As a faculty, one of the primary focus areas is on the programming and best practice teaching and assessment of the relatively new stage 6 syllabuses (taught for the first time in 2018). This includes increased focus on student-based investigations and the development of contextually rich depth studies.
Stage 4 and 5 teaching programs are being continually refined with an increasing focus on embedded working scientifically skills, literacy and numeracy activities and differentiation of content to meet the needs of the diverse student body at Concord High School.
Stage 6 syllabuses
Teaching of the new stage 6 syllabuses for science commenced in 2018. The previous courses of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science and Physics were reviewed with extensive changes made.
Investigating Science, a new stage 6 course ran for the first time at Concord High School in 2020. The course explores in detail the nature and practice of science with a strong emphasis on working scientifically. The course can be studied on its own or in combination with the other stage 6 Science courses where it is guaranteed to improve the learning experience in those courses through the consolidation of core scientific concepts. The first students to study the course at Concord High School performed exceptionally well in the 2021 HSC exam with an average mark of 6.08% above the state average, making it one of the best performing courses at the school.
Cross KLA and extracurricular activities
Students have the opportunity to participate in a range of extension and enrichment activities.
Animal Room
The Science faculty’s 'Animal Room' continues to be a popular drawcard. The faculty has permission from the department and the National Parks and Wildlife to house a range of Australian native animals, including amphibians and a variety of reptiles. The animals prove invaluable during units of work exploring the concepts of adaptations and evolution. Selected students are offered the unique opportunity to care for and maintain these animals’ enclosures.
When street art meets fine art
The ‘street art' component and background was inspired by the concept of outer space while the portrait works flanking the ‘street art' are of some well-known scientists, including Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin and Marie Curie. The lettering around the boarder reads "science" in each of the languages spoken by our students at Concord High School. The outcomes of the project were extremely positive and included the transformation of both the Science learning space and the individuals involved.
Science Club
Science club offers interested students the opportunity to engage with opportunities and excursions that lie outside of the normal classroom activities. Students from a range of year groups meet once per week to engage with project-based learning opportunities with a strong emphasis on the scientific method.
Environmental Club
The Environment club, run by Mr David Galea through the Science faculty, aims to provide students with leadership opportunities through the participation in sustainability and public awareness programs including the annual clean up Australian day and National tree day. Under the student leadership of Alex Deitch, the group has actively improved the school grounds through the planning and planting of native tree corridors and the design and installation of native fauna boxes. This has resulted in the successful breeding of a local ring-tailed possum community.
