Students who do not have a School Certificate
Students re-entering the NSW school system
Students re-entering the NSW school system who do not hold a School Certificate may still be eligible to enter for the Higher School Certificate. If the principal deems that the student has achieved other qualifications that the Board considers satisfactory the principal may allow the student to begin the Preliminary course. Students’ prior learning and experience, including study in other systems and life/work experience, may be included in the principal’s considerations.
Students who have the TAFE Certificate II in General and Vocational Education
Students who have this credential issued by TAFE NSW are eligible to proceed to study for the award of the Higher School Certificate.
Students who were not eligible for a School Certificate
The principal may allow provisional entry to Preliminary courses to students who had their School Certificate withheld by the Board or who did not satisfactorily complete all requirements for the award of the School Certificate. In such cases the principal must certify, at the time of Higher School Certificate entry, that the student has achieved the equivalent of the School Certificate. This judgement may be based on the student’s satisfactory study of Preliminary courses.
Returning students
A student who leaves the NSW system before the award of a School Certificate and returns after the start of the Preliminary course (eg an exchange student) may enter the Preliminary course if the principal is satisfied that the student has studied subjects broadly comparable to the School Certificate program while outside the NSW system. The details of the content of courses studied should be made available to the principal, along with certification that the student has satisfactorily studied such courses while absent from the NSW system.
Assessment Certification and Examination Manual Section 8