Students and teachers are breathing a collective sigh of relief after the first HSC exam for 2020 was held under strict COVID-19 rules today.
In the Coffs Harbour-Clarence region of New South Wales, 1,321 students are sitting the HSC this year, having done much of their preparation via remote learning.
"I went into lockdown for probably about two months during the middle of Year 12, which was not ideal," McAuley Catholic College student Noah Stanmore said.
"It's just been a lot of study — pretty much head down and in the books, doing what you can with what you've got."
The exams are being sat amid new pandemic precautions:
- All students will be screened before entering exams
- Hand sanitiser will be readily available
- There will be extra cleaning after each test
Remote learning challenges
For many regional schools the move to remote learning and the need for students have technology at home posed major challenges.
At Woolgoolga High School, relieving principal Lu Nickell said some students simply did not have their own devices or internet access.
"We purchased 50 new laptops and any family who did not have a device that they could work on at home, they were actually able to come in and loan a device," Ms Nickell said.
"We were also provided with dongles — we've actually issued those to families who don't have internet access."
Ms Nickell said the pandemic was challenging for teachers, particularly when it came to adapting to new ways of teaching.
She expected to keep some of the changes in place.
"One of those is our increased use of technology for teaching, because our staff have increased their skills," Ms Nickell said.
"That was something that happened out of necessity, but now that people are more confident it's something that will be continuing on into the future."
Start of exams brings relief
For Noah, the first English exam was a milestone.
"Mixed emotions at the moment," he said.
"A bit of anxiety, a bit of relief to have the first one over and done with."
He said one of the upsides of the pandemic was that there were no parties or events to take his focus away from his studies.
"Yeah I feel like I have [sailed through]," Noah said.
"Most of my classmates seem to have done pretty well as well, so happy days."
