Board of Studies NSW Media releases
Class of ’09 gear up for HSC
20 October 2009
Premier Nathan Rees said today this week’s HSC exams will provide students with world class qualifications from courses recognised internationally.
Read the full media release (PDF)
HSC and Careers Expo a success
- Watch the video featuring the Board of Studies at the Expo
- (video, approx. 3 mins)
Almost 10 000 students, parents and teachers attended the inaugural Sydney Morning Herald HSC and Careers Expo.
The Board of Studies was an active participant at the Expo between 15 and 17 May 2009.
An estimated 7000 students attended 18 Board seminars on Higher School Certificate courses and general topics, including exams and assessments, major works and projects and extended responses in English.
Several thousand students and their parents visited the Board’s stand as well as hundreds of teachers.
Visitors to the stand talked to Board staff about the HSC exams and assessments, watched demonstrations of Students Online and received copies of the 2009 HSC exam timetable.
Outstanding HSC designs come to Parkes
2 June 2009
A 2008 Higher School Certificate student from St John’s College, Dubbo, has been named the winner of a regional award for her design of a brightly coloured modular children’s storage system.
Sarah Brown, an HSC Design and Technology student, is one of four students from the Western region chosen to exhibit their major works in the regional exhibition of the HSC showcase, DesignTECH, at the Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre from 2 June to 12 June 2009.
Parkes DesignTECH Exhibition Media opportunity
26 May 2009
Media are invited to the opening of an exhibition of outstanding major design projects from the 2008 Higher School Certificate Design and Technology course on 2 June 2009.
The exhibition showcases outstanding works by students from across NSW, including four students from Western NSW.
Dr John Bennett named as recipient of prestigious award
19 May 2009
The Australian College of Educators has announced General Manager of the Office of the Board of Studies, Dr John Bennett, as the recipient of its highest state award, the Wyndham Medal.
Read the media release (PDF)
New President for the Board of Studies
13 May 2009
Minister for Education and Training, Ms Verity Firth today announced the appointment of Tom Alegounarias as the new President of the New South Wales Board of Studies.
Tom Alegounarias, currently Chief Executive for the Institute of Teachers, has been appointed President for a period of five years.
Read the media release (PDF)
Business Studies to start 2009 HSC
1 May 2009
Around 16,000 Business Studies students will start this year's Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams.
Launching the 2009 HSC exam timetable, the Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, said the four week exam period will include 111 exams.
Read the media release (PDF)
Outstanding HSC designs on show in Newcastle
27 April 2009
Innovative designs and inventions by some of the State's best young designers go on show in Newcastle this week.
The designs of seven Central Coast and Hunter students are among the 22 projects featured in the DesignTECH exhibition, a showcase of HSC Design and Technology student works, at Newcastle Region Library.
Outstanding HSC designs come to Grafton
- Grafton DesignTECH exhibition
25 March 2009
A 2008 Higher School Certificate student from Bishop Druitt College (Coffs Harbour) has been named the winner of a regional award for his design of a multimedia wheelchair tray which can be used to play movies and music.
James Hargrave, an HSC Design and Technology student, is one of four Northern NSW students chosen to exhibit their major works in the regional exhibition of the HSC showcase, DesignTECH, at the Grafton Regional Gallery from 25 March to 19 April 2009.
Dishcloth couture wins People’s Choice at DesignTECH exhibition
23 March 2009
- Carlos Bouman receives the People’s Choice Award from Dyson’s Erica Galea
A striking couture gown made from dyed dishcloths has won the first ever People’s Choice Award at the HSC Design and Technology exhibition, DesignTECH.
Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth said the exhibition features innovative designs and inventions by 25 Design and Technology students who studied for their HSC in 2008.
Read the full media release (PDF, 1 pages, 44 KB)
Top music students in Opera House showcase
16 March 2009
Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, has congratulated 20 of the state’s top music students who will perform in the prestigious ENCORE concert at Sydney Opera House today.
Ms Firth said ENCORE, which is always a sell-out event, was a tribute to the outstanding young musicians and composers who have studied for the Higher School Certificate in NSW.
Read the full media release (PDF, 3 pages, 64 KB)
Quality the key in 2010 HSC
23 February 2009
Quality rather than quantity is the key message for changes announced today to the 2010 NSW Higher School Certificate.
Minister for Education and Training, Ms Verity Firth said HSC students will now be provided with the approximate length expected for their exam essays.
