The NSW Education Standards Authority [NESA] has given principals and system authorities across the state the power to determine the number, type and weighting of tasks for school based assessments given to Year 11 and 12 students.

In addition, NESA has lifted requirements for Vocational Education and Training [VET] students to undertake work placements and has enforced modifications to performance-based assessments that breach social distancing requirements.

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Despite the changes, Year 12 students at St Stanislaus' College are getting on with their studies to the best of their abilities, with the 2020 HSC still set to go ahead.

One such student is Oscar Ward who, despite normally staying on campus as a boarder, has started to commute from his home town [Orange] to continue his HSC work.

"I'm completing a number of industrial technology subjects and as there's only a small number of us, we're able to continue our major works while maintaining social distancing," Oscar said.

"Things are changing all the time, but you just have to keep going."

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Stannies' director of curriculum Virginia van Gend said teachers have resorted to online lessons for less practical-based subjects to ensure students continue to apply themselves to study.

"Although things have changed, we're maintaining 'face-to-face' learning online so students and teachers can maintain contact and work together to understand their assessment requirements," Ms van Gend said.

"The relationship between teachers and students change in senior as students mature and place more emphasis on critical thinking, so it's important for us to maintain that connection."

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Head of college Lindsay Luck said Stannies staff and students are prepared to do whatever they can to work within the guidelines.

"We're looking at a different HSC environment, so our students and staff need to be agile and adaptable to prepare for further changes," Mr Luck said.

"Our students are sticking to their class timetables both from home and at school, and we're maintaining close contact with students and parents on how we're managing teaching and learning."