Heathcote High School

Excellence, Opportunity & Success

Telephone02 9520 9488

Emailheathcote-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Science

A study of science is mandatory for all students from Kindergarten to Year 10.

In science, students explore the natural and made worlds. They learn how to apply scientific skills, knowledge and understanding across a broad range of contexts.

Science provides a way of inquiring about the world around us. It explores evidence and investigates ways to discover, develop and produce solutions to real-world problems. The inquiry and skill-based nature of science opens doors to ideas and discoveries.

In Years 11 and 12, students can choose from different science disciplines, including:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth and Environmental Science
  • Physics
  • Science Life Skills.

SCIENCE COURSES

Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8) and Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) Science

Science is a compulsory, core subject for all students in Years 7-10, during which students are led to a more scientific understanding of their world and the way that scientists work.

The study of Science provides opportunities for students to develop the skills of working scientifically by engaging them in thinking critically and creatively in problem-solving processes. Students work individually and in teams in planning and conducting investigations. They are encouraged to critically analyse data and information, evaluate issues and problems, develop questions for inquiry and investigation, and draw evidence-based conclusions.

Students are called on to apply and communicate their findings, understanding and viewpoints in a scientifically literate way when making decisions about the environment, the natural and technological world.

Stage 5 (Years 9 & 10 Marine Science) Elective

Marine and Aquaculture Technology is a popular elective, taught by members of the science faculty, that students can choose to study in Years 9 and 10. It gives students the opportunity to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to use and protect marine ecosystems. Practical activities and field trips are a major component of the course, and students learn skills related to marine leisure activities, including sustainable fishing techniques, boating, navigation and seafood cookery.

Marine Biology topics make up a substantial component of the theory section of the course, with students studying fish, marine mammals, water birds, dangerous marine creatures and marine pests and threats. Students have the opportunity to gain their boat licence while studying the course, and may have the opportunity to experience overnight excursions, including a four-day trip to Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

­Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12) Courses

In the senior school, the Science faculty offers the following subjects to students in Years 11 and 12:

2 Unit Chemistry

Chemistry provides students with an understanding of matter and its interactions. It involves investigating the physical and chemical properties of substances, chemical reactions and processes, and the interaction of energy and matter. Laboratory experiments make up a substantial component of the course, and students apply investigative and problem-solving skills to understand concepts involved in the course.

Chemistry is suitable for students who have achieved to a substantial level in Stages 4-5 Science, and is assumed knowledge for a wide range of University courses in Science, Engineering, Applied Sciences and Health Sciences.

2 Unit Physics

Physics provides students with an understanding of energy and matter and their interrelationships. It involves investigating patterns, models, principles, theories and laws to explain the behaviour of a range of objects from sub-atomic particles to the entire Universe. Laboratory experiments make up a substantial component of the course, and students apply investigative and problem-solving skills to understand the theoretical concepts involved in the course.

Physics is suitable for students who have achieved to a substantial level in Stages 4-5 Science, and is assumed knowledge for a wide range of University courses in Engineering, Science, Applied Sciences and Health Sciences.

2 Unit Biology

Biology provides students with an understanding of the functions, origins and evolution of living things. It explores the organisation of life and the interactions within and between organisms, including the influences of humans on their environment. Laboratory experiments and field work make up a substantial component of the course, and students apply investigative and problem-solving skills to understand concepts involved in the course.

Biology is suitable for students who have achieved to a substantial level in Stages 4-5 Science, and is assumed knowledge for a range of University courses in Science, Applied Sciences and Health Sciences.

2 Unit Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Science provides students with an understanding of the Earth and its processes in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. It explores the changes that have occurred during Earth's history, and the evolution of organisms since the origins of life. Laboratory experiments and field work make up a substantial component of the course, and students apply investigative and problem-solving skills to understand concepts involved in the course.

Earth and Environmental Science is suitable for students who have achieved to a substantial level in Stages 4-5 Science, and is assumed knowledge for a range of University courses in Science and Applied Sciences.

 

2 Unit Marine Studies (CEC Course)

Marine Studies provides an opportunity for the future custodians of the marine environment to study it and appreciate its value. It provides an educational context linked to the needs of a population based on its coast and waterways, and fosters links to tertiary study and career pathways. The syllabus provides an opportunity for students to experience a wide range of marine-based leisure activities in a safe setting.

Marine Studies caters for students at all levels of ability who have an interest in the marine environment, however, as a content endorsed course, it does not contribute towards an ATAR.