The RoSA is a new credential for NSW school students.

Previously, students who did not go on to receive their HSC used their School Certificate as a record of their secondary school achievements. However, the School Certificate was primarily a record of their performance at the end of Year 10. It did not give recognition for achievement if that student had continued on to complete courses in Year 11 or 12.

The RoSA records grades or participation in courses right up to the students leaving school, giving them a more comprehensive and meaningful record of their academic achievements. Those grades are allocated by teachers, and monitored by the Board, to ensure that students receive fair and consistent recognition for their work.

For those students who leave school prior to receiving their HSC, the RoSA will become the school credential they will use when applying for employment or further education or training.

The RoSA testamur (the formal documentation provided to students who leave school before completing their HSC) is one part of the RoSA package available to students. Other RoSA components include:

• access for all students from Year 10 onwards to a transcript of all current grades through the Board’s Students Online website
• a record of all grades achieved in senior secondary school years for all students, including those who receive their HSC
• access to online literacy and numeracy tests for those students who leave school before receiving their HSC (online literacy and numeracy tests are being piloted in 2012)
• access to an online service allowing all students to consolidate a record of their extra-curricular achievements (this service is being piloted with a small number of schools in 2012).