University of Newcastle Awarding Adjustments Points to HSC Students

BY ISABEL EVERETT

In a first for the University sector, The University of Newcastle is offering five adjustment points to school leaver students this year.

The points will be applied automatically via UAC (Universities Admission Centre) to students who preference the University of Newcastle, in recognition of the extraordinary challenges faced during the COVID-19 disrupted HSC year.

“What we’ve heard from schools is that Year 12 students are absolutely feeling the pressure and have found this year exceedingly challenging," said University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinksy.

"We want to reassure young people and their families that they will be okay.”

In addition to COVID-19 adjustment points, the University of Newcastle has offered support for Year 12 Students in a range of creative ways, including a sector-first tutoring initiative, which saw its Masters of Teaching students deliver one-on-one tutoring support for more than 300 HSC students.

Professor Zelinksy said the University of Newcastle would continue to focus on ensuring Year 12 Students did not fall through the cracks.

“We’ll continue to work with schools to understand ways we can help to ensure COVID-19 does not become a complication that results in young people giving up on their university aspirations,” said Professor Zelinsky.

Fire at Belmont High School

BY JARROD MELMETH

Students have been evacuated from Belmont High School following a fire believed to have broken out in a wood work classroom just after 12pm.

Fire and rescue crews were called to the scene of the fire, which is believed to have started in the classrooms dust extractor.

No one is believed to be injured, but police and ambulance are on the scene as a precaution.

A political statement, not an education statement: MacDonald on Foley

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Opposition Leader Luke Foley visited Medowie yesterday committing to build the high school which was promised 15 years ago.

But the state government have been quick to say it's no longer needed in the area because since it was initially required both Irrawang and Hunter River High Schools are now both under capacity.

There was talk of building a high school for Medowie back in the early 2000's, but now in 2017 the need is no longer there according to the Department of Education. Both Irrawang and Hunter River High are at 1,539 students which is under capacity.

Luke Foley & Kate Washington in Medowie on
Tuesday.
Image: Twitter @Luke_FoleyNSW

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says the figures aren't that different to back in 1996 so he just doesn't see the point.

"It's just disappointing that the Opposition Leader won't take the advice of the Department of Education which is very clear in this case that in the Medowie area we need to back the two schools that are there now - Irrawang and Hunter River High - and not build and not promise to build a high school that's not needed for many many years."

The Opposition Leader also called on the current government to step in and make a move towards building a school, but the government won't have any of that.

"What this is, is a political statement not an education statement. It would penalise the school communities and the students of Irrawang High and Hunter River High. There is capacity at those schools, it would mean weaker subject choice for those schools and they would be even further under capacity," said Scot MacDonald. 

Hunter schools at the tipping point

BY JESSICA ROUSE

High Schools in the Hunter are at their tipping point - overflowing and over capacity by 41 per cent.

The latest NSW Auditor General's report has revealed high schools in the Hunter top the list for being the state's most overcrowded, and also shows the region at the top of the list of regions expected to have the highest growth of students after the Metropolitan areas of Sydney.

With student growth only expected to increase, the Department of Education estimates just over 3,500 additional high school classrooms will be needed across NSW by 2031.

In the Hunter alone, the number of students is expected to grow to 4,350.

A number of schools including Rutherford High and Belmont Highschool are relying on demountable classrooms to accommodate the growing populations.

Shadow Minister for the Hunter Kate Washington believes the government clearly has their priories wrong, and they can't seem to get them right.

"The government has entirely failed to plan for the future. It's apparent now and it's just going to get worse as we go forward and the population of students will increase, so while the Premier spent billions of dollars on stadiums and roads in Sydney, she's allowing our students to learn in over crowded classrooms."

Primary schools aren't much better, with most over capacity by 35 per cent, with the number of primary students expected to increase in the Hunter by nearly 6,000 between now and 2031.

Kate Washington says the schools have been neglected and starved of funds with students the ones suffering the most having to learn in overcrowded classes.

"I don't hold high hopes given what we've already learnt about the federal government's intention's around education funding - they should be fully funding the Gonski reforms and that's not happening and that's going to put additional stresses on our schools."