Read the full media release (PDF, 2 pages, 48 KB)
Audits prove HSC special provisions are fair
21 February 2009
Minister for Education and Training today welcomed the findings of the two independent reports into the 2008 Higher School Certificate Special Examination provisions. The reports were by Walter Turnbull chartered accountants and Dr Jan Keightley, former Chief Executive of the Senior Secondary Assessment Board of South Australia
Rees to raise school leaving age to give students a better chance of a job
28 January 2009
The NSW Government will raise the school leaving age to ensure NSW students have a world-class education and improved opportunities to go to University or secure employment.
From 2010 all students in NSW will complete Year 10.
Read the full media release (PDF, 1 pages, 60 KB)
HSC Design Showcase Opens
19 December 2008
An outboard motor powered solely by a cordless drill and a system that allows farmers to monitor their property's water storage via their mobile phone are two of the innovative works on display at this years DesignTECH exhibition.
The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, today opened the exhibition and said outstanding designs by 25 HSC Design and Technology students have been selected for the prestigious 2008 DesignTECH exhibition.
Read the full media release (PDF, 5 pages, 60 KB)
Nervous wait ends for 67,000 HSC students
17 December 2008
A record 67,000 students will today be logging on, phoning in and receiving text
messages to access their HSC results.
The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, said the HSC is an important
milestone in a young person's life.
Read the full media release (PDF, 2 pages, 52 KB)
Rees honours top HSC students
16 December 2008
Premier Nathan Rees today congratulated 112 outstanding students who achieved first place in a 2008 NSW HSC course.
The students, who came first in 110 HSC courses, were recognised at an award ceremony at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney.
This year's honoured students are from schools across Sydney and regional NSW, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Illawarra, Hunter, Southern Highlands, Riverina, Western NSW and New England.
Read the full media release (PDF, 2 pages, 56 KB)
2008 School Certificate Results
11 December 2008
More than 88,000 students will today receive their results from the 2008 School Certificate.
The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, said this year's performance in School Certificate builds on the strong performance in 2007.
Read the full media release (PDF, 2 pages, 52 KB)Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize
HSC students who have overcome significant hardship to attain academic excellence might be eligible for the Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize. Nominations close 19 December.
It’s the final ‘pens down’ for HSC Class of 2008
13 November 2008
The final examinations in the 2008 NSW Higher School Certificate finish today.
The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, said a record 67,931 students were enrolled in HSC courses this year, most sitting for six written exams, which began a month ago.
2008 School Certificate tests start today
11 November 2008
As the Higher School Certificate exams draw to a close, a record 88,017 Year 10 students have been gearing up for the NSW School Certificate tests which start today (Monday 10 November 2008).
General Manager of the Office of the Board of Studies, Dr John Bennett, said Year 10 students would this week sit for statewide tests in English-literacy, Science, Mathematics, Australian History, Australian Geography, and Computing Skills.
State’s HSC students sit first English paper today
17 October 2008
The state’s Higher School Certificate students will today sit the first of two compulsory English exams.
The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, said a total of 64,509* students were enrolled in English courses in 2008. Read the full media release.
HSC Exams Start Today
16 October 2008
The NSW Higher School Certificate written examinations start this morning when more than 16,000 students will sit the Business Studies exam.
The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, today wished this year's record 67,931 HSC students 'all the best' as they embark on the last leg of their school journey. Read the full media release.
Keen Narromine HSC student awarded for study diligence!
24 September 2008
Jamie Wyatt, of Narromine High School, has been awarded a $50 University Co-op Bookshop voucher for using his Higher School Certificate Student ID and PIN to log in to the Board of Studies new Students Online website. Read the full media release
Minister Announces Record Numbers of HSC Students in 2008
22 September 2008
The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, today announced a record 67,931 students were enrolled in Higher School Certificate courses in 2008. Read the full media release.
2008 Media Guide
22 September 2008
A record number of students are enrolled in HSC courses this year. Written exams begin on 16 October 2008. Find out key enrolment trends by subject, statistics for each course and region, as well as information on support services and the release of results in the 2008 Media Guide. Read the full media release.
Consultation on proposed HSC improvements
2 September 2008
NSW Acting Minister for Education and Training, John Hatzistergos, today announced community consultation was now underway for proposed changes to the Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams and school assessments. Read the full media release.
Read and respond to HSC proposals
27 August 2008
The Board of Studies NSW is seeking your response to proposals about some aspects of HSC exam specifications and assessment tasks. Read the full media release.
