Students at a selective high school in Sydney's west have been disciplined after hacking into a computer system, allegedly in an attempt to change their HSC assessment marks.
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Up to 10 Year 12 students at Penrith High School have reportedly been questioned over the security breach, which the NSW Department of Education said occurred when students obtained a teacher's log-in details for the online database that contains student marks.
It was not known whether any HSC assessment marks were actually altered.
A spokesman for the department said the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards had received an allegation about assessment marks at Penrith High School.
"Penrith High School has taken appropriate disciplinary action against a small number of students who accessed the computer systems using a teacher's log-in," the spokesman said.
"The school is looking into the matter and is working with the [board of studies].
"The students will undertake their HSC examinations at the school."
He said students could face severe penalties for cheating in the HSC.
"They may receive zero marks for a school assessment or zero marks for an exam, and potentially not receive the HSC," he said.
The Penrith Press reported that a person, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted the newspaper to report a number of students were questioned over the incident, which had raised concerns about the storage of critical information in the computer system.
The database contains students' assessment marks, which account for 50 per cent of a student's final HSC result.
Students at Penrith High School recently sat their trial HSC exams, and students across the state will begin their final exams on October 12.
The Department of Education spokesman said Penrith High School had assured education authorities that the correct student marks would be submitted following the breach.
He also said other students should be assured that "stringent assessment and exam rules and procedures are applied ... to ensure the HSC's fairness and integrity".
"If the allegation is substantiated, [the Board of Studies] will act to ensure no student is disadvantaged, and the examination process remains fair," he said.
