Pens down, now: HSC students evacuated mid-exam Education

The fires which tore through NSW on Thursday broke out as many HSC students held pens in hand, studying for or sitting the exams they have worked towards for years.

Some had to evacuate mid-exam, while others are now unable to get to their next test.

But HSC student Olivia Creagh, from St Columba's High School at Springwood, said the emergency had put the exams into perspective.

Firefighters protect properties in Lithgow. Photo: Dean Sewell

"A couple of days ago the HSC was the worst thing I was going through. But now it seems so insignificant," she said.

Advertisement

"The other day I was so worried that maybe I hadn't studied hard enough. But I don't care ... because there's worse things out there."

She was studying at the school library on Thursday when a teacher told her to leave the premises immediately.

The Lake Munmorah fire on the central coast prompted the evacuation of students sitting their HSC engineering exam. Photo: Jason Gordon

"They didn't tell us there was a fire though. It was only when I was outside, I saw the smoke. When I was driving home there was smoke everywhere and everyone was coming out of their houses to look at it."

Some of her fellow Year 12 students were completing exam papers on Thursday afternoon as the situation worsened.

Acting principal of St Columba's Phillip Stewart said they had decided to let those students finish the exam.

Mikahlia Holmes (right) with a friend at Lake Munmorah High School.

"They were effectively in lockdown so we didn't actually disturb them," he said.

"Once the exams were finished they then joined the rest of the school."

The whole school was placed in lockdown until it was able to be evacuated.

"We couldn't have got anyone offsite here with the speed that the fire came up, so all we could do was shelter in place until such time as we could get everyone out safely, and that's what we did," Mr Stewart said.

Students at Lake Munmorah High School on the central coast still had 30 minutes of their HSC Engineering Studies exam to go when they were interrupted by one of their deputy principals telling them they needed to put their pens down and evacuate.

"We went up and physically stopped the exam at 4.30pm and escorted the kids off," principal Lindsay West said.

If you want to read  more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/pens-down-now-hsc-students-evacuated-midexam-20131018-2vrel.html#ixzz2iovpC8gv