NSW Year 10 students have performed strongly in this year's mandatory School Certificate tests, the Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, said today.

NSW high school principals will today receive results for the 86,740 Year 10 students who sat English-literacy, Mathematics, Science, Australian History, Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship, and Computing Skills exams in early November.

“The performance of NSW students in the 2007 School Certificate is very pleasing,” Mr Della Bosca said.

“The results show NSW schools are preparing our young people well for the next phase of their lives.

“Whether students proceed to Years 11 and 12, further training or to the workforce, their School Certificate study gives them a solid academic foundation and equips them with important skills in many areas.

“The NSW School Certificate is a comprehensive testing of the country’s most detailed and rigorous syllabuses for every Year 10 student in the state.”

Highlights of results in 2007 included:

• In English-literacy 34 per cent of students achieved a mark in the top two performance bands (a mark of 80 or higher), compared to 32 per cent of students in 2006. Taking in the next band of achievement, more than 73 per cent of students gained a mark of 70 or higher in English-literacy.
• In Mathematics 46 per cent of students achieved a mark in the top three performance bands (70 or higher) compared to 41 per cent in 2006.
• 66 per cent of students achieved a mark in the top three performance bands (70 or higher) in Science – up from 63 per cent in 2006.
• 61 per cent of students achieved a mark of 70 or higher in Australian History, Civics and Citizenship – up from 53 per cent last year.
• 72 per cent of students gained a mark of 70 or higher in Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship – up from 67 per cent.
• Performance in the Computing Skills Test was consistent with last year. 99 per cent were highly competent (59 per cent) or competent (40 per cent).

Mr Della Bosca said the results showed Year 10 students have strong foundations in these key areas, and the Iemma Government’s record investment in education and training was paying dividends for students and the community.

“The test results will start arriving in schools today and many schools will hold ceremonies for their Year 10 students at the end of this week,” he said.

The NSW President of the Board of Studies, Professor Gordon Stanley said NSW was the only state to ensure all students completed stand-alone courses in Australian History, Australian Geography and Science before the end of their compulsory years of school.

“This state also leads the way in integrating Civics and Citizenship into the HSIE learning areas and embedding Information and Communication Technology in every syllabus,” he said.

“The Board not only sets Years 7-10 students a broad mandatory curriculum, it also runs public tests at the end of Year 10 to assess and report on the understanding students have gained in these areas.

“No other State or Territory can verify the delivery of its curriculum in this way, or give such feedback to schools, students and future employers.”

The 2007 School Certificate class is made up of 44,297 male students and 42,443 female students. Students in the metropolitan regions make up more than 53% of the candidates (45,967).

The largest region of candidates, with 12,841 students, is the metropolitan south west which includes Bankstown, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Picton. The largest region outside Sydney is the Hunter with 10,893 Year 10 students.

Higher School Certificate results will be released by phone, internet and SMS on Wednesday 19 December at 6am.