination mark where markings in tables, data books or dictionaries etc. are considered to be relevant to the course being examined (whether or not actual use is established).
• Unauthorised removal of examination materials: cancellation of the part(s) of the candidate’s practical and/or written raw examination mark being removed. The matter will be reported to the police.
• Blatant disregard of examination room regulations: removal of the candidate from the examination room.
• Failure to follow examination instructions: cancellation of part or all of the candidate’s practical and/or written raw examination mark where the candidate’s failure to follow the instructions is considered to have given the candidate an advantage over other candidates.
• False declarations: cancellation of part or all of the practical and/or written examination mark where the candidate falsely declares that the work presented for external assessment is their own and/or that it conforms to the specifications of the course.

Candidates will have the right of appeal against a penalty being imposed on the following grounds:

• a breach of examination rules did not occur, or
• the School Curriculum and Standards Authority procedures used to determine if a breach occurred were not proper.

Such an appeal must be lodged at the School Curriculum and Standards Authority within eight (8) calendar days of the dispatch date of the penalty notification.

Advice for schools

Schools should work with their students to ensure that they understand the instructions relating to the examinations. In particular, schools are asked to:

• ensure that where materials are permitted in the examination room, they are approved according to the relevant syllabus and/or the 11to12 Circulars and the Year 12 Information Handbook Part II: Examinations
• ensure that all students understand the instructions relating to the ATAR course examinations and that, if they breach these rules, penalties will apply as the onus is on the candidate to ensure that they understand and abide by the published examination rules
• ensure that teachers and students follow the practical examination requirements published in March
• inform their students that mobile technologies such as smart watches, mobile telephones and other communication devices must not be taken into the examination room
• inform students that they should not write on their hands or other parts of the body during exams as this may be perceived by supervisors as having been written before the exam and thus constitute unauthorised notes
• inform students that they must not use their fingernail to mark the multiple choice questions during reading time
• inform their students that, should they observe another candidate breaking the examination rules, they should report this action immediately to a supervisor
• ensure that teachers are aware they cannot authorise materials to be used in an examination if the material is not approved by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority
• check the Media Production and Analysis to ensure the work is within the submission Year 12 context. This means that it contains no images of people self-harming, using drugs or violence. The image should only be symbolic and not simulated.

ATAR course examination dates 2019

Contact
Kaylene Power (08) 9273 6309
Kaylene.Power@scsa.wa.edu.au

The 2019 written ATAR course examinations are scheduled to run from Wednesday, 30 October to Tuesday, 19 November.

The 2019 practical ATAR course examinations will be scheduled as follows:

1. Saturday, 28 September to Sunday, 6 October (Saturday, Sunday and the public holiday included)Aviation, Dance, Drama, Music and Physical Education Studies
2. Saturday, 28 September to Sunday, 13 October (Saturday, Sunday and the public holiday included)English as an Additional Language/Dialect (overseas schools)
3. Saturday, 12 OctoberChinese: Second Language, Indonesian: Second Language
4. Saturday, 12 October and Sunday, 13 OctoberJapanese: Second Language
5. Saturday, 12 October to Sunday, 20 October (Saturday and Sunday included)
   English as an Additional Language/Dialect (Western Australian schools), French: Second Language, French: Background Language, Italian: Second Language and Italian: Background Language, German: Second Language and German: Background Language.

The school will not be able to specify particular day/s for the practical examinations to be held for any of its students. 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. These activities should be scheduled when there are no examinations for local students.

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 written ATAR course examination dates for future years will be:

2020       Monday, 2 November – Friday, 20 November

2021       Monday, 1 November – Friday, 19 November

2022       Monday, 31 October – Friday, 18 November.

Special arrangements for ATAR course examinations 2019

Contact
Carolyn Hackett 9273 6316
Carolyn.Hackett@scsa.wa.edu.au

The Application for Special Examination Arrangements form for special arrangements in the 2019 ATAR course examinations will arrive in schools in time for the start of Term 1. This form is to be used for candidates with a permanent or temporary disability that may disadvantage them in accessing the ATAR course examinations under standard conditions. It is the responsibility of the school to complete the form and submit it to the Authority on behalf of each candidate. The form is not to be sent home with students for completion. Completed forms should be submitted to the Authority by Thursday, 4 April 2019.

For more information on the application process, please visit the following page: https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/examinations/special-provisions.

Late applications for special format practical examinations will be accepted until
31 July 2019.

Application for 2019 ATAR course examination Chief Markers

Contact

Kaylene Power (08) 9273 6309
Kaylene.Power@scsa.wa.edu opens in new window

Melanie Jasper (08)9273 6732
Melanie.Jasper@scsa.wa.edu.au

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority is seeking applications for the role of Chief Marker for the written and practical components of the 2019 ATAR course examinations. For information regarding the application for 2019 ATAR course examination Chief Markers please refer to:

https://scsa.wa.edu.au/about-us/employment.

Alternative format practical examinations for ATAR course examination candidates with long-term injury or illness 2019

Contact
Carolyn Hackett 9273 6316
Carolyn.Hackett@scsa.wa.edu.au

Candidates with an injury or illness existing at the start of Term 3 should apply to be examined in an alternative format, if the injury or illness will affect their participation in the standard practical examination of any course. There will be no sickness/misadventure consideration for candidates on the basis of an injury or illness existing at the start of Term 3.

