Bass Coast College students said they felt relieved after sitting their VCE English exam at Wonthaggi Town Hall on Tuesday. Some said the paper was easier than their trial exams. The three-hour exam required two essays and a creative piece. Students who spoke to the Sentinel-Times described finishing with time to spare and feeling positive about their next steps, including university plans at Swinburne and La Trobe.
VCE students finished the English exam on Tuesday, with Leongatha Secondary College students saying the paper went well. The exam was held in a function space at the town's Recreation Reserve, which is serving as an exam hall this year. Several students said they felt nervous beforehand but found the paper straightforward. Students said their preparation helped. Assistant Principal Tanya Chalmers praised the cohort's hard work.
Year 12 students at Korumburra Secondary College have finished their school days. Year 12 Coordinator Steven Scott said the final year is demanding, with both schoolwork and pressure about what comes next. He told students without a clear plan not to panic, and that they can change direction if a path proves unsuitable. Students in the VCE and VCE Vocational Major programs continued the tradition of dancing for staff and younger students. Senior School Coordinator Nicole Creaser said the routines were well rehearsed and praised the students for sharing lollies with the younger pupils.
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Students preparing for exams are being urged to swap energy drinks and sugary snacks for nutrient-dense foods, The Heart Foundation says. Dietitian Nikita Kelly said foods such as vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and lean protein can support concentration, memory and steady energy. She advised avoiding ultra-processed foods, which often contain added sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, and choosing options such as fruit or a handful of nuts instead of muesli bars. Kelly said healthy eating works best alongside regular physical activity, quality sleep, hydration and study breaks.
Mackay students will present projects developed through a STEM advanced manufacturing program at a local showcase. The event will be held at Eimeo Road State School on Friday, 30 October 2026, from 10 am to 1 pm. Students will share what they have learned and present possible solutions to industry challenges, developed with manufacturing partners. Senior secondary students will also pitch their projects to a shark tank panel. Mackay is one of eight Queensland locations hosting showcases across October and November.
Toowoomba students will present their advanced manufacturing project ideas at a showcase on Monday, 9 November 2026. The event runs from 10 am to 1 pm at Toowoomba State High School. The projects propose solutions to manufacturing industry challenges and were developed with industry partners over two terms. Students will pitch their work to an industry panel, and senior secondary students will also present to a shark tank panel. The showcase is part of a statewide Queensland series for the Advanced Manufacturing Future Skills program.
Coburg West Primary School has won first prize in the primary school category at the 14th Greek Student Film Festival. The school's Greek language program entry was also voted Best Film by the audience. Students, working with teacher Betty Koklanis, made the short film The Replacement, which explores artificial intelligence. The pupils used their Greek skills throughout the film. The festival, now in its 14th year, gives young people a platform to show their creativity and growing Greek language ability.
A North Geelong Secondary College student is developing artificial intelligence systems to solve everyday problems, and he is entirely self-taught. Revant Pandey, 17, has been teaching himself to code since he was a young child. His largest project is a proof of concept that uses cameras to assess traffic and pedestrian activity, with the aim of adjusting traffic lights to ease congestion in Canberra. Revant believes people should keep control over AI and should continue building their own problem-solving skills.
Central Coast Group Training is hosting a free career information session at Mingara Recreation Club on Wednesday, November 11. The session is aimed at school leavers and their parents or carers.
Students from Central Coast Grammar School were members of both the winning and second place teams in the 2026 Celestino STEM Schools Challenge. The grand finale involved 134 students and tested ideas for a Sydney Science Park.
Music students from 14 schools across the Mid North and Southern Flinders Ranges performed together at the Peterborough Town Hall with members of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra. The concert has grown from 50 students in 2023 to 100 this year. Music teacher Kate Mawson, who started the event, previously taught instruments online to students at nine regional schools. Students at Orroroo Area School have regained in-person instrumental lessons this year. The Department for Education's Instrumental Music program brings teachers to schools weekly, with the concert giving students a rare chance to play together.
Two Irrawang High School students began their HSC exams on Tuesday 13 October with their first English paper. Liam Bennet has already been accepted into the University of Newcastle, while Emalynne Hunter-Hahn hopes to join the Australian Defence Force. Emalynne said group revision helped her prepare, and the pair described the pressure of the exams. Teachers ran holiday workshops across 12 subjects and several maths courses. Both students are looking forward to free time and the beach once exams finish.
Logan school-leavers facing financial hardship can apply for up to $5000 to help cover university costs such as textbooks. The City of Logan Tertiary Education Bursaries are paid across three years in semester or trimester instalments. Mayor Jon Raven said the cost of university can be a challenge for some people. Mina Sharifi, a University of Queensland student, said the bursary has helped her with study costs. Applications close on Tuesday 29 December and are funded by Logan City Council and community sponsors.
Students across Kalimantan and Sumatra have taken to the streets to demand that the government be held accountable for wildfires and the toxic haze covering the region. Indonesia often faces wildfires during the dry season, but these fires are the most intense in more than a decade. Farmers use slash-and-burn methods to clear land for agriculture, including palm oil, and Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil. The fires have been made worse by these practices.
Secondary students in Western Australia's south-west are showing their work at Iluka Visions, a community exhibition running for 35 years at Bunbury Regional Gallery. Artist and arts educator Charlotte White, a judge this year, picked five works to see. They include a two-sided life-sized sculpture by Emmasyn Dillon, which won Best Overall Artwork for Years 11 and 12. Other highlights are Remy Mathieson's doll-sized rat figures, Pia Mangano's interactive piece on AI and creativity, and Beccy Mason's cardboard and tissue paper work. The exhibition runs until November 15.
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Ten students from Northlakes High School will take part in the Deadly Dozen Newcastle fitness race on Sunday, November 1. The local community organisation Spotters Project is also entering the event.
Students preparing for end-of-year exams may be tempted to use artificial intelligence for study. Research suggests they should first master foundational knowledge and skills. Relying on AI too heavily, a risk known as cognitive offloading, can lead students to stop studying before they have fully learnt the material. A Chinese study found high school students' monthly exam scores fell about 20 per cent over six months as their AI use rose, even though homework scores improved. Advice given is to attempt recall, explanation and problem-solving independently, then use AI for feedback or question practice.
A teenage student is quoted urging classmates to join another protest against Pauline Hanson and her party, which she labels fascist. The call was made in the context of Remembrance Day events.
Four students at a Sydney high school have been taken to hospital after being affected by chemicals during a science class. A NSW Education Department spokesman said the incident at Airds High School, in Sydney's south, led the school to activate its emergency procedures as a precaution. Five students were assessed by NSW Ambulance, and four were transported to hospital for further assessment. Footage shared on social media shows students leaving the school as fire crews and paramedics responded to a hazardous materials incident. NSW Fire and Rescue has been contacted for comment.
