Janet
29-12-2008, 01:25 PM
I think support for disabled children is a fine thing in a schooling system but this is ridiculous!
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/private-schools-accused-of-hsc-rort/2008/12/28/1230399045680.html
Private schools accused of rorting HSC
UP TO 30 per cent of students at some elite private schools were given "special consideration" in this year's Higher School Certificate exams, raising questions about whether they gained an unfair advantage.
The NSW Board of Studies granted dispensations such as extra time to complete exams, coloured paper, large print and Braille or assistance with handwriting. The claims ranged from students with disabilities and illnesses such as diabetes, to those with unreadable handwriting and sweaty palms.
The proportion of students claiming special exam provisions this year jumped by more than 10 percentage points compared with the previous three years at schools including Masada College in St Ives, St Catherine's School, Waverley; Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School in Middle Cove and Meriden School in Strathfield.
The Scots College in Bellevue Hill claimed special provisions for 24.54 per cent of its students, an 8.64 percentage point increase on its average of 15.9 per cent for 2005 to 2007.
The statewide average for NSW public schools has grown from 6.35 per cent to 6.57 per cent over the same period.
In May, the Herald reported that the eastern suburbs private school Reddam House won special consideration for 36 per cent of its HSC students in 2006 - almost six times the state average. This year, the school claimed dispensations for 21.7 per cent of its students.
Masada College claimed the highest proportion of special provisions with 29.5 per cent.
The figures were provided in response to a question by the Greens MP John Kaye, who said they raised questions about "rorting" of the Board of Studies' special assistance provisions.
This year 25 of the state's private schools had claimed special provisions at a rate that was more than twice the average claimed by public schools.
"Special exam provisions are an important mechanism to remove some of the barriers faced by HSC students with special needs," Dr Kaye said.
"However, the figures show that the number of wealthy private schools that are potentially rorting the system is growing.
"It is hard to believe that the proportion of HSC students genuinely deserving special provisions at 25 of the state's wealthiest private schools is more than twice the statewide average.
"Almost a quarter of Scots College's 160 HSC candidates received a special deal in this year's HSC, which cannot be explained as a statistical anomaly."
A spokeswoman for the Board of Studies said each application for special examination provisions was judged rigorously, and numbers fluctuated year to year. She said that from a sample of 45 schools the board analysed from this year's HSC, about half had fewer special exam provisions granted than they had last year. "Special examination provisions are designed to provide access to the exam for students with a disability so they can demonstrate what they know and can do."
The Herald tried to contact some of the heads of schools mentioned in this article, but the calls were not returned.
In May the principal of Masada College, Wendy Barel, told the Herald she was surprised by the figures for 2005-07.
"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 to assess them," Ms Barel said.
The principal of Reddam House, Graeme Crawford, said in May that teachers at the school worked 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 covered illness, injuries and writing difficulties.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/private-schools-accused-of-hsc-rort/2008/12/28/1230399045680.html
Private schools accused of rorting HSC
UP TO 30 per cent of students at some elite private schools were given "special consideration" in this year's Higher School Certificate exams, raising questions about whether they gained an unfair advantage.
The NSW Board of Studies granted dispensations such as extra time to complete exams, coloured paper, large print and Braille or assistance with handwriting. The claims ranged from students with disabilities and illnesses such as diabetes, to those with unreadable handwriting and sweaty palms.
The proportion of students claiming special exam provisions this year jumped by more than 10 percentage points compared with the previous three years at schools including Masada College in St Ives, St Catherine's School, Waverley; Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School in Middle Cove and Meriden School in Strathfield.
The Scots College in Bellevue Hill claimed special provisions for 24.54 per cent of its students, an 8.64 percentage point increase on its average of 15.9 per cent for 2005 to 2007.
The statewide average for NSW public schools has grown from 6.35 per cent to 6.57 per cent over the same period.
In May, the Herald reported that the eastern suburbs private school Reddam House won special consideration for 36 per cent of its HSC students in 2006 - almost six times the state average. This year, the school claimed dispensations for 21.7 per cent of its students.
Masada College claimed the highest proportion of special provisions with 29.5 per cent.
The figures were provided in response to a question by the Greens MP John Kaye, who said they raised questions about "rorting" of the Board of Studies' special assistance provisions.
This year 25 of the state's private schools had claimed special provisions at a rate that was more than twice the average claimed by public schools.
"Special exam provisions are an important mechanism to remove some of the barriers faced by HSC students with special needs," Dr Kaye said.
"However, the figures show that the number of wealthy private schools that are potentially rorting the system is growing.
"It is hard to believe that the proportion of HSC students genuinely deserving special provisions at 25 of the state's wealthiest private schools is more than twice the statewide average.
"Almost a quarter of Scots College's 160 HSC candidates received a special deal in this year's HSC, which cannot be explained as a statistical anomaly."
A spokeswoman for the Board of Studies said each application for special examination provisions was judged rigorously, and numbers fluctuated year to year. She said that from a sample of 45 schools the board analysed from this year's HSC, about half had fewer special exam provisions granted than they had last year. "Special examination provisions are designed to provide access to the exam for students with a disability so they can demonstrate what they know and can do."
The Herald tried to contact some of the heads of schools mentioned in this article, but the calls were not returned.
In May the principal of Masada College, Wendy Barel, told the Herald she was surprised by the figures for 2005-07.
"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 to assess them," Ms Barel said.
The principal of Reddam House, Graeme Crawford, said in May that teachers at the school worked 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 covered illness, injuries and writing difficulties.