11to12 Circulars - July 2020
Courses
Literature ATAR Update to prescribed text list for 2021
Contact
Paula Beck (08) 9273 6782
Paula.Beck@scsa.wa.edu.au
Commencing from 2021, a selection of poets and previously approved anthologies of poetry will no longer be included in the Literature ATAR prescribed text list for Year 12.
Additions to the list
The following poets previously only listed in anthologies, have been added to the list of poets in the Literature prescribed text list, commencing from 2021:
Donne, John
Noonuccal, Oodjeroo (previously known as Kath Walker).
Removals from the list
The following poets have been removed from the Literature prescribed text list, commencing from 2021:
Chaucer, Geoffrey
Dennis, CJ
Lawrence, DH
Mtshali, Oswald
Stow, Randolph
Commencing from 2021, the following poetry anthologies will no longer be included in the Literature prescribed text list:
Barnes, J., & McFarlane, B.* | Cross-Country: A Book of Australian Verse. Richmond, Vic, Heinemann, 1988 |
Chapman, M., & Dangor, A. (Eds.) | Voices From Within. Johannesburg, Ad Donker, 1982 |
Cole, R. (Ed.)* | Lines to Time (4th ed.). Port Melbourne, Vic, Heinemann, 2007 |
Colmer, J., & Colmer, D. (Eds.) | Pattern and Voice. Melbourne, Macmillan, 1981 |
Cosman, C., Keefe J., & Weaver, W. (Eds.) | The Penguin Book of Women Poets. New York, Penguin, 1980 |
Gardner, H. (Ed.) | The Metaphysical Poets. Harmondsworth, UK, Penguin, 1985 |
Gilbert, K. (Ed.)* | Inside Black Australia. Ringwood, Vic, Penguin, 1988 |
Hamilton, E., & Livingston, J. (Eds.) | Form and Feeling (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Longman Cheshire, 1990 |
Horne, C., & O'Brien, M. (Eds.) | The Progress of Poetry. Melbourne, Heinemann, 1965 |
Leonard, John (Ed.) | Seven Centuries of Poetry in English. Melbourne, Oxford University Press, 2004 |
McFarlane, P., & Temple, L. (Comps.) | Blue Light, Clear Atoms (2nd ed.). Sydney, Macmillan, 2006 |
McKenzie, J.A., & McKenzie, J.K. (Eds.) | The World's Contracted Thus. Richmond, Vic, Heinemann Educational, 1983 |
O'Connor, M. (Ed.)* | Two Centuries of Australian Poetry. Melbourne, Oxford University Press, 1996 |
Parthasarathy, R. (Ed.) | Ten 20th Century Indian Poets. New Delhi, Oxford University Press India, 1990 |
Phillips, Glen & van Loon, Julienne (Eds.)* | 2008 Lines in the Sand. Cottesloe, WA, Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA) |
Silkin, Jon (Ed.) | The Penguin Book of First World War Poetry. Camberwell, Vic, Penguin, 1997 |
Stewart, M.* | Poetry in Time. Melbourne, Nelson, 1982 |
Sutcliff, R. (Ed.) | Beowulf. North Sydney, NSW, Random House, 2001 |
Wordsworth, J., & Wordsworth, J. (Eds.) | The Penguin Book of Romantic Poetry. New York, Penguin, 2006 |
Where teachers are currently teaching a poet that will be removed from the Literature prescribed text list in 2021, the teacher or Head of Learning Area may request, with an appropriate reason, for the poet to be considered for retention in 2021 by emailing Paula.Beck@scsa.wa.edu.au.
Literature teachers are advised to consult the list of approved poets for 2021 within the Literature text list for use from 2021 document, to ensure the poets they are planning to teach in 2021 are approved for study: https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/english/literature opens in new window
Examinations
2021 ATAR course examination dates
Contact
Kaylene Power (08) 9273 6377
Kaylene.Power@scsa.wa.edu.au
The 2021 ATAR course written examinations are scheduled from Monday, 1 November to Friday, 19 November 2021.
The 2021 ATAR course practical examinations are scheduled from Saturday, 25 September to Sunday, 17 October 2021.
The 2021 ATAR course practical examinations are scheduled as follows:
- Saturday, 25 September to Sunday, 3 October (Saturday, Sunday and the public holiday included): Aviation, Dance, Drama, Music and Physical Education Studies
- Saturday, 25 September to Sunday, 10 October (Saturday, Sunday and the public holiday included): English as an Additional Language or Dialect (overseas schools)
- Saturday, 9 October to Sunday, 17 October (Saturday and Sunday included):
Chinese: Second Language, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (Western Australian schools), French: Background Language, French: Second Language, German: Background Language, German: Second Language, Indonesian: Second Language, Italian: Background Language, Italian: Second Language and Japanese: 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 Year 12 ATAR course written examination scheduled date range for future years is 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.’
