ALL HSC students will be allowed to study at school with four of their peers from Tuesday, including those living in lockdown areas.
The Department of Education has said year 12 students and those completing HSC exams will be able to meet in groups of five at school in a "study bubble", in line with health advice.
The group can comprise no more than five students from within the same daily scheduled groupings or study sessions.
They must be the same five students for the day and students in a bubble cannot move between or mingle with other study bubbles during the day.
The study bubble is separate from the buddy bubble for students aged under 18.
The department's COVID-19 Taskforce Lead Ruth Owen said the study bubble was in addition to the scheduled on-site individual and small-group support currently available to all HSC students.
"Until the staggered start to face-to-face learning begins on the 18 October, year 12 students and those sitting HSC exams, even if they're in lockdown LGAs, will be able to access school sites for up to three hours per day, five days a week for revision, wellbeing support and their peer study bubbles," she said.
"All activities must comply with current Public Health Orders and that will mean the study bubble groups must meet only in outdoor areas, or well-ventilated indoor open spaces such as school halls or libraries."
Year 12 students in lockdown areas will return to classrooms from October 18. HSC exams start on November 9.
