http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-hsc-back-to-the-future-in-first-major-overhaul-of-the-syllabus-in-20-years-20170220-gugoum.html

This article published today outlines the significant shifts that are occurring at HSC level.  Changes initially to English, Mathematics, Science and History will be released in new syllabi today and schools will enter a new era in HSC delivery from 2019. Some of the main changes include less topics studied with an emphasis on greater depth, scaling rewards for students who study higher level Maths and a new topic called ‘The Craft of Writing’ in English. English remains the only mandatory subject for the HSC.

These are part of a wider pattern of reforms by NESA (previously BOSTES) that include:

• Minimum HSC standards for literacy & numeracy
• Fewer topics, more depth in syllabuses
• Schedule for regular syllabus reviews
• Changes to HSC exam questions – e.g. creating less predictability
• Introduction of a common marking scale for Maths to encourage higher level Mathematics courses in Year 12
• More prescription for internal assessment tasks – e.g. fewer tasks

Our current Year 10 group will be the first group to study under these new syllabi and Year 9 students this year will be the first group aiming to meet HSC literacy and numeracy standards when they complete NAPLAN. Our staff meanwhile will be spending time preparing for these changes across 2017.

Will this deliver the curriculum needed to drive and provide for the workforce of the future? Certainly changes to Mathematics that will better reward students for studying at a higher level is a positive as is the regular schedule for HSC syllabus reviews. As a school we are pleased that education is on the agenda and curriculum renewal is part of this agenda. We look forward to seeing the syllabi and certainly hope that a more responsive curriculum can met the needs of both our students and our society.