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Elite school students get more special help in HSC
SCORES of elite private schools in NSW have won "special consideration" for their HSC students facing the gruelling exams, raising questions of whether they are gaining an unfair advantage.
Some of the schools have as many as a third of their HSC classes being granted dispensations from the NSW Board of Studies that include extra exam time, large print or assistance with writing.
Claims lodged to the board have ranged from students with disabilities and illnesses including diabetes to those with illegible handwriting and sweaty palms.
The elite eastern suburbs private school Reddam House won "special consideration" for 36 per cent of its students at the HSC in 2006 - almost six times the state average - and has consistently claimed more than a quarter of its students deserved special treatment in the statewide exams.
The official figures were provided in response to a question on notice by the Greens MP and education spokesman, John Kaye, who said they raised serious questions about "rorting" the approval of requests for assistance in the HSC exams.
"While there is no doubt many young people with disabilities or chronic diseases face unreasonable barriers in examinations, the figures show that a number of wealthy private schools have been able to obtain special HSC provisions for an extraordinarily high proportion of students," Dr Kaye said.
"It is hard to believe that 18 of the state's wealthiest private schools have more than twice the state-wide average proportion of HSC students deserving special provisions."
The president of the Federation of P&C Associations of NSW, Di Giblin, said she was concerned that some private schools might be milking the system.
"Our main concern with these schools is they are not being honest with their clientele in using their marks as a marketing tool," she said. "Public schools still cater for the majority of students with special needs."
Reddam House is among a cluster of schools - including Frensham in Mittagong, St Luke's Grammar in Dee Why, Masada, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Scots, St Andrew's, Cranbrook, Knox and the Hunter Valley Grammar - with unusually high rates of "special considerations" in the HSC over the past three years, according to data from the Board of Studies.
Over the most recent three-year period the state average for all schools was 6.3 per cent. It varies by less than 1 per cent each year.
Special consideration allows students longer to finish exams, have rest breaks, or have other people write them - for instance if they have broken their arm or are physically injured.
They can also apply to sit at the front of an examination hall and use a computer, but under strict supervision.
Special provisions also apply for the hearing or visually impaired, and may involve the use of braille, headphones, coloured or large print exam papers, or taking breaks for medication.
The board assesses applications through a special examination provision panel, which includes doctors, educational psychologists and consultants for the visually impaired or hearing impaired.
In a statement yesterday the board said it received 4366 applications from HSC students last year, compared with 4314 applications in 2006.
"Almost 96 per cent of all applications for special examinations provisions were fully or partially approved," it said.
It would not comment on individual schools.
Among students who received special consideration last year was Erin Burt, who sat the HSC at Hurlstone Agricultural High School. Her mother, Jennifer Burt, said her 18-year-old daughter, who is now travelling overseas, claimed special consideration for her diabetes.
"The school did everything they could and allowed her to take food into the exam and have some extra time," Mrs Burt said.
"Her blood sugar went very low in one exam, and when that happens she becomes vague and disoriented.
"That's why they need some extra time. She had some orange juice and jellybeans to bring her sugar levels back up again."
The principal of Reddam House, Graeme Crawford, said teachers at the school worked very closely with individual students and were well placed to identify any potential need for them to apply for special consideration.
"The teachers become very fine tuned to any disability that may hinder a child's performance," he said. "We have a small cohort which drives up the percentage of special provisions."
Mr Crawford said applications for special provisions covered a range of disabilities including ADHD, ADD, broken bones, illnesses such as Crohn's disease, and writing difficulties.
The principal of St Luke's Grammar School, Jann Robinson, said the proportion of students who claimed special exam provisions varied from year to year. The Board of Studies figures showed it was 26.7 per cent in 2005, 25.4 per cent in 2006 and 7.7 per cent last year.
"I don't know why it was that high in 2005 and 2006. It is normally around 10 per cent," she said. "Because we are a school with a high reputation for pastoral care we do often attract students with particular needs, and that has probably pushed up our percentage."
Ms Robinson said students with a learning disability and those who had experienced a family trauma or been the victim of a physical assault were among those who had claimed special consideration.
The principal of SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Jenny Allum, said special provisions included simply alerting examiners to the need for a diabetic child to test their blood and bring jellybeans into the exam room.
"The purpose is to ensure students are able to demonstrate what they know and can do so that they are judged equally with their peers," she said.
The principal of Masada College at St Ives, Wendy Barel, said she was surprised by the figures and had no idea what the state average was.
"We just fulfil the requirements set out by the Board of Studies - occupational therapy, doctors' certificates and so on - and send in the applications. It's up to the Board [of Studies] to assess them," Ms Barel said.
The acting principal of Hunter Valley Grammar, Paul Tys, said the board imposed a "very rigorous process" for special provisions. He said it was unclear why his school - which was a regional and non-selective school - showed up in the top level of NSW schools where special HSC provisions applied.
An "individual needs faculty" of three teaching staff within the school were responsible for making the applications. "They ensure that students are adequately prepared for external assessment," Mr Tys said.
"They take very seriously their responsibility when they make application to the Board of Studies."
