Dear principal,
The HSC performance and oral examinations will commence shortly.
Schools continue to do an outstanding job in keeping their communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like other school activities, you must operate the HSC exams in line with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPCC) advice for reducing the risk of the transmission of COVID-19 in schools.
This includes you ensuring that:
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students and staff stay at home and get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms, or if NSW Health requires them to isolate
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students who become unwell at exams are returned home.
Performance exams
To protect markers, students and school staff, schools with performance exams should ensure:
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additional cleaning of exam rooms
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hygiene supplies are available in exam rooms and bathrooms
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good hygiene practices are promoted during the exam periods
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one school representative is nominated to liaise with markers when they are on site at your school. Only this representative may speak face to face (with physical distance) with the markers
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the exam room is set up so that markers are able to maintain physical distance (1.5 m) from each other, from students and and from school staff
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dance students perform their own core composition
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drama students perform with a maximum of 15 students in the audience
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music students perform with a maximum of one other musician.
HSC performance markers will be instructed to follow NSW Health guidelines regarding hygiene and physical distancing. They will not attend briefing or marking if they are unwell, or if they are required by NSW Health to isolate.
NESA has provided itinerant performance exam markers with masks, hand sanitiser and alcohol wipes for their personal use as they are unable to physically distance during car travel with other markers between schools.
Students may wear masks during their exams, should they wish to.
Oral language exams
To protect students, examiners and venue staff, NESA will:
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minimise interactions between students and staff
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reduce the size of each session to minimise interactions
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ensure additional cleaning of exam rooms
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ensure hygiene supplies are available in exam rooms and bathrooms
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promote good hygiene practices during the exam period.
HSC oral examiners will be instructed to follow NSW Health guidelines regarding hygiene and physical distancing. They will not attend briefing or the exam centre if they are unwell, or if they are required by NSW Health to isolate.
For oral exams only, students who are following NSW Government advice to self-isolate but are well-enough to complete their exam may contact NESA prior to or on their exam day to make alternative arrangements.
School non-operational
Importantly, if someone in your school tests positive to COVID-19 during the exam period you must notify NESA immediately:
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For performance exams: 0418 679 935
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For oral language and written exams: 0407 522 402
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