The HSC: what else does it teach our students?

From the Director of Curriculum (7-12), Lee McGuiness

The HSC Examinations commenced this week, with English being the first exam. There is no doubt that this is a challenging time for students, teachers, and their parents. In an ever-changing world, new metrics are being used to measure the skill sets our young people will need in the future. The ongoing relevance of the HSC process is being interrogated by all stakeholders, including students, schools, parents and carers, industries, governments, and tertiary institutions. There are many robust debates and perspectives on the HSC, but students who complete the process at Oxley leave us with skills that will benefit them in the future.

While some students have mastered all these skills, some have mastered a few, and others are still a work in progress. There is no doubt that after completing Year 12, students have been exposed to:

• Developing their ability to think critically and solve complex problems.
• Managing study schedules, meeting deadlines, and learning to manage their time efficiently.
• Conducting independent research, gathering, evaluating, and using information from a variety of sources.
• Managing multiple subjects, requiring students to be adaptable and resilient in handling pressure and overcoming challenges.
• Becoming self-disciplined and independent; preparing for exams and completing coursework independently instils a sense of responsibility, self-discipline, and autonomy in learning.
• Communicating effectively in both written and verbal contexts.
• Working in groups and collaborating effectively.
• Developing creative skills through subjects like the arts, design, and technology, where students learn to approach problems with innovative solutions.

After the first exam on Tuesday, here is a little snapshot of what the students said:

“That is the biggest relief to have the first one over. I feel so much better.”

“That was a fair exam, and now I think I can get through the others.”

“There were some hard questions, but I had a go at all of them.”

“There was more reading than I expected, but I managed to finish.”

“I was worried about my timing, but I worked it out.”

“I panicked when I read the question, but then I took a breath and thought about it. The words were not what I expected, but I was sure I was prepared.”

“I know my writing has improved so much since the Trials.”

“I hated that essay question, but I still wrote heaps.”

“I loved that essay question.”

“Now I know all that practice was worth it.”

“I am starving—thinking is hard work!”

Kind regards

Lee McGuinness
Director of Curriculum 7-12