NSW Secondary Principals' Council Hunter president and Kotara High principal Mark Snedden said he and colleagues across the region had welcomed "with open arms" the NSW Education Standards Authority changes, which include moving the start of the written exam timetable back by one week to October 19, extending the hand-in date for major works by two weeks and industrial technology by four weeks and rescheduling drama performance exams to September 6 to 17.

Oral language exams have been rescheduled to August 14.

"The external exams last year were put back a week, so we've welcomed that [for this year] in many regards and also with regards to the projects we've also welcomed that as well... with open arms," Mr Snedden said.

"It's great that NESA are listening to the stress out there in the community.

"That will make a huge difference. It might not seem like a lot but it actually is, to get two weeks extension on a hand-in project or task like that is absolutely major, considering the point we're at at the moment around trials and getting towards the end of the HSC.

"We're at the crunch point and any time we're given some support in that regard it's really looked upon positively."

Mr Snedden said unlike the year 12 cohort of 2020 - who saw their learning disrupted in March and had to adapt to changes throughout the year and with notice ahead of their final exams - the most recent outbreak had "snuck up" on current year 12 students sitting their trial exams.

He said while Hunter students weren't learning remotely like their peers in Greater Sydney, the pandemic had still significantly impacted their learning and HSC preparation.

"The emotional wellbeing of everyone in the community has been tested over the last 18 months," he said.

"Last year when we went into lockdown a lot of the attention was on the [2020] year 12 group and NESA did as much as they possibly could to support and make a level playing field last year with year 12, but when we think about it [2020's] year 11 missed out on a lot of face to face teaching, which does affect particularly those subjects where you're building [practical] skills.

"So I really think they were going to need this support this year, in our collective opinion, whether we went into another lockdown or not or into another situation.

"Even for a regional NSW school which really hasn't been impacted educationally it has been welcomed, because they have been under the pump and to be quite honest I did really feel for year 11 last year.

"We did the best we could across the board but as you know we had to prioritise and our priorities across most secondary schools was year 12 and year seven.

"It does weigh on people and the thing is, we may be in regional NSW, but we still have families that are impacted upon financially and as far as work goes if they are associated with the Greater Sydney area.

"Families are still being impacted upon in Newcastle with regard to what's happening, so any kind of allowance we can get to support these year 12s further is welcomed."

He said his school had contacted students who will be affected by the changes in specific subjects. "They're all very positive about it and very thankful."

Term three, he said, was the most stressful for students, when major works were due and assessment ranks were finalised.

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