NSW Public Schools Offer More Advanced Online Courses

Hundreds of NSW students will gain access to advanced HSC courses online, a big change from 2025 when some subjects had only 5 students.
By Newsroom | Education, New South Wales |

A new policy aims to extend access to advanced subjects for all public school students, leveraging online learning to bridge geographical and resource divides. This initiative, announced recently by the Department of Education, will offer challenging Higher School Certificate (HSC) courses, including subjects like Mathematics Extension 2 and English Extension 2, to students across the state, regardless of their school's specific offerings or location.

Previously, access to such subjects was uneven. In 2025, for instance, many schools reported teaching Mathematics Extension 2 to five or fewer students. While regional and rural students have, for some time, had access to these advanced courses through inter-school arrangements, metropolitan students have largely been excluded from such online provisions. This move addresses a perceived inequity, potentially impacting hundreds of students who might otherwise be limited in their academic pursuits.

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Levelling the HSC playing field, one subject at a time - 1

Physical Education Curriculum Under Scrutiny

Separately, a report examining Physical Education (PE) in English schools, published in late 2023, highlights mixed findings regarding curriculum delivery and student engagement. While most schools allocate sufficient time for PE, a significant number of secondary schools are failing to provide the recommended two hours of instruction per week. The report, "Levelling the Playing Field: the physical education subject report," commissioned by Ofsted, also points to a general lack of rigour and depth in many PE lessons.

Key areas for development identified in the PE report include:

  • Curriculum Breadth: Not all students are consistently taught a broad and ambitious PE curriculum.

  • Student Perception: Pupils report differing views on PE, with many not feeling entirely competent in the subject.

  • Attendance: In some institutions, compulsory PE lessons see inconsistent student attendance.

  • Assessment: Well-designed assessment, linked to clear objectives, is present in only a limited number of schools, a finding consistent across primary and secondary levels.

The Ofsted report underscores the fundamental importance of PE, noting it as "the first and only place" for many pupils to learn "safe, efficient and intelligent movement." Recommendations suggest increased government support for schools to enhance PE provision and ensure all students benefit from high-quality teaching, challenging inequalities that may hinder participation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How will NSW public schools offer more advanced subjects?
The Department of Education is using online learning to give all students access to challenging Higher School Certificate (HSC) courses, like Maths Extension 2.
Q: Who can take these new online advanced courses?
Any public school student in NSW can now take these courses, even if their school doesn't usually teach them or if they live far away.
Q: Why is this change happening?
This aims to fix an unfair situation where some students, especially in smaller or rural schools, couldn't access advanced subjects that others could.
Q: What happens next for students?
Students will have more choices for their academic studies, allowing them to pursue challenging subjects that might have been unavailable before.
Q: What about Physical Education in English schools?
A report from late 2023 found that many English secondary schools do not provide the required two hours of Physical Education per week and often lack depth in lessons.