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...s-get-more-help/2008/05/25/1211653847168.html
Elite school students get more special help in HSC
SCORES of elite private schools in NSW have won "special consideration" for their HSC students facing the gruelling exams, raising questions of whether they are gaining an unfair advantage.
Some of the schools have as many as a third of their HSC classes being granted dispensations from the NSW Board of Studies that include extra exam time, large print or assistance with writing.
Claims lodged to the board have ranged from students with disabilities and illnesses including diabetes to those with illegible handwriting and sweaty palms.
The elite eastern suburbs private school Reddam House won "special consideration" for 36 per cent of its students at the HSC in 2006 - almost six times the state average - and has consistently claimed more than a quarter of its students deserved special treatment in the statewide exams.
The official figures were provided in response to a question on notice by the Greens MP and education spokesman, John Kaye, who said they raised serious questions about "rorting" the approval of requests for assistance in the HSC exams.
"While there is no doubt many young people with disabilities or chronic diseases face unreasonable barriers in examinations, the figures show that a number of wealthy private schools have been able to obtain special HSC provisions for an extraordinarily high proportion of students," Dr Kaye said.
"It is hard to believe that 18 of the state's wealthiest private schools have more than twice the state-wide average proportion of HSC students deserving special provisions."
The president of the Federation of P&C Associations of NSW, Di Giblin, said she was concerned that some private schools might be milking the system.
"Our main concern with these schools is they are not being honest with their clientele in using their marks as a marketing tool," she said. "Public schools still cater for the majority of students with special needs."
Reddam House is among a cluster of schools - including Frensham in Mittagong, St Luke's Grammar in Dee Why, Masada, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Scots, St Andrew's, Cranbrook, Knox and the Hunter Valley Grammar - with unusually high rates of "special considerations" in the HSC over the past three years, according to data from the Board of Studies.
Over the most recent three-year period the state average for all schools was 6.3 per cent. It varies by less than 1 per cent each year.
Special consideration allows students longer to finish exams, have rest breaks, or have other people write them - for instance if they have broken their arm or are physically injured.
They can also apply to sit at the front of an examination hall and use a computer, but under strict supervision.
Special provisions also apply for the hearing or visually impaired, and may involve the use of braille, headphones, coloured or large print exam papers, or taking breaks for medication.
The board assesses applications through a special examination provision panel, which includes doctors, educational psychologists and consultants for the visually impaired or hearing impaired.
In a statement yesterday the board said it received 4366 applications from HSC students last year, compared with 4314 applications in 2006.
"Almost 96 per cent of all applications for special examinations provisions were fully or partially approved," it said.
It would not comment on individual schools.
Among students who received special consideration last year was Erin Burt, who sat the HSC at Hurlstone Agricultural High School. Her mother, Jennifer Burt, said her 18-year-old daughter, who is now travelling overseas, claimed special consideration for her diabetes.
"The school did everything they could and allowed her to take food into the exam and have some extra time," Mrs Burt said.
"Her blood sugar went very low in one exam, and when that happens she becomes vague and disoriented.
"That's why they need some extra time. She had some orange juice and jellybeans to bring her sugar levels back up again."
The principal of Reddam House, Graeme Crawford, said teachers at the school worked very closely with individual students and were well placed to identify any potential need for them to apply for special consideration.
"The teachers become very fine tuned to any disability that may hinder a child's performance," he said. "We have a small cohort which drives up the percentage of special provisions."
Mr Crawford said applications for special provisions covered a range of disabilities including ADHD, ADD, broken bones, illnesses such as Crohn's disease, and writing difficulties.
The principal of St Luke's Grammar School, Jann Robinson, said the proportion of students who claimed special exam provisions varied from year to year. The Board of Studies figures showed it was 26.7 per cent in 2005, 25.4 per cent in 2006 and 7.7 per cent last year.
"I don't know why it was that high in 2005 and 2006. It is normally around 10 per cent," she said. "Because we are a school with a high reputation for pastoral care we do often attract students with particular needs, and that has probably pushed up our percentage."
Ms Robinson said students with a learning disability and those who had experienced a family trauma or been the victim of a physical assault were among those who had claimed special consideration.
The principal of SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Jenny Allum, said special provisions included simply alerting examiners to the need for a diabetic child to test their blood and bring jellybeans into the exam room.
"The purpose is to ensure students are able to demonstrate what they know and can do so that they are judged equally with their peers," she said.
The principal of Masada College at St Ives, Wendy Barel, said she was surprised by the figures and had no idea what the state average was.
"We just fulfil the requirements set out by the Board of Studies - occupational therapy, doctors' certificates and so on - and send in the applications. It's up to the Board [of Studies] to assess them," Ms Barel said.
The acting principal of Hunter Valley Grammar, Paul Tys, said the board imposed a "very rigorous process" for special provisions. He said it was unclear why his school - which was a regional and non-selective school - showed up in the top level of NSW schools where special HSC provisions applied.
An "individual needs faculty" of three teaching staff within the school were responsible for making the applications. "They ensure that students are adequately prepared for external assessment," Mr Tys said.
"They take very seriously their responsibility when they make application to the Board of Studies."
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...s-get-more-help/2008/05/25/1211653847168.html
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