From the Acting Principal

Mathematics Counts at MLC School!

Recent reporting in The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted a concerning national picture in Mathematics. Official NAPLAN results show that one in three Year 3 students in NSW did not meet expected numeracy benchmarks, while national Year 3 numeracy scores have fallen to their lowest average since the current reporting system was introduced in 2023. These results are a reminder that strong mathematical foundations are built early, deliberately and with care.

For too long, girls have absorbed subtle messages that mathematics is not naturally theirs. At MLC School, our girls are challenging that narrative. They are asking questions, taking intellectual risks, persisting through difficulty and seeing themselves as capable mathematicians. Mathematics confidence is built through strong teaching, clear sequencing, high expectations and regular opportunities for students to practise, explain and apply understanding.

Mathematics matters because it is more than a subject. It builds problem-solving, logic, pattern recognition and persistence. It opens pathways into science, technology, engineering, economics, design, medicine, entrepreneurship and leadership.

At MLC School, we are proud of the way our girls are engaging with Mathematics. Our students continue to perform strongly across NAPLAN domains, including numeracy, and we are seeing that confidence reflected in their subject choices, co-curricular pursuits and willingness to take on challenge. Our most recent results in numeracy are outstanding, particularly as we remain a proudly non-selective school.

Public data shows that by Year 9, boys in NSW performed slightly ahead of girls in numeracy, while girls significantly outperformed boys in writing. That broader pattern should not be seen as a limit on girls’ mathematical achievement. In our all-girls environment, our students see girls occupying every space: mathematicians, scientists, coders, engineers, leaders and problem-solvers. Our focus is not only on high achievement, but on growth at each student’s point of need. We want every girl to become more confident, more capable and more willing to engage with complexity.

This momentum begins early. In the Junior School, every student has access to specialist STEM lessons and we have strong enrolments in STEM co-curricular opportunities which show that our younger students are already engaging with discovery, design thinking, coding, problem-solving and experimentation. This early confidence helps build the foundations for later success in STEM and other future-focused fields. In the Senior School, we have introduced accelerated Mathematics for students ready for further challenge, added Engineering in Year 9, and are seeing increased interest in senior Physics. These choices reflect growing confidence among our girls in areas that draw deeply on mathematical reasoning, problem-solving and technical thinking.

Students requiring additional help are supported through a range of targeted opportunities beyond the classroom. Mathematics Clinic is available at lunchtimes for any student seeking additional help, clarification or extension, while Study Hub+ provides after school academic support for students in Year 7 to Year 12 with pre-service mathematics teachers. For students in Year 11 and Year 12, Study Hub offers dedicated time and guidance with our mathematics staff to strengthen study habits, consolidate learning and prepare confidently for senior assessment.

– Melissa Boyd
Acting Principal

Photo Credit: Winkipop