About the statistics
The COVID-19 Special Consideration Program was available in 2021 to recognise where COVID-19 caused substantial disruption or disadvantage to HSC students.
HSC students were eligible if their learning was significantly compromised for 6 weeks (30 school days) or more because of COVID-19 restrictions.
This meant any of the following:
- they had no or very limited access to the internet or learning materials
- they lost access to essential specialised educational support
- the student’s home arrangements significantly compromised their participation in and ability to undertake remote learning and complete coursework.
Restrictions, including lockdowns, impacted a significant number of schools and students across multiple Local Government Areas.
The usual illness/misadventure program was available to students who suffered illness or misadventure that prevented them from attending an exam, including requirements to self-isolate due to COVID-19.
Total HSC exam students by school sector
In 2021 there was a total of 71, 863 HSC exam students who attended a Government, Catholic or Independent school.
For the school sectors, there were:
- Government schools with 39,489 HSC exam students
- Catholic schools with 12,779 HSC exam students
- Independent schools with 19,595 HSC exam students.
Total applications by school sector
Students across school sectors can make special consideration applications for their HSC exams and assessments when needed.
Special consideration
In 2021, 15,913 students submitted special consideration applications, making up 22.1% of all HSC exam students.
For the school sectors:
- Government schools – there were 11,899 students with special consideration applications. This number of applications made up 30.1% of total Government school students.
- Catholic schools – there were 2,581 students with special consideration applications. This number of applications made up 20.2% of total Catholic school students.
- Independent schools – there were 1,433 students with special consideration applications. This number of applications made up 7.3% of total Independent school students.
Special consideration and LGAs of concern
In 2021, 12,927 students with special consideration were from LGAs of concern.
For the school sectors:
- Government schools – 9,496 of these students came from Government schools. 79.8% of special consideration applications from Government schools were in LGAs of concern.
- Catholic schools – 2,346 of these students came from Catholic schools. 90.9% of special consideration applications from Catholic schools were in LGAs of concern.
- Independent schools – 1,085 of these students came from Independent schools. 75.7% of special consideration applications from Independent schools were in LGAs of concern.
Summary of student applications
Use the dropdowns to view a summary of special consideration applications in 2021.
The total number or percentage refers to students who applied for special consideration.
| Sector | Total number of students with upheld applications | Total number of students with upheld applications from LGAs of concern |
|---|---|---|
| Government | 9,724 | 8,720 |
| Catholic | 2,248 | 2,136 |
| Independent | 1,264 | 973 |
| Total | 13,236 | 11,829 |
| Sector | Total percentage of students with upheld applications | Total percentage of students with upheld applications from LGAs of concern |
|---|---|---|
| Government | 81.7% | 91.8% |
| Catholic | 87.1% | 91.0% |
| Independent | 88.2% | 89.7% |
| Total | 83.2% | 91.5% |
| Sector | Total number of students with at least one mark change | Total number of students with at least one mark change from LGAs of concern |
|---|---|---|
| Government | 8,217 | 7,499 |
| Catholic | 1,899 | 1,817 |
| Independent | 1,104 | 888 |
| Total | 11,220 | 10,204 |
| Sector | Total percentage of students with upheld applications with at least one mark change | Total percentage of students with upheld applications with at least one mark change from LGAs of concern |
|---|---|---|
| Government | 84.5% | 86.0% |
| Catholic | 84.5% | 85.1% |
| Independent | 87.3% | 91.3% |
| Total | 84.8% | 86.3% |
Summary of school applications
Use the dropdowns to view a summary of schools who submitted special consideration applications in 2021.
| Sector | Total | Number of all schools who submitted at least one special consideration application | Number of all schools who submitted at least one upheld application | Percentage of all schools with an upheld application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government | 456 | 213 | 208 | 97.7% |
| Catholic | 108 | 47 | 46 | 97.9% |
| Independent | 258 | 92 | 88 | 95.7% |
| Total | 822 | 352 | 342 | 97.2% |
| Sector | Total | Schools in LGAs of concern who submitted at least one special consideration application | Schools in LGAs of concern who submitted at least one upheld application | Schools in LGAs of concern and percentage of upheld applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government | 107 | 100 | 99 | 99.0% |
| Catholic | 108 | 47 | 46 | 96.3% |
| Independent | 258 | 92 | 88 | 94.9% |
| Total | 822 | 352 | 342 | 97.6% |