Record of changes for Earth and Space Science Life Skills

New Stage 6 English, Mathematics Standard, Science and History Syllabuses, Assessment Requirements and Exams

(Official Notice NESA 39/17)

The new Stage 6 English, Mathematics Standard, Science and History syllabuses and school-based assessment requirements are to be implemented in all NSW schools from Term 1, 2018.

New Stage 6 English, Mathematics Standard, Science and History courses will be examined for the first time for the HSC in 2019.

Changes to Stage 6 Science Pattern and Pathways of Study

(Official Notice NESA 25/17)

The pattern and pathways of study requirements for Stage 6 Science courses have been amended.

Students can complete one of, or any combination of, Science Life Skills courses to contribute up to six units of study towards their Preliminary or HSC pattern of study.

Outcomes credentialed for RoSA 

(Official Notice BOS 14/13)

Students undertaking Life Skills courses in Year 11 will have the outcomes they have achieved credentialed for the Record of School Achievement (RoSA). This will involve the same processes that apply to HSC reporting.

Enhanced processes for credentialing 

(Official Notice BOS 20/11)

The Board of Studies has introduced enhanced processes for credentialing Higher School Certificate students who are undertaking Life Skills courses.

The new processes are effective from 2011.

Key amendments include:

• The Board of Studies NSW will generate and issue the HSC Profile of Student Achievement to the student in January, as part of their official HSC credentials.
• The HSC Profile of Student Achievement will no longer be issued by schools.
• Schools will enter information in Schools Online relating to Life Skills outcomes achieved for each student undertaking one or more HSC Life Skills courses.
• Life Skills outcome collection will follow the same timeline as submission of HSC assessment marks (opening on Schools Online from 8 August, 2011).
• Schools may now download from Schools Online personalised Life Skills Outcomes Worksheets for each student enrolled in an HSC Life Skills course to assist in the collection of information relating to achievement of outcomes in each Life Skills course.

Advice to teachers of Science about Creationism and Intelligent Design

(Official Notice BOS 17/09)

In developing the NSW Science curriculum, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA – formerly the Board of Studies NSW) undertook extensive consultation with experts in the field to ensure that content, including that relating to evolution, would be consistent with accepted scientific knowledge and understanding.

NESA wishes to remind teachers that Creationism and Intelligent Design are not part of the NESA’s Science syllabuses. If taught as part of any school-based program, it must be clear to students that Creationism and Intelligent Design:

• are not scientific, nor evidence-based
• will not be included in any task that forms part of the assessment of student achievement for the award of the Higher School Certificate
• will not be tested in any Higher School Certificate exam and will not be relevant to any response to Higher School Certificate questions.