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2. The Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize
3. Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize – Guidelines for Nominating

Guidelines for nominating

• What is 'significant disadvantage'?
• What is 'academic excellence'?
• Who can nominate a student?
• How do I nominate a student?
• Does the student have to give permission?
• When do nominations close?
• How is the prize decided?

The Trust Deed governing the prize states that the Trust Fund be applied to

provide an annual prize to a student or students who have overcome significant disadvantage to achieve academic excellence in the New South Wales Higher School Certificate.

The Trustees make a holistic judgement about each student's circumstances, and consider both the extent of the disadvantage and the academic excellence demonstrated by the applicant's HSC results.

What is ‘significant disadvantage’?

Significant disadvantage can be a result of:

• medical, sensory, psychological, or physical disability
• social, family or economic disadvantage

or a combination of these circumstances.

What is ‘academic excellence’?

The achievement of ‘academic excellence’ is assessed by the Trustees from records provided by the school and results obtained from the Board of Studies.

Who can nominate a student?

Any member of staff can prepare the nomination of a student at their school, but it must be signed by the school principal before submission. Authors could be a principal, head teacher, curriculum director, school counsellor or another staff member who knows the student well.

The student should be eligible for the award of the Higher School Certificate in the year of the nomination.

How do I nominate a student?

Download, complete and send in the nomination form.

You might not need to complete every section of the form but you will need to attach relevant documentation to support the essential elements of the nomination.

While it is not necessary to provide large amounts of supporting material, please remember that the Trustees of the Brother John Taylor memorial prize can only make their decision based on the written material submitted. The nomination should be self-explanatory. Tell the Trustees the story of the student and why your school supports this nomination.

Please specify on the form:

• the nature of the disadvantage
• the history and severity of the disadvantage (including onset, duration, continuous or periodic)
• the specific effects the disadvantage had on the student's HSC preparation, including, where relevant, descriptions of any physical impediments and difficulties, external pressures and distractions, illnesses, and psychological and emotional distress
• a description of the ways in which the student dealt with and overcame their disadvantage to excel in the HSC (such as personal courage, initiative and determination, parent/teacher support, strategic planning, and technology).

Provide as attachments:

• copies of supporting documentation from independent professionals such as general practitioners, specialists, counsellors, employer references
• evidence of the student’s performance during their most recent school years, supported by relevant school reports, teacher references and any recent academic awards and accomplishments.
  Note: It is often the case that nominees for the John Taylor Memorial prize have also prepared applications for special provisions, illness/misadventure appeals and education access schemes. Where this is the case, copies of relevant portions of these applications may be used to support and facilitate the nomination.

Does the student have to give permission?

Generally, nominations and their supporting evidence will disclose personal information such as medical records or details of family life that may be highly sensitive. While the Board of Studies and the award Trustees treat all applications in the utmost confidence, it is not advisable to submit a nomination containing personal information about a student without their permission. Schools should discuss the level of disclosure with the student before nominating them.

When do nominations close?

Nominations close on the last day of Term 4.

How is the prize decided?

The Board of Studies collates all nominations in late December and provides them to each of the five Trustees. The Trustees independently prepare their own shortlists and then meet to discuss the merits of the nominations to reach agreement on the winner. It is an extremely difficult decision each year, and a great deal of thought and care goes into the Trustees’ final assessment.

Nominations can be sent by mail or email:

More information

Or write to information@bos.nsw.edu.au including ‘Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize’ as the subject line.