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From Term 4 2026 a maximum of one take-home assessment, worth no more than 15% of the school-based assessment mark, can be included in HSC courses. The same limit will apply to Preliminary courses from Term 1 2027.

The change will help protect student learning and uphold the integrity of the HSC by ensuring marks reflect a student’s own thinking and knowledge. Some courses with major works, projects or practical exams will be exempt.

Schools still decide the number, type and weighting of all in-school assessment tasks.

The ACE Rules, along with assessment and reporting requirements in each syllabus, will be updated to reflect the changes before the end of Term 3 2026.

Click to read the Official Notice 

Reminder to complete HSC Online Sample Exams

There are two weeks left for students enrolled in HSC Online Exams for Enterprise Computing, Science Extension and Software Engineering to complete the sample exam/s using the latest lockdown browser. 

The sample exam helps students to prepare and confirm: 

• the exam works on the device they will be using on exam day
• the new lockdown browser version functions on their device
• they are familiar with the features and functionality of the online exam environment.

Even if students have completed other online exams at school, NESA encourages them to complete the NESA sample online exam/s to prepare and resolve any issues before exam day.

Course teachers can enrol students now in the sample exams via Schools Online.

World Teachers' Day: NSW Teaching Gems Map is now live!

World Teachers’ Day will be celebrated in NSW on Friday, 30 October 2026.

The Australian Government has recently released the draft text of the Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026, the latest instalment of the Government’s privacy reform agenda. If enacted in its current form, the draft will introduce significant changes to Australian privacy law.

Key changes affecting schools

• Expanded definitions of personal information and sensitive information

  The exposure draft proposes broadening the definition of personal information to information that “relates to” an individual.   Personal information will include information which says something about an individual’s behaviour, circumstances, characteristics or preferences.

  Sensitive information has also been expanded to include new categories of geolocation tracking data and genomic information (including biological relationships and potential health risks).

• Fair and reasonable collection, use and disclosure

  The draft introduces a new "fair and reasonable" test in relation to handling personal information.

  Schools will need to demonstrate that their collection, use and disclosure of personal information is lawful and fair and reasonable in the circumstances. This will require the school to consider, amongst other matters, the best interests of the child.

• New consent requirements

  The draft introduces changes to consent requirements for sensitive information.

  Where a school collects sensitive information (including health information) it should obtain consent from the student or parents (where appropriate).

• The draft Bill clarifies that consent must be:

  • voluntary
  • informed
  • current
  • specific
  • unambiguous

  Schools should be particularly aware that, if the draft Bill as drafted is passed:

  • the practice of using bundled consents will no longer be appropriate and parents will need to be able to respond separately to each information handling practice (e.g. there should be more than one tick box when asking for consent take photos and use them on social media and in school newsletter);
  • consents will need to clearly define how the school proposes to use sensitive information; and
  • seeking consent through preselected settings or pre-ticked boxes will likely not be adequate.

  • Changes to data breach response and notification requirements

    The exposure draft requires notification of data breaches within 72 hours and includes a new positive duty to contain and mitigate harm for all data breaches.

  What schools should do now

  In anticipation of the Bill being passed, schools should:

  • assess what information they hold against the expanded definitions of personal and sensitive information;
  • consider how the ‘fair and reasonable’ test will apply to their handling of personal information;
  • review collection notices and consents obtained from students and parents; and
  • review privacy protection and data breach notification policies.

  Resources

  For more information, you can read the text of the draft Bill and the consultation paper by clicking the links below:

  • Exposure Draft - Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026
  • Privacy Amendment (Personal Data Protection) Bill 2026 - Consultation Paper

  This article may be helpful and contains further information about the proposed reforms:

  • Privacy Act Reforms: Government unveils tranche 2 proposals | McCullough Robertson Lawyers