Science and technology is mandatory for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6. Science is mandatory for students up to Year 10.
In science and technology, students explore the natural and made worlds. They learn how to apply scientific and technological skills, knowledge and understanding across a broad range of contexts.
Science 7-10 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. Science emphasises the skills for working scientifically, as well as critical and creative thinking to address scientific issues.
Science faculty
The faculty mission statement: Science is committed to providing students with engaging, innovative and relevant opportunities to perform at and beyond their best in order to develop their education to the highest limits of their potential.
At Farrer, we know science can change nations and create the future. It makes leaders and builds communities. It saves lives and builds industries. But we also know science can be gooey, slimy, weird, exciting, explosive and just plain fun. That’s why we like it.
Students at Farrer can experience the joy of scientific discovery and nurture their natural curiosity about the world around them. In doing this, they develop critical and creative thinking skills and challenge themselves to identify questions and draw evidence-based conclusions using scientific methods. The wider benefits of this “scientific literacy” are well established, including giving students the capability to investigate the natural world and changes made to it through human activity.
The Science Faculty at Farrer is embracing technology with four state of the art laboratories. All laboratories have short throw projectors for optimum viewing of the latest scientific media and on-line access in each lab. Some labs also have interactive whiteboard capabilities and even Apple TV to allow functionality with iPads. The teachers are all motivated, dedicated and experienced.
Courses offered
Years 7 to 10
Science is a compulsory subject of study in Years 7 to 10 as in all schools. We attempt to perform plenty of practical work to reinforce students’ learning. We have a number of units of work every year that are aligned with the new Australian Curriculum. Science has three interrelated strands: Science Understanding, Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Inquiry Skills.
Together, the three strands of the science curriculum provide students with understanding, knowledge and skills through which they can develop a scientific view of the world. Students are challenged to explore science, its concepts, nature and uses through clearly described inquiry processes.
Every unit of work is accompanied by an assessment task, be it a research assignment, practical test, speech or worksheet to complete. We also mark workbooks regularly to track student learning and have a common yearly exam for all Junior Students.
Years 11 and 12
Science subjects students may choose include Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Senior Science. Farrer is well resourced to deliver each of these subjects with past students achieving well in the HSC. Staff are all experienced in delivery and fully trained to teach these courses.
Extension programs
We offer many enrichment activities at Farrer with a Science focus including:
- Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre visits
- Warrumbungles Science Excursion in Yr 9
- Science in the Bush at UNE (Yr 8 & 9)
- UNE PICSE Student Research Project (Yr 10)
- Australasian Science Competition
- Rio Tinto Chemistry Competition
- NYSF – National Youth Science Forum
- Murder under the Microscope – Yr 8
- Farrer Science Society
- Sydney University Physics School (Yr 12)
- Senior Chemistry Excursion (Yr 11/12)