Maitland Grossmann High School was last week named as one of only eight high schools state-wide to earn the prestigious title of STEM Action School for 2016-17 by the NSW Department of Education.
STEM Action Schools were awarded on their ability to share effective STEM pedagogy, illustrate innovative practice for student engagement in STEM, and demonstrate effective leadership, professional learning, student career path planning and industry partnerships.
“We warmly welcome the announcement that Maitland Grossmann High has earned the prestigious STEM Action School title. Inspiring students to study STEM and consider STEM careers takes a dedicated, knowledgeable and professional team of teachers which is exactly what Maitland Grossmann has. We congratulate them for their commitment and achievement,” said RDA Hunter’s ME Program Director, Dr Scott Sleap.
“We are delighted that the ME Program has been able to support the development of the school’s programs that promote the engagement of students in STEM.”
“In the six years that the ME Program has been involved with Maitland Grossmann, we have contributed substantial financial and in-kind support towards improving the school’s reputation as a leader in STEM.”
“We look forward to growing our partnership with Maitland Grossmann High which has, without doubt, contributed to the outstanding STEM results the Hunter is currently seeing,” continued Dr Sleap.
“The iSTEM program at Maitland Grossmann has become the source of much innovation, challenge and success in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Students and staff alike are inspired and motivated to be part of this exciting proactive learning curriculum,” said Dr Dianne Soltau, Principal Maitland Grossmann High School.
According to NSW Department of Education, STEM Action Schools should be able to demonstrate:
• Exemplary teaching and learning of STEM subjects and/or integrated curriculum and a clearly articulated STEM vision
• Flexible, effective or new approaches to student engagement and/or student pathway planning
• Effective partnerships with local councils, businesses, universities and industry
• The capacity to mentor and provide advice to other schools on aspects of STEM innovation, including implementation strategies, structural and organisational approaches and links to whole school planning.
RDA Hunter’s ME Program achievements include:
• The creation of iSTEM in conjunction with Maitland Grossmann High School which will be taught in more than 70 schools across NSW in 2017
• 17% of ME Program students now select HSC Physics compared with the NSW Average of 14%
• In NSW 12% of HSC Physics students will drop the subject before Year 12, in ME schools this rate is just 6%
• ME Program schools are now twice as likely to complete HSC Engineering Studies compared to the NSW average
• 14% of ME Program students will select Metals and Engineering Certificate II for their HSC compared with the state average of 3%