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University of NSW International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Assessments

We are delighted to inform you that Bairnsdale Secondary College will be participating in the world-renowned International Competitions and Assessment for Schools (ICAS) Assessments this year. ICAS is developed by UNSW Global, a wholly owned subsidiary of UNSW Sydney, with 40 years’ experience in educational assessments.

The competition questions are set in modern, real-world scenarios where students are assessed on their ability to apply classroom learning to new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Spelling, Writing and Digital Technologies.

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online result report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised. 

If your child is in Year 7, 8, 9 or 10, we encourage you to consider entering them into ICAS this year. The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment. Your child will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision.

ICAS Assessments are now online, a move that reflects a sector-wide transition to online assessments. This allows greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results. 

Learn more about ICAS here: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas

These assessments are designed to recognise academic excellence for high potential students.  The emphasis is on challenge and extension.

These exams are held at school, during school time and are an excellent opportunity for your child to experience a serious exam situation. Many students enjoy the academic challenge. 

In 2023 students have the opportunity to participate in the following subjects:

If you would like your child to participate in any of the subjects listed above, please visit the new online Parent Payment System to make a direct payment to UNSW Global. The Parent Payment System is a simple and secure online payment service specifically for parents to purchase ICAS Assessments.

The web link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

Our school’s unique access code is: SOP879

Online parent payment closes Monday 31st July, 2023

IMPORTANT:  Please enter your child’s name accurately into the system as it will appear on their ICAS certificate. Students must sit the assessments designed for their school year level.

NAPLAN

Changes to NAPLAN Reporting

Ahead of the release of NAPLAN results, I’m writing to inform you of some changes to this year’s reporting. The changes are being introduced nationally by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

NAPLAN will continue to measure student achievement in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, and grammar and punctuation, but the results will now be presented in 4 proficiency levels:

• exceeding
• strong
• developing
• needs additional support.

This change will give schools, parents and carers clearer information that details student achievement against new proficiency levels.

Students’ NAPLAN reports will continue to show how they are tracking against their peers and provide an indication of their skill levels against national averages. They will show where we would expect them to be so that all students get the most out of their education. This provides valuable information to teachers about how we can continue to support your child.

Each set of NAPLAN results is an important milestone but it’s also important that students know that one result does not define them – these results are about making sure every student gets the support they need so they can continue to get the best from their learning.

When we provide you with your results, you will also receive information about what the new proficiency levels mean.

As always, you’re welcome to speak to me with any questions about these changes.

Trudie Nagle

Principal