No mobile phones or other devices in HSC exams
20 August 2008
There is no proposal to allow students to use mobile phones, iPods, or the internet during Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations. Read the full media release.
Dance to kick off 2008 HSC exams
11 August 2008
Acting NSW Minister for Education and Training John Hatzistergos said today the first Higher School Certificate (HSC) examination of the year will begin today (11 August) with practical exams in Dance getting under way. Read the full media release.
HSC one-stop online study shop hits top 40
27 June 2008
HSC students, teachers and librarians have viewed more than 185,000 pages of information via the Board of Studies new Students Online website - less than one month after it was launched. Read the full media release.
HSC students flock to one-stop study shop!
25 June 2008
Seventeen year old Ashlee Walker of Beverly Hills Girls High School in Sydney's south was named the 1000th student to log on to the Board of Studies new Students Online website. Read the full media release.
New HSC one-stop online study shop
4 June 2008
NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, will today (June 4) launch a one-stop online study shop for Higher School Certificate students - the first of its kind in Australia. Read the full media release.
New Website for HSC Students
4 June 2008
Higher School Certificate students have access to a new, highly functional and user-friendly web site following the launch today of Students Online – a one-stop shop for HSC resources and first of its kind in Australia. Read the full media release.
Proposed improvements to Higher School Certificate exams
21 May 2008
NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, said today community consultation would be sought from next month on proposed improvements to Higher School Certificate examinations. Read the full media release.
Strengthening Australian literature in NSW schools
19 May 2008
Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has announced a plan by the Iemma Government to ensure every NSW student studies more Australian books, poems and plays will soon be open to comment by teachers and education groups. Read the full media release.
2008 HSC examination timetable released today
1 May 2008
NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has announced the timetable for the 2008 Higher School Certificate examination will be made available to students, parents and teachers from 1 May. Read the full media release.
Tougher measures prevent cheating in the HSC
30 April 2008
The NSW Board of Studies will this week send all NSW schools a short statement on the academic honesty expected of their senior students. Read the full media release.
Outstanding HSC Designs come to Griffith
3 March 2008
The President of the Board of Studies, Professor Gordon Stanley, today said the Higher School Certificate exhibition of some of the State’s best young designers would be staged in Griffith this month. Read the full media release.
Remarkable students battle hardship and illness to earn their HSC
28 February 2008
NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has today (28 February) presented special awards and paid tribute to two students who have battled tremendous hardship and severe illness during their HSC. Read the full media release.
New guide to make child learning as easy as ABC for parents
6 February 2008
NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has launched a new guide to make it easier for parents to follow their children’s education and progress through their primary school years. Read the full media release.
HSC results are in … what now?
20 December 2007
Following the release of HSC exam results yesterday, NSW Year 12 students can discover their University Admissions Index number today, via the Universities Admission Centre website (www.uac.edu.au) from 9am.Read the full media release.
2007 NSW HSC: Record high achievers and a solid result overall
19 December 2007
NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has congratulated more than 66,000 students who are today learning their 2007 Higher School Certificate results.Read the full media release.
2007 School Certificate results issued today
10 December 2007
NSW Year 10 students have performed strongly in this year’s mandatory School Certificate tests, the Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, said today. Read the full media release.
Showcase of outstanding HSC student designers
3 December 2007
Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has today (3 December) launched an exhibition of outstanding designs by HSC students at the Powerhouse Museum. Read the full media release.
Move to strengthen Australian literature in NSW schools
23 October 2007
Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, said today that he would be writing to the NSW Board of Studies requesting them to investigate a range of options to strengthen the study of Australian literature in the State's English curriculum. Read the full media release.
State's HSC students sit first English paper today
19 October 2007
The State's Higher School Certificate students will today sit for the first exam in English, the only compulsory subject in the HSC. Read the full media release.
Record number of students sit HSC exams in 2007
14 October 2007
NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, announced today that a record 67,189 students will be sitting for the Higher School Certificate which starts this week. Read the full media release.
Record number of students undertaking VET as part of their HSC
14 October 2007
Ahead of the commencement of HSC exams this week, NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has released the 2007 HSC data, revealing a jump in the number of students undertaking vocational education in schools. Read the full media release.
HSC advice just a phone call away
8 October 2007
As the State's Year 12 students count down to the start of the written Higher School Certificate examinations, assistance will be just a phone call away with the opening of the 2007 HSC Advice Line this afternoon. Read the full media release.