Inspiring Futures: More Opportunities for Girls in STEM

Our School has a proud and enduring legacy of empowering girls to excel in Science and Mathematics. For decades, our students have defied stereotypes, embraced intellectual challenges, and paved the way for a new generation of women in STEM. You can read about some of our esteemed alumni scientists and mathematicians here. Which MLC School Old Girl will your daughter follow in the footsteps of?

In 2025, we are building on our legacy with renewed purpose and an expanded range of opportunities designed to inspire, challenge, and support girls to see themselves as the scientists, engineers, and innovators of the future.

Globally, women remain underrepresented in STEM fields. According to UNESCO, only 35% of STEM students in higher education are women. Even when women do contribute to scientific progress, their work is often overlooked—a phenomenon known as the Matilda Effect, where their achievements are historically attributed to male colleagues or supervisors. Chiara Biscarini, co-chair of the UNESCO Chair on “Water Resources Management and Culture,” puts it simply: “Young women need to know that they belong in STEM as much as men.”

That belief is at the heart of what we do. We are deeply committed to giving our girls every opportunity to flourish in Science and Maths, and we are proud to already offer a vibrant suite of co-curricular STEM programs. Our STEM Academy (Year 1 to Year 10) nurtures curiosity and inquiry from the earliest years of schooling. Students in Year 5 to Year 6 can take part in Junior Robotics competitions, while our Senior Robotics teams develop advanced design and coding skills and regularly compete in challenges. These rich learning experiences have helped shape a strong culture of STEM engagement across the school. You can read more about our Junior School STEM curricular and co-curricular offerings in the next newsletter.

In 2025, we are taking the next step: building that passion directly into the Senior School curriculum.

For the first time, Engineering Studies will be offered as a Stage 5 elective in 2026. This is a dynamic, hands-on course that introduces students to real-world engineering principles across civil, mechanical, environmental, and biomedical fields. Girls will engage in design-thinking, critical problem-solving, and collaborative projects that mirror the work of engineers in industry and academia. It’s a course that not only builds skills but also builds identity, a powerful chance for students to see themselves as future engineers.

In another exciting first, we have launched an Accelerated Mathematics pathway, with our inaugural cohort of Year 10 students now completing Year 11 Advanced Mathematics. This acceleration provides gifted and highly motivated students with the opportunity to deepen their mathematical thinking and access the HSC curriculum earlier. We are currently testing Year 9 students to assess their suitability for entry into this pathway next year.

These developments are more than just timetable additions, they are statements of belief in our students’ capacity and potential. At every turn, we are striving to dismantle the invisible barriers that still limit girls’ participation in STEM and replace them with opportunity, encouragement, and a culture of possibility.

Families will hear more about these exciting pathways during our Year 8 Subject Selection Webinar on Tuesday July 23 2025, where our passionate staff will share insights into how these courses will be delivered and the support structures in place to ensure every girl can thrive.

Our future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers are already among us. We can’t wait to see what they will create, discover, and change in the world. Don’t forget to read a little about some of our Old Girls who are excelling in science, mathematics and technology.

– Melissa McMahon
Head of Learning and Teaching