Each Key Learning Area (KLA) has their own assessment policy meeting school requirements and Board of Studies (BOS) guidelines.  These policies are to be strictly followed, particularly with special attention in relation to Years 10, 11 and 12 where assessment tasks, letters of concern and ‘N’ determinations must meet BOS requirements.

Epping Boys' High School issues two reports on each student annually, reflecting student effort and achievement in each semester.  The composition of the mark awarded adheres to each KLA assessment policy.

The general principles underlying our Assessment Policy in Years 7 - 10 are as follows:

• The mean and spread of the final set of marks used for semester reports in a particular course should broadly reflect School Certificate data for that course at Epping Boys' High School.
• Examination, test papers and assessment tasks are set with the intention of discriminating between students in the course.  The structure of the examination / test / task is designed to produce a spread of marks to cater for low, middle and high achievers in terms of outcomes.
• Scaling is a tool to ‘fine tune’ final raw marks prior to reporting.
• Within a given class, similar courses should generally produce results with similar means and spread or marks.
• Data on class and/or year student positions is valuable in determining subject and level choices.
• Individual and position data are subject to Section 18 of the Privacy Act and are precluded from being displayed or announced without prior consent.
• The reporting on individual student reports of top positions in courses to individuals can be a legitimate form of positive feedback and praise.  Likewise, the realisation of low positions can be a ‘wake-up call’.  Equally for others, reporting of low positions may be soul destroying.

While the implications of points 1- 5 are considered obvious, there are specific implications of points 6 and 7:

• Lists of class and/or whole year marks for tests and examinations will not be publicly displayed or announced.
• Lists of names giving rank order of performance will not be publicly displayed or announced.
• Faculties will remain individually responsible for the mode of reporting of positions on individual reports.  While faculties may report from 1st to 100th, special thought should be given to the mode of reporting positions for students in the bottom quartile.

The underlying basis of letters of concern and ultimately “N Awards” is the following statement from the Board of Studies.

The satisfactory completion of a course requires principals to have sufficient evidence that the student has:

a.           followed the course developed or endorsed by the Board; and

b.          applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences   provided in the course by the school; and

c.           achieved some or all of the outcomes.

With regards to letters of concern please note the following:

• If students are not meeting Board requirements they must be sent letters regardless of whether they intend dropping the subject in the next year.
• Parental acknowledgment is important.  If the acknowledgement is not returned the matter must be followed up with the parent by Head Teachers.  Diary entries of such contacts should be kept.
• A reasonable time-frame must be allowed between letter of concern to allow for:
  (i)  pastoral care and assistance to be given to the student.
  (ii)  the student to redeem himself by completing the task(s).

Before an N Determination can be issued the following steps MUST have occurred:

• Teacher and/or Head Teacher counselling and assistance, possibly including a faculty letter.
• At least two formal letters of concern outlining the task/course requirements not met, the due date and a specific description of how the student can meet requirements.
• Evidence that the student has failed to respond to warnings and offers of assistance.