Requirements for the Higher School Certificate for students with disability
ACE 8029
Last Updated: 18 December 2017
To qualify for the award of a Higher School Certificate all students must fulfil the requirements detailed in ACE 8004 Eligibility requirements for the Higher School Certificate.
Students with disability can meet requirements for the Higher School Certificate using a combination of Board Developed Courses (including Life Skills courses) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Industry Curriculum Framework courses/options or a combination of Board Developed Courses and Board Endorsed Courses (including Content Endorsed Courses).
Students with disability may access Vocational Education and Training (VET) Industry Curriculum Framework courses by undertaking the course under regular course arrangements or by undertaking selected units of competency within the course, identified through the collaborative curriculum planning process. For more information, see the Stage 6 Industry Curriculum Frameworks Support Document for Students with Special Education Needs.
This flexibility allows schools to develop a pattern of study that challenges each student according to his or her needs and that facilitates a successful transition from school to adult life.
Stage 6 Life Skills courses have Board Developed status, 240 indicative hours (120 hours Preliminary courses and 120 hours HSC courses) and can be used to meet the requirements for the award of the Higher School Certificate. To satisfy pattern of study requirements for the Higher School Certificate a student may count a maximum of six units from courses in Science (including Life Skills courses) in each study pattern.
Stage 6 Life Skills courses have no HSC examinations and results cannot be used in the calculation of a student’s ATAR.
Board Endorsed Religion and Language Courses
Schools may develop courses for students with disability for Religion and in a Language for Stage 6 for Board endorsement.
For more information see School Developed Board Endorsed Courses.
For information on the Stage 6 Languages Life Skills Syllabus Framework contact the Inspector, Languages.