Assessment

Students completing Year 10 in 2012 will be eligible for a Record of Student Achievement if they leave school before the end of Year 12. This certification is currently being finalised and further details will be made available to students and parents as they are released by the Board of Studies (see http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/). There will be no external School Certificate examinations as in previous years. Schools continue to be responsible for assigning grades for all courses studied by students. These grades are determined through the assessment process and due to the Board of Studies at the end of semester 2. Each party has responsibilities in the assessment process.

1. Teachers will:

a) Nominate assessment tasks to be listed in attached subject schedules. These schedules will show the weighting assigned to each task. They are based on the components of the course as determined by the Board of Studies.

b) Give students at least one week's notice of due dates of assessment tasks.

c) Clearly indicate the desired outcomes on each task outline.

d) Assign a mark/grade for each task and formally record this mark/grade in the Subject/Faculty mark book.

e) Use the grade/marks to assign a descriptor grade (A-E) for each student as directed by the Board of Studies.

f) Notify parents/carers of plagiarism and tasks not attempted or not completed on time.

g) Provide feedback to students on the degree to which desired outcomes have been achieved

h) Set appropriate class tasks to complement assessment tasks in effective monitoring of student learning.

2. The student will:

a) Follow the course developed or endorsed by the Board of Studies.

b) Apply themselves with ‘diligence and sustained effort' to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school. That is, work hard each day and do the best they can in the work that is set.

c) Achieve some or all of the course outcomes.

d) Complete all tasks honestly and by the set date in order to avoid a zero grade. Students should report if they are aware that others have behaved dishonestly.

e) Complete an Application for Extension form and submit it before the due date if there is an important reason while a deadline cannot be met.

f) Provide a medical certificate where possible in the case of illness or evidence of misadventure. An alternative task may be set or an estimate given.

3. Yass High School has established a set of procedures to ensure effective communications and fairness to all. To this effect students are expected to do the following:

a) Students may appeal an award of zero if they have a genuine excuse. An explanation must be given to the Assessment Panel in writing, signed by parents/carers. A decision will be made by the panel and communicated to the student.

b) If unhappy with the outcome, the student and parents/carers can make an appointment with the Principal to discuss the matter.

c) The panel will also determine the best course of action in the case of unexpected and unusual situations.