Stage 6 – monitoring implementation and support
Advice and support for the effective implementation and monitoring in Stage 6.
HSC monitoring advice
Schools develop monitoring procedures to ensure the delivery of Preliminary and HSC courses comply with NESA and department requirements.
Please review school processes to ensure they comply with the 2026 HSC monitoring advice (5.7 MB).
The department provides a range of Stage 6 monitoring implementation support through illustrations of practice, Common Start funding and drop-in sessions held through the Teaching and Learning 7–12 statewide staffroom.
By the end of Term 1 2026 principals are required to confirm that the necessary information has been disseminated and that satisfactory HSC monitoring procedures are in place.
HSC monitoring – Illustrations of practice
Teachers have developed illustrations of practice to support schools in developing their own systems and processes for HSC monitoring.
Examples of electronic HSC monitoring practices demonstrating how to streamline administrative processes.
To minimise the time spent searching for the relevant HSC monitoring files to upload, set up folder structures that support the HSC monitoring processes required by your school.
Refer to the current HSC monitoring advice document for more detail about the maintenance of records and what evidence must be kept.
A sample folder and file structure can be seen in Saving HSC monitoring information (PDF 461 KB).
HSC Common Start funding
The HSC Common Start program provides funds for Year 12 extension classes created in Term 4 each year. Funding of $1500 is available per created class.
Principals use an online form to indicate the number of classes formed in the following subjects:
- English Extension 2
- Mathematics Extension 2
- History Extension
- Music Extension
- Science Extension
- Language extension courses
Term 1 funding should be used to support the HSC teacher and students. Support may include, but is not limited to:
- professional learning
- purchasing resources
- mentoring for an extension teacher
Applications open in October for schools that create additional extension classes which commence in Term 4 2025 to cater for students working towards the 2026 HSC.
Applications open – Wednesday 29 October 2025.
Applications close – Friday 5 December 2025.
Preventing and managing malpractice
Malpractice is any dishonest behaviour and/or attempt to gain an unfair advantage over other students, or knowingly assist other students to engage in malpractice. Throughout the assessment process, the highest standard of scholarship is required to ensure the integrity of the HSC credential.
Schools are required to develop a malpractice procedure as part of their school-based assessment procedures. The 2026 Preventing and managing malpractice in Stage 6 school-based assessment (DOCX 297 KB) document outlines actions schools can take to prevent and manage suspected incidences of malpractice.
Further information and support
- Teaching and Learning 7–12 statewide staffroom: Join our specialists in the HSC support channel for expert advice, resources, and professional learning.
- Policy Implementation and System Registration for the department’s processes on curriculum and policy monitoring in schools.
- Requirements and eligibility for the RoSA credential in Stages 5 and 6.
For further support, please contact secondaryteachingandlearning@det.nsw.edu.au.