More than 300 Year 12 students from a dozen Central West high schools, including Denison College’s Bathurst and Kelso campuses, converged on the Charles Sturt University Bathurst campus on Tuesday for some lessons with a difference.

The Central West HSC Enrichment Seminar Day is an opt-in excursion where students hear from experts in their field in preparation for the Higher School Certificate exams in October.

Students moved between six workshops learning about subjects including novels, Shakespeare, English, time management and study skills.

Public school teachers, including Denison College-Bathurst High campus maths teacher Kathy Howard, also shared their thoughts on 20 HSC subjects with the students.

It was during Ms Howard’s general mathematics class that loud music, and a lot of laughter, could be heard coming from an open door. 

And that’s the sort of activity that makes the day so popular with students, according to Denison College-Kelso High campus head teacher Wendy Murphy. 

Ms Murphy has co-ordinated the event for the past five years and said student numbers grow each year due to its reputation for interesting, and fun, classes.

“It’s to promote HSC enrichment experiences that normally they would have to travel to Sydney to get,” she said. 

The “enrichment” comes in several ways – time management and examination and study skill are always popular workshops.

“They’re given tips and advice on how to revise and best prepare for their upcoming exams,” Ms Howard said.

 “If they prepare well and look after themselves they do better.”