The NSW Education Standards Authority, which used to be called the Board of Studies, released on Tuesday new syllabuses for HSC English, maths, science and history after canvassing views of up to 7000 teachers, students, professional associations and academics. 

Trinity Anglican College’s director of studies Kym Armstrong, who is an English teacher, has been closely involved with the consultation process over the past three years.

English will include studying the classics such as Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, according to documents obtained by News Corp.

“The standards authority has been upfront in wanting an emphasis on a depth of knowledge in the new syllabus, so there’s some narrowing of content so teachers and students can engage with the material in greater depth,” Ms Armstrong said.

“That kind of rigor is really important for kids to grow as independent and life-long learners.”

NSW Education Department spokesman Grant Hatch said public school principals in the Riverina had not been briefed on the announcement’s detail so were unable to comment.

All year 12 students will have to study grammar and dramatically improve their writing skills as part of the most significant changes to the state's HSC in decades.

Students who study higher level maths will be rewarded through the introduction of a common marking scale to discourage them from choosing easier subjects and