Term 1
Coordinating teacher preparation
The secondary coordinating teacher prepares alongside the partner primary teachers and Hub facilitator.
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Pathway · Secondary Schools · Years 9–10
Give your Year 9/10 students a real STEM leadership role
As MyScience trainees in the classroom (MySTics), students mentor Year 5/6 investigation teams at a partner primary school. They build communication, leadership and deeper scientific understanding by helping younger students ask questions, test ideas and explain evidence.
At a glance
Everything for the faculty meeting
What a principal, Head of Science or coordinating teacher needs to know before deciding whether MyScience fits their school.
- What is this?
- A structured near-peer mentoring and STEM leadership pathway connecting Year 9/10 MySTics with Year 5/6 teams conducting real science investigations.
- Who is it for?
- Secondary schools seeking authentic student leadership, stronger science identity, community engagement and transition links with a local primary school.
- Who should become a MySTic?
- Students who are dependable, willing to communicate and interested in science. They do not need to be the highest-achieving students; reliability and a willingness to guide younger learners matter.
- What does the school do?
- Select the MySTics, arrange permissions, nominate a coordinating teacher and work with the facilitator and partner primary school on visit timing.
- Time commitment
- Approximately 15 hours across briefing, preparation, three school visits, communication and the MyScience Fair, plus light teacher coordination.
- What support is provided?
- MySTic briefing resources, visit guides, a defined schedule and a trained Hub facilitator who coordinates and supports each stage.
The MySTic journey
The year, term by term
The mentoring role is prepared and structured in advance, with three defined primary-school visits and a clear culmination at the MyScience Fair.
End of Term 1
MySTic briefing
Selected students learn how to mentor with prompting questions, encouragement and evidence—not by supplying answers.
Term 2 · Weeks 3–7
Three mentoring visits
MySTics support their Year 5/6 teams as questions, tests, evidence and explanations develop.
Term 3 · Science Week
MyScience Fair
MySTics support their teams as students present their investigations to families and the school community.
Your students—the MySTics
A real mentoring role—and science learned twice
MySTics guide younger students through authentic investigations. Explaining ideas, asking useful questions and supporting evidence-based thinking strengthens their own confidence and science identity.
What MySTics do
Mentor a team of young scientists
- Help a Year 5/6 team shape a question worth testing
- Ask prompting questions rather than give students the answer
- Support three structured visits as investigations unfold
- Help teams consider evidence and prepare for the MyScience Fair
What MySTics gain
Leadership, confidence and deeper understanding
- Authentic leadership and communication experience
- Deeper science understanding developed through explanation
- Stronger critical thinking and problem-solving
- Confidence working with younger students and a stronger science identity
A supported partnership
What your school commits. What MyScience provides.
Your school commits
Students, coordination and time for three visits
- A suitable group of Year 9/10 MySTics
- One coordinating teacher and required student permissions
- Student release for briefing, three visits and the fair where possible
- Light communication with the partner primary school and facilitator
MyScience provides
A defined mentoring model and delivery support
- MySTic briefing and clear role preparation
- Visit prompts, resources and a defined sequence
- Facilitator scheduling and support throughout delivery
- A structured pathway to the MyScience Fair
Hear from secondary participants
See how teachers and MySTics describe the experience
Watch secondary teachers and students explain the mentoring role, the relationships it creates and what participants learn through MyScience.
Participants’ experience
What secondary teachers and MySTics say
“The MyScience Program created an awesome opportunity for High School students to share their scientific skills and understanding with the Stage 3 students. I loved watching the relationships established between the students and seeing what they were able to produce working together.”Secondary Teacher, Seven Hills
“The difference between the students' attitude in the first and last encounter was immense, including their ability to work as a team, their knowledge of what was needed, and their eagerness to complete the experiment.”MySTic, Seven Hills
“I learned how to communicate the knowledge I had into a way that younger students would understand.”MySTic, Seven Hills
Participation
No financial contribution from your school
Secondary schools participate as delivery partners. Hub sponsorship funds program delivery; your school contributes student participation, teacher coordination and time.
What to know
One primary school and one secondary school make a Hub
Hub opportunities depend on available funding, location, timing and partner-school fit. Registering interest allows MyScience to discuss upcoming opportunities with your school.
- No financial program contribution from the secondary school
- The school supplies the MySTics and coordinating support
- MyScience helps discuss partner-primary-school options
- Registration records interest but does not guarantee immediate placement
Already working with a local primary school? Mention each other when registering so MyScience can consider the proposed partnership when assessing Hub opportunities in your area.
Ready to create a real STEM leadership opportunity?
Register your secondary school’s interest and the MyScience team will contact you to discuss location, student participation, partner-school opportunities, timing and next steps.
Register secondary school interestNo financial contribution · Hub availability depends on funding, location and partner-school fit