For more information on the Alternative format practical examinations, please go to the following page: https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/assessment/examinations/special-provisions.

Vocational Education and Training – Awards Selection Report 2018 now online

Contact
Arti Dogra (08) 9273 6751
Arti.Dogra@scsa.wa.edu.au

The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) recommends that School Leaders and people delivering VET to secondary school students read the Awards Selection Report now available on the Authority website at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/certification/exhibitions-and-awards under Awards for outstanding achievement in VET.

The report provides valuable information for teachers who supported the nomination of students in 2018 and for those who plan to do so in 2019.

It presents statistics on the number of students involved in the awards selection process and detailed information on how students were selected for awards, including feedback and recommendations for teachers.

The names of award winners, published in the media on 21 December 2018, are listed on the Authority website.

The 2019 VET Awards for Outstanding Achievement Brochure and 2019 VET Awards Nomination Kit will be available on the website in March under Awards for outstanding achievement in VET.

Access to the online nomination process will be available to schools in Term 3. The last date for schools to submit VET award nominations via SIRS is Monday, 2 September 2019 at 4.30 pm.

Recording of enrolment and achievement of VET units of competency (delivered through VET credit transfer)/VET qualifications – Year 8 and Year 9 students, 2019

Contact
Arti Dogra (08) 9273 6751
Arti.Dogra@scsa.wa.edu.au

Permission must be obtained from the School Curriculum and Standards Authority for Year 8 and/or Year 9 students to enrol and have achievements in VET units of competency (achieved through VET credit transfer)/VET qualifications contribute towards the WACE.

Schools should apply only if the studies for these students are part of a longer term program where:

• students are in remote community schools where learning programs relate directly to the local industry, or
• students are accessing VET as part of an individual education program (IEP), and
• a valid opportunity has been presented which supports an ongoing and coherent training pathway.

An application form for permission for the recording of enrolment and achievement of VET units of competency (delivered through VET credit transfer)/VET qualifications – Year 8 and Year 9 students, 2019 is available on the Authority website via the following link: https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/forms/forms under Achievements.

The completed application form is to be returned to the Authority by Thursday, 21 March 2019.

WACE Recognition of VET Accredited Courses

Contact
Rachael Davidson (08) 9273 6750
Rachael.Davidson@scsa.wa.edu.au

Schools are reminded to check the Accredited Course Recognition Status list on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) website before enrolling students in a VET accredited course.

Accredited courses do not automatically provide students with recognition towards the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). If a school wishes to enrol students in a VET accredited course that is not currently listed on the status list, an application must be submitted to the Authority for the course to be classified prior to student enrolment.

The classification scheme determines whether the accredited course outcomes have an industry, foundation skills or vocational focus and their allocation of credit towards the WACE.

Application for WACE recognition of a VET accredited course forms are to be submitted to the Authority by Thursday 21 March 2019.

The Accredited Course Recognition Status list and further information about the classification of accredited courses can be found at https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/vet/wace-recognition-of-vet-accredited-courses.

Change in ADWPL hours requirement for VET industry specific Community Services and Health course

Contact
Arti Dogra (08) 9273 6751
Arti.Dogra@scsa.wa.edu.au

Rachael Davidson (08) 9273 6750
Rachael.Davidson@scsa.wa.edu.au

The Authority developed Work place Learning (ADWPL) hours requirement for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) industry specific Community Services and Health course has been updated to reflect the training package requirements. The ADWPL is a mandatory co-requisite when students are undertaking a VET industry specific course.

To align with the mandatory work placement requirements of the CHC Community Services training package, a change will be implemented to the ADWPL hours required for completing the CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification.

The mandatory ADWPL hours will be changed from 110 hours to 120 hours for the above mentioned qualification to reflect the training package requirements. However, the unit equivalence for ADWPL will still be allocated on the basis of one unit equivalent for each 55 hours completed in the workplace, i.e. the student will be required to complete 120 hours of ADWPL for two unit equivalents.

The amendment has been made to the Community Services and Health VET industry specific syllabus document and it will be effective for new enrolments from Tuesday, 1 January 2019.

Endorsed Programs update 2019

Contact
Arti Dogra (08) 9273 6751
Arti.Dogra@scsa.wa.edu.au

2019 Endorsed programs list
The revised list of endorsed programs available to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 in 2019 is available now on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority website. The web link for endorsed programs is:
http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/endorsed-programs

(Scroll to the bottom of the web page and select the Excel document titled ‘2019 Endorsed program codes and achievement descriptors’).

Workplace Learning endorsed program seminar Thursday 21 February 2019 12.40 – 3.30 pm
Registrations for a seminar for new/inexperienced teachers of the Workplace Learning endorsed program, ADWPL, are now open.

Register here » https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/events/new-and-experienced-teachers

Applications for endorsement of School-developed programs
Schools are advised that applications for endorsement of School-developed programs must be emailed to Arti.Dogra@scsa.wa.edu.au by Thursday 28 February 2019. The application form can be downloaded from the endorsed programs page of the Authority website at:
http://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/endorsed-programs