Menai High Schools is among those that will offer a new science extension course, which will have its first online HSC exam in 2019.
It will give top NSW science students the opportunity to be challenged at high levels, and is intended to foster future scientists and researchers.
The course enables students for the first time to study up to seven units of science. This can include six units of either physics, biology, chemistry, earth and environment science and investigating science.
It will be run before or after school, for a few hours each week.
Menai High School’s head teacher of science, Ann Hanna, who is also a member of the Science Teachers Association of NSW, says nine senior students have expressed interest in the course so far.
“We invited students from all sciences to an information evening, so it’s awesome to have this many – and an even number of boys and girls – in the first year,” she said.
“We’ve always been very strong in sciences. It fits in perfectly with what we are already doing but will bring new life to science.”
She says the course encourages students to think critically, and investigate and validate claims, rather than work from a textbook.
“Students from all different science disciplines will sit and bring together content knowledge in an almost a university-like level standard,” she said.
“They will have freedom in their education through creating, not replicating.”
Education Minister Rob Stokes describes the course as cross-disciplinary.
“Never before has our education system offered a science course like this that will help make a link between school science and tertiary studies,” Mr Stokes said.
“In keeping with the technology focus of the course, the students will be examined with a computer-based exam at the end of their studies.”
As part of the new class, students will do a research project, and will work closely with Australian and international university academics, research institutions and the industry.
Assignments can also involve partnering with companies to bring students’ projects to life in commercial applications.
State premier Gladys Berejiklian says the course will inspire the best students and prepare them for future jobs that will need high-level expertise in STEM fields of study.
“We want to be able to provide our next generation of scientists with the knowledge and skills they need to lead modern scientific research,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Caringbah High School will also have a class.
The first students to undertake the HSC Science Extension course will begin the program in term 4 when they start year 12.
