Dr Graeme Swanson (left), Scott Franklin and David Newton.
I t is not rocket science when it comes to explaining the phenomenal success of Science scholars at Christ’s College. Over the past six years, College has claimed 84 Science-related New Zealand Scholarships – 45% of all the school’s Scholarship subject awards. Of these, 35 Scholarships have been awarded in Biology, 32 in Chemistry and 17 in Physics. In 2021, the Sciences again topped the achievement board at Christ’s College with a record- breaking 10 Biology Scholarships
– including one Outstanding – and eight in Chemistry, also including one Outstanding. Head of Department – Biology Dr Graeme Swanson believes that inspiring the boys to aspire from an early age has reaped those rewards. “While there has been a touch of alchemy, the Science staff have committed to reaching the boys early in their College journey – right from junior level – and selling the aspirational approach to Scholarship to achieve for themselves and each other,” Graeme says.
Scholarship students face challenging standards that are demanding for the most outstanding students in each subject. Students must show high levels of critical thinking and be able to “integrate, synthesise and apply knowledge, skills, understanding, and ideas to complex situations”. Only about 3% of the very brightest students are awarded Scholarship. At College, Graeme believes that positive competition reaps rewards across the Science subjects. “There has been a real synergy
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