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A pilot numeracy program at Goulburn High School, focusing on the top students in Year 9, is aiming to encourage students to challenge themselves.
The students are called Year 9 'agents' and they take part in challenges and solve problems that are numeracy based.
The students each have code names and to submit and collect their homework they have to crack the code and open the golden lock.
But only after they have found the golden lock.
Numeracy instructional leader Katherine Hyland said they had devised the program in consultation with students.
"I'm trialling the program to see if I can engage teenagers to push themselves in numeracy," she said.
Students were selected for this program based on their NAPLAN results, a diagnostic test and their Math class and their application in that class.
With just over 30 students in the program, Mrs Hyland said there had been a positive response from most students to the opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning.
"I've had students come up and ask me when's the next lot of homework, when are we doing the next challenge.
"They're engaging with their other teachers and talking about numeracy as well. There's a bit of a buzz around the playground."
Students will continue these challenges and also begin to use SmartLab.
This software helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses in both numeracy and literacy.
"Even though we're talking about our top group of students, they've still got skills they can build and learn on," Mrs Hyland said.
"[We've been] focusing on developing our own learning goals and we've turned it into a bit of a game so it's a little bit more fun."
And of course, these agents are working towards a goal.
Mrs Hyland said if they were able to increase their learning growth, they would be able to go on an excursion at the end of the year.
She said she had been approached by Year 7 and 8 students who were "excited" about being part of a similar program, which the school hoped to roll out for those year groups later in the year.
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