A government school at the leading edge of STEM pedagogy and innovation.

The Australian Science and Mathematics School (ASMS) was founded in 2003 to provide leadership for reform and innovation in science and mathematics education through curriculum development, research, and professional learning services. It contributes to the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Skills Strategy for South Australia and is located on the campus of Flinders University.

Teachers as STEM experts

ASMS supports other schools to develop innovative approaches to mathematics and science education based on the approaches developed in-house, and runs workshops, programs and school visits on STEM content areas such as “new sciences” (nanotechnology, biotechnology, forensic science, satellite mathematics, and photonics); and pedagogy such as action learning processes. In 2019 they provided professional learning experiences for 2300 educators. The school has an open learning environment, interdisciplinary learning programs, mixed age tutor groups and pedagogy that enhances the success of students in STEM learning. Teachers are supported to reflect and learn, to improve their capacity to deliver a leading-edge STEM curriculum using engaging pedagogy designed to suit the needs of each individual learner. Teachers run action learning projects and participate in a number of external research projects and partnerships in the STEM fields, and the school is committed to distributive leadership and the power of collective thought.

Strengthening post-school pathways

ASMS has a high rate of articulation into science, medical and engineering studies at Universities across Australia. It encourages students to be self-directed learners, and places great importance on collaborative learning for the entire ASMS community. They actively pursue partnerships with community and industry that best support students to learn, and to achieve their post-school pathways. ASMS and Flinders University have collaborated to offer students the opportunity of 'Portfolio Accreditation Tertiary Entry' (PATE) as an alternative entrance for university study.