The Board has a commitment to consultation in the syllabus development and review process, ensuring quality syllabuses that meet the needs of teachers and students.

Teachers have the opportunity to contribute to up to six syllabus reviews during Term 2: one primary and three secondary syllabus projects as well as the development of two new industry frameworks in consultation phases.

The four syllabus reviews - Stage 6 Mathematics, Legal Studies and Work Studies, and K-6 Science and Technology - are all inviting subject teachers to have a say in the development of the new courses; likewise for the two new VET industry curriculum frameworks - Automotive and Electrotechnology.

Science and Technology K-6

An evaluation survey and a series of consultation meetings will commence in Term 2 for the Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus, which is in the first phase of the syllabus review.

Over the next three years the syllabus, including its revised outcomes, will be reviewed and redeveloped.

Teachers are invited to consultation meetings during Terms 2 and 3 at sites across NSW. (See the list of dates and venues on the back page.) Board officers will gather teachers' comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the current syllabus, seeking suggestions for improvements.

A sample of teachers will also be surveyed early in Term 2 to gather their views on the current syllabus.

The evaluation report incorporating feedback from the meetings and surveys, will go to the Board of Studies later this year.

The Board then sets broad directions for a writing brief, to be distributed for consultation between April and June, 2008.

Stage 6 Mathematics

The Stage 6 Mathematics syllabus review is now in its second phase. Draft writing briefs and surveys were sent to schools in May for feedback.

Teams of experienced teachers and academics have developed the draft writing briefs in accordance with the Board-approved broad directions.

The draft writing brief for the calculus-based courses outlines three revised courses:

• Mathematics Advanced
• Mathematics Extension 1
• Mathematics Extension 2.

The draft writing brief for the non-calculus-based courses outlines two courses:

• Mathematics General 2 (modelled closely on the current General Mathematics course)
• an additional Board-developed course - Mathematics General 1.

The draft writing brief proposes that the two non-calculus-based courses have a largely common Preliminary course.
During May 2007 focus group meetings will be held across the state with teachers, academics and representatives of a range of other interest groups.

The information gathered from the surveys and focus groups will be analysed by Board officers. The Board will consider the amendments to the brief in August 2007.

A full report on the syllabus review phase is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/manuals/#maths-st6-rev-dev-project

Stage 6 Work Studies Content Endorsed Course

The Stage 6 Work Studies Content Endorsed Course is currently being evaluated. Teachers can provide feedback on the syllabus via a survey sent to all schools with Work Studies enrolments.

The evaluation will focus on:

• the course's effectiveness and relevance
• the degree of overlap between Stage 6 Work Studies and the Work Education Years 7-10 Syllabus
• the impact of Stage 6 VET courses on Work Studies enrolments and implementation.

Teachers, schools, systems, sectors and other key groups will be consulted during the evaluation process.

The Board has held focus groups of Work Studies teachers in Macquarie Fields, Wagga Wagga, Newcastle and in Sydney. The teachers have given qualitative information about the syllabus, its implementation and how it meets the learning needs of students.

Findings from the consultation will be presented to the Board as part of the 2007 HSIE Syllabus Evaluation Report.

Stage 6 Legal Studies

Consultation meetings are underway across NSW, inviting teachers to contribute to the Stage 6 Legal Studies syllabus review. The final meetings will be held in Newcastle on 10 May and Nowra on 17 May. A survey on the broad directions of the syllabus is available on the Board's website: http://surveys.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au

Board Bulletin Vol 16 No 1 (March 2007) included a call for Legal Studies syllabus writers. Those interested should apply as soon as possible.

Automotive and Electrotechnology Industry Curriculum Frameworks

Teachers and interested groups have the opportunity to have their say on draft frameworks for Automotive and Electrotechnology. The development of the new frameworks is a result of recommendations from a feasibility study in 2006. The consultation period runs from 25 May to 22 June 2007 and includes meetings, teleconferences and surveys. The survey is available on the Board's website at http://surveys.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au

See the back page for dates of meetings and teleconferences. To take part in the meetings contact your local Board of Studies Liaison Officer.

The draft frameworks will be available for comment at: www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/voc_ed

For more information on current syllabus reviews contact the appropriate Board officer: Science and Technology K-6 - Nicholas Perkins (02) 9367 8180 Stage 6 Mathematics - Peter Osland or Margaret Bigelow (02) 9367 8103 Stage 6 Work Studies - Lindsay Swan (02) 9367 8150 Stage 6 Legal Studies - Brian Elliott (02) 9367 8274 Automotive and Electrotechnology Industry Curriculum Frameworks - Ian Balcomb (02) 9367 8038

Syllabus Review Process

Note: The VET Industry Curriculum Framework development process can be found in the Syllabus Development Handbook.