Schools with students from Christchurch
SecQual S2011/049 Information for ALL schools with students affected by the Christchurch earthquakes
Many schools outside of Christchurch have enrolled students from Christchurch who have been affected by the earthquakes.
An overview of NZQA's response to issues facing schools and assessment affected by the Christchurch earthquake is available.
Earthquake impaired derived grade: guidelines for applications for students no longer in the earthquake zone
See SecQual circular S2011/050 Earthquake Impaired Derived Grade Processes.
Rationale
NZQA recognises that the extraordinary circumstances faced by students attending schools within the Earthquake Affected School Zone have impaired their schooling this year as a result of lost teaching and learning time.
Eligibility
Candidates for external assessment who were enrolled at a school within the earthquake zone before the last day of term 3 are eligible to be covered by the provisions of the Earthquake Impaired Derived Grade Process.
Candidates who are now enrolled at a school outside the earthquake zone may, with their current school’s support, also apply.
To be further eligible to be considered for an Earthquake Impaired Derived Grade (EIDG) for a standard, a student must:
- be present at the examination session, and
- make an attempt to answer the paper by presenting standard-specific evidence.
Unless both of these conditions are met the student will not be eligible to be considered for a derived grade for the standard(s). For example, if a student leaves the bulk of a paper unanswered, or writes nonsense or doodles, this would not constitute a genuine attempt. This is an important message for students.
Grades
The school must supply NZQA with grades derived from assessment of a student against the registered criteria of the standard(s). When making an application online the school should note that this is an EIDG. Standard specific, valid and authentic evidence for these grades may come from:
- school practice examinations
- end of topic tests
- classwork.
Evidence must be verifiable by being recorded and the school must retain this documentation in support of the grades it reports. This could be in the form of completed EIDG coversheets, templates of which were supplied to schools in term 1.
- The template is designed to aid teachers with establishing a derived grade for learner achievement. Its use is optional and it may be adapted by teachers to better suit their needs.
- The template may provide a tool to record evidence of achievement as it occurs during the teaching and learning process.
- The collection and collation of evidence is not required, but may be useful when students are itinerant. If practical, the template and a portfolio of evidence could accompany them as they move between schools.
- Evidence may be sourced from a range of formal and informal assessment types, including evidence from the learning process, prior learning, naturally occurring evidence and teacher professional judgement.
- The procedure should not be applied when a discrete assessment has taken place.
This information may need to be collected from the student’s previous school.
EIDG appeal process
Schools or candidates may appeal NZQA’s decision not to award an earthquake impaired derived grade. To do this, write to the Manager, School Quality Assurance and Liaison, NZQA, PO Box 160, Wellington 6140 by Friday 17 February 2012 and ensure that the original answer booklet is included. We recommend that students keep a copy of the original booklet.
If not satisfied with the outcome of the appeal the school or candidate may write to the Chief Executive of NZQA within 15 business days of the date of the notification of the appeal decision. The Chief Executive will make a judgement and that decision will be final.
Derived grade process for Portfolios for students no longer in the earthquake zone
Students who attended earthquake affected schools in the Canterbury region may, with their current school’s support, apply for a derived grade for
- Visual Arts level 3
- Graphics levels 1, 2 and 3
- Technology levels 2 and 3
The procedure is as follows:
- Principal Nominees enter details into the derived grade facility online (name, NSN, standard, grade suggested by teacher).
- Schools attach a pink 'Derived Grade' label to each portfolio where the candidate has made application. To request labels please email NZQA at chcheq@nzqa.govt.nz.
- Portfolios are collected by the courier along with all others: Level 1 on Thursday 27 October, Level 2 on Wednesday 2 November, Level 3 and Scholarship on Wednesday 9 November.
- Evidence is required for marking to proceed.
- Marking panels mark portfolios as normal.
- Panel Leaders meet to remark derived grade portfolios from affected candidates, taking into account the body of evidence and the teacher's suggested grade.
- Grades are reported as normal.
NB. Level 1 Technology is assessed by written reports. The derived grade process for written examination papers applies.
Course endorsement for students affected by the 22 February earthquake
NZQA has amended one of the rules for course endorsement. Students at Christchurch schools affected by the earthquake or students who may have transferred to or from Christchurch schools between 22 February and 1 September 2011 are eligible and will not require that the 14 credits needed for course endorsement include that three credits be internally assessed and three credits be externally assessed.
More detail on eligibility and how to apply for the ‘Earthquake exemption’, closing date 7 December 2011, is published in our SecQual circular S2011/022 - 20 May 2011
Application form for Christchurch earthquake Course Endorsement exemption (PDF, 60KB)
PN guidelines for Course Endorsement (PDF, 11KB)
Emergency evacuation and student pack
To address concerns arising from the earthquakes in Christchurch this year, candidates will be allowed to bring an emergency evacuation pack into the examination room with them. This must be a named, clear, sealable plastic bag no larger than A4 size which may contain personal items such as a cell phone, keys, money, and bus or train tickets. This is to be placed under the candidate’s chair during the examination and not touched unless an emergency evacuation is required. Candidates who open their pack during the examination will be reported for a breach of the rules.
Credit inclusion for level 3 and UE
SecQual circular S2011/047 Eligibility for Credit Inclusion for earthquake-affected students for NCEA Level 3 and University Entrance in 2011 outlines which students will be eligible to apply for Earthquake Credit Inclusions and how they can apply.
All students who were enrolled in an earthquake affected school on 22 February or who enrolled in one after 22 February but before 1 September, and who have narrowly missed being awarded their Level 3 NCEA or University Entrance may apply for up to six unspecified credits towards their level 3 NCEA. Three of these unspecified credits may also be used towards the 42 credits required for University Entrance.
These unspecified credits will not be assigned to any subject or course and they will not contribute to either the University Entrance literacy or numeracy requirement.
Applications will be made after the release of results in January, with a closing date of 17 February 2012. Students will need to obtain a strong supporting statement from their school as part of the application process. Universities will be advised where unspecified credits were used towards University Entrance.
For more information see the Guidelines for Principal's Nominees (PDF, 8.9KB), and then download the Application Form (PDF, 39KB).