Rules for authentication of School-based Assessment

Students must observe and apply rules for the authentication of School-based Assessment. Students must sign an authentication record for work done outside class when they submit the completed task.

1. VCAA authentication rules:

• A student must ensure that all unacknowledged work submitted for assessment is genuinely their own. • A student must acknowledge all resources used, including: – texts, websites and other source material; – the name and status of any person who provided assistance and the type of assistance provided. • A student must not receive undue assistance from another person in the preparation and submission of work. • Acceptable levels of assistance include: – the incorporation of ideas or material derived from other sources (for example, by reading, viewing or note taking), but which have been transformed by the student and used in a new context; – prompting and general advice from another person or source, which leads to refinements and/or self-correction. • Unacceptable forms of assistance include: – use of, or copying, another person’s work or other resources without acknowledgement; – corrections or improvements made or dictated by another person. • A student must not submit the same piece of work for assessment in more than one study, or more than once within a study. • A student must not circulate or publish written work that is being submitted for assessment in a study in the academic year of enrolment. • A student must not knowingly assist another student in a breach of rules.

In considering whether a student’s work is genuinely their own, teachers should consider whether the work: • is not typical of other work produced by the student • is inconsistent with the teacher’s knowledge of the student’s ability • contains unacknowledged material • has not been sighted and monitored by the teacher during its development.

2. Investigation of breaches of School-based Assessment rules:

On receipt of an allegation, the student’s work should not be accepted for assessment, pending the conduct of an investigation by the College. The original of the final version of the work is to be retained by the College. The student should be given a copy of the work.

Students who have been observed breaching the rules or allegations have been made will be informed by the supervising teacher of such observations. The supervising teacher will report the incident to the VCE Leader. The student will be interviewed by the subject teacher and the VCE Leader to allow them to respond to the allegations. Allegations must be handled sensitively and may need to be kept confidential.

2.1 Conducting the preliminary interview

The VCE Leader and subject teacher must: • explain clearly to the student the purpose of the interview, the rules allegedly breached and the possible outcomes; • present any necessary evidence collected earlier to support the case; • give the student an opportunity to respond to the allegations against them; • pose questions and conduct the interview in a way that allows the student to feel as comfortable as possible in the circumstances; • keep very detailed records of the interview.

2.2 Outcome of the interview

The VCE Leader will report to the Principal on the findings and may recommend that no further action is to be taken.

If there is evidence to support further investigation then the student will be informed of the need to come before a hearing panel to respond to the allegation of an investigation by the school. The original of the final version of the work is to be retained by the school. The student should be given a copy of the work.

If the allegation raises the suggestion that a student has submitted work that is not their own, the student must provide evidence that the work submitted is their own and/or was completed in accordance with VCAA requirements.

Students may be asked to: • provide evidence of the development of the work; • discuss the content of the work with the teacher and answer questions to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the work; • provide samples of other work; • complete under supervision a supplementary Assessment Task related to the original task.

An interview panel will be established. The panel must consist of at least two, but no more than three teachers, the subject teacher and up to two representatives of the Principal.

2.3 Informing students of the need for a hearing

The VCE Leader, or other relevant Coordinator, must give the student at least 24 hours written notice before the hearing.

This notice must include: • the allegations against the student; • the purpose of the hearing; • the date, time and place of the hearing; • the composition of the hearing; • advice that a parent/friend may accompany the student to provide moral support, but will not represent student or speak on their behalf’ • the name of the person with whom the student may clarify procedures; • if applicable, advise that the student looks at the copy of their work prior to the hearing and bring this to the interview.

2.4 Possible outcomes, including penalties

The final decision will be made based on consideration of all evidence and submissions, including the student’s response and whether the allegations (and the student’s defence) are supported by evidence that is relevant to and credible.

If any allegations against a student are to be found to be proven, it must then be decided whether a penalty should be imposed and if so, what penalty is appropriate.

Possible penalties include: • a verbal or written warning; • detention or suspension; • refusal to consider the student’s work, but giving the student the opportunity to resubmit the work if there is sufficient time before the due date for submission of results according to

VCAA schedule; • refusal to accept the part of the student’s work found to have been completed in contravention of VCAA rules and determination of the appropriate result for the relevant outcome forming part of the VCE Unit; • refusal to accept any part of the work, awarding an N for the Outcome.

All notes from the hearing must be kept.

After the hearing the school must write to the student to confirm: • the findings of the hearing; • reasons for the decision and supporting evidence; • penalty that will be imposed; • information about the student’s right to appeal to the VCAA which must be lodged no later than 14 days after the student receives written notice of the decision from the school.