2022 Monday, 31 October – Friday, 18 November
2023 Monday, 30 October – Friday, 17 November
2024 Monday, 28 October – Friday, 15 November.
2020 ATAR course examination timetables available online
Contact
Kaylene Power (08) 9273 6377
Kaylene.Power@scsa.wa.edu.au
The 2020 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 opens in new window.
The 2020 Year 12 ATAR course written examinations are scheduled from Monday, 2 November to Friday, 20 November 2020.
From Thursday, 10 September 2020, 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 opens in new window.
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.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
2020 Awards for Outstanding Achievement in VET
Contact
Arti Dogra (08) 9273 6751
Arti.Dogra@scsa.wa.edu.au
Nominations for the 2020 Vocational Education and Training (VET) Awards are open from the Friday, 26 June 2020 until Monday, 31 August 2020 (4:30pm). The online Student Information Records System (SIRS) VET Awards nomination form can be accessed via the following link: https://sirs.scsa.wa.edu.au/scsaform/vetnominationform opens in new window using your usual username and password for SIRS.
Please note: The online SIRS VET Awards nomination form will only be available between 26 June and 31 August.
For a detailed description on eligibility criteria and advice on the application and selection processes, download the 2020 VET Awards Nomination Kit from the following link:
https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/certification/exhibitions-and-awards opens in new window
The online SIRS VET Awards nomination form will only display students who meet the initial eligibility criteria therefore it is a requirement that VET and ADWPL enrolments for the student being nominated have been successfully uploaded in SIRS prior to commencing the online nomination process.
Endorsed Programs update July 2020
Contact
Arti Dogra (08) 9273 6751
Arti.Dogra@scsa.wa.edu.au
New programs added to the 2020 Endorsed Programs list
The following programs were endorsed by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority’s) Board on 28 April 2020 and are available to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 for WACE recognition from 2020.
School-developed endorsed programs
- Shenton College: Individual Research project
- Strathalbyn Christian College: Biblical life and Worldview
Provider-developed endorsed programs
- Australian Music Examinations Programs: AMEB Awards Programs: Gold, Silver and Bronze
- Community Sailing Initiative INC: Sail to Success Youth program
- Global Drone Solutions: Remote Pilots Licence
- Great Southern Training Hub (Albany Baptist Church): The Core Project
- Phoenix Academy: Phoenix Communication for Global Citizens program
- Re-Engineering Australia Foundation Ltd: Subs in School and 4 x 4 in Schools programs
A description of each program, the provider’s contact details, the allocated unit equivalence and the period of endorsement are detailed on the Authority website. The web link for endorsed programs is
SIRS, enrolments and general information
Final dates for Year 12 students to withdraw from courses, 2020
Contact
Jenny Offer (08) 9273 6313
Jenny.Offer@scsa.wa.edu.au
Schools are reminded of the final dates to withdraw Year 12 students from courses:
- Thursday, 23 July 2020 – 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, 10 August 2020 – 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, 10 August 2020 – final date for withdrawing students from General, Foundation, Preliminary and VET industry specific courses. No changes will be made to student enrolments in these courses after this date.
WACE Checker developed to assist students monitor their progress towards achieving the WACE
Contact
Jenny Offer (08) 9273 6313
Jenny.Offer@scsa.wa.edu.au
Schools are kindly reminded that the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (the Authority) has developed a WACE Checker to allow students to use to check on their progress towards achieving the WACE. In 2020, there are two versions of the WACE Checker in use. One version relates to meeting the WACE requirement in 2020. The other version is set for the WACE requirements for 2021 and beyond. This is to cater for the additional option available to achieve the WACE for Year 11 students commencing their senior secondary studies in 2020. This additional option provides students with the opportunity to complete five Year 12 General courses if they choose not to undertake four or more ATAR course or a VET Certificate II or higher. Both versions of the WACE Checker can be found on the front page of the Authority website at https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/ opens in new window.
The WACE Checker is a tool which students can use to check their progress towards meeting the requirement of the WACE. It is designed to determine whether a student has met (or is expected to meet) each of the requirements for the WACE. To use the WACE Checker, students will need to enter their expected or actual achievements in Year 11 and in Year 12. The checker will be of most assistance if the information provided is realistic. For example, when students add their anticipated grades for Year 12, they need to add what they realistically expect to achieve this year.
The WACE Checker is provided as a guide only. The report it gives students must not be interpreted as a guarantee the student will achieve a WACE. Achievement of the WACE is dependent on the calculation of a student’s final results and completion of courses. Individuals are encouraged to consult the WACE Manual for the relevant year, or their school, should they wish to confirm WACE eligibility for a student based on enrolment and predicted/actual achievement.
The WACE Checker will be particularly useful for students considering changes to their education program which may affect their eligibility for the WACE.
More information is available under the ‘Tell me more’ button on the checker.