Board for Conducting Public Examinations

The Public Schools Act was passed in 1866 introducing standards for teachers and teacher training. Following the introduction of the Act, the University established the New South Wales Senior and Junior Public Examinations. The Public Examinations were discussed by Senate in March 1867; and, at that stage, were called "Middle Class" Examinations after the Oxford and Cambridge examinations of· that name. The exams were first offered in 1868. The Calendar that year noted ‘Senior and Junior Public Examinations analogous to the Middle Class examinations of Oxford and Cambridge, are held annually. They are open to all candidates who may present themselves, and at their close, certificates are issued by the Examiners.’

By Laws Chapter XIII relating to the Faculty of Arts set out the regulations for Public Examinations. With 33 & 34 describing the constitution and role of the Board:

33.—The Professors and Assistant Professors not engaged in tuition, except publicly within the University, together with such other persons as the 'Senate may from time to'time appoint, shall form a Board for conducting the Public Examinations; and of this Board the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, or in his absence the Professor next in seniority, shall be Chairman.
34.—At the conclusion of each Examination, the Board shall transmit to the Senate a Report of the result, signed by the Chairman and at least one other Member.
35.—Subject to these By-Laws, the Public Examinations shall be conducted according to such Regulations as the Senate may from time to time enact.

The new Act also formed the Council of Education consolidating the Board of National Education and the Denominational School Board into a single body. The Council of Education exercised more control over denominational schools than was previously held. Schools had to meet certain conditions relating to size, subject courses, and distance from existing government schools to receive government subsidies. Senate was informed that the Council of Education would accept the Junior as admission to the Council's Training Scheme, whilst the Senior would be accepted in lieu of the Teachers' Higher Class Certificates. 

The Board supervised the Junior, Senior and the Civil Service Examinations; decided upon curricula, appointed examiners, and supervised the local committees who organised the local country centres where examinations were held. By 1892 there were 80 local centres in New South Wales and Queensland.

In 1887 the Senate discussed a new curriculum for the Faculty of Arts and adopted new By Laws at its November meeting. The new By Laws Chapter XXIII refers to Public Examinations. [1888 University Calendar]. Since 1887, 'students who shall have passed the Matriculation Examination, or the Senior or Junior Public Examination in the subjects required for the ordinary Matriculation Examination, and shall have paid a fee of Two Pounds to the Registrar, may be admitted by the Senate as members of the University'. [1888 University Calendar]

After 1916 Junior and Senior Public Examinations were discontinued. [1916 Calendar, p.90]