The Record of School Achievement (RoSA) is the new credential for students who leave school after Year 10 and before they receive their Higher School Certificate (HSC).
A cumulative record of all academic achievement
The RoSA is designed to record and credential all of a secondary school student's academic results up until the HSC.
- While all students currently receive grades for courses they complete at the end of Year 10, this system will be extended to also capture grades for courses a student completes in Year 11.
- If a student leaves school before receiving a grade in Year 11 or 12 courses, their RoSA will record the courses they commenced.
- This measure acknowledges the fact that many students begin senior secondary study but then leave school for employment or other training opportunities before receiving their HSC.
Fair allocation of grades
It is important for parents, employers and students to know that grades awarded for the RoSA credential are given fairly and consistently.
- NSW teachers are very experienced in determining the standard of work that warrants a particular grade.
- As A to E grading is extended into Preliminary (Year 11) courses, the Board will work with teachers to ensure that appropriate standards are developed and applied at that level.
- The Board will also provide schools with information about the historical allocation of grades to their students. This will serve as a guide for the allocation of grades to current students.
- These methods of moderation and monitoring of grades will help ensure that parents and employers can know that a grade awarded in one school is equivalent to the same grade awarded in another school.
Literacy and numeracy tests
Students who leave school before they get their HSC will have the option to undertake the Literacy and Numeracy tests.
- There will be one test for literacy and one test for numeracy with concepts drawn from the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) developed and endorsed by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
- This framework was used to underpin the TAFE NSW Foundation Level Programs and is being incorporated into the Foundation Skills Training Package. This package is being developed on behalf of the National Quality Council as part of a national, systemic approach to developing the foundation skills units of competency, qualifications and skills sets.
- The tests, which will be offered online and under teacher supervision, will be reported separately from the RoSA credential.
- The tests will not be available to all students, only those who indicate they wish to leave school. The tests will be designed to reflect the needs and expectations of students who leave school before undertaking the HSC.
- Students will be able to take the tests during ‘windows' of availability throughout the year. They will be able to sit for the test only once during each window, but can sit for them again should they decide to stay at school longer.
Life Skills
Life Skills courses recognise that post-compulsory years of schooling should cater for all students who choose to participate.
The Board of Studies NSW has developed Life Skills courses in each broad area of learning that can be used to satisfy the mandatory curriculum requirements for the award of the RoSA.
- If students undertake one or more courses based on Life Skills outcomes and content they will receive a Profile of Student Achievement which will outline the Life Skills outcomes they have achieved in each course.
- From 2012, the Profile of Student Achievement will be printed and issued by the Board of Studies to students at the same time as their RoSA (or if ineligible for the RoSA, with the Transcript of Study). Students can also access a record of outcomes achieved via Students Online.
- Life Skills outcomes will be shown on the profile as:
- Achieved – for outcomes the student has achieved independently
- Achieved with support – for outcomes that have been achieved with additional support.
Recording extracurricular achievements
- The Board recognises that many employers are interested in more than academic results and is working on an online resource to help students bring together evidence of a range of extracurricular activities.