Revealed: The secrets behind Sydney's top schools for HSC maths
'We introduced a middle school model to focus on that transition,' explains Victor Newby. 'We now group subjects like maths and science with one teacher, and English and history with another. It means year 7 students have six teachers rather than 12, which helps make that move into high school smoother.'
It was among multiple changes at the inner west high school in 2020, including employing a senior study coach for HSC students, and starting an after-hours algebra club for year 10s.
Concord High is one of several schools to achieve improved average HSC scores in mathematics over the past three years, a Herald analysis of public school final exam results has revealed.
Concord's average HSC score across all maths courses taken has jumped more than three marks to 83.4, placing it in the top five non-selective state schools.
Academically selective school North Sydney Boys High achieved the highest average score in maths, with an average across all maths courses of 91.7.
James Ruse scored an average of 91.4, while Baulkham Hills scored an average mark of 90, narrowly eclipsing Sydney Boys High (89.9) and Normanhurst Boys (89.5). Most fully selective schools offer only advanced maths and extension 1 and 2 subjects, rather than the standard courses.
The analysis, from data published in 385 NSW public schools' annual reports in 2024, reveals those achieving strong maths results across their entire student cohort, not just band 6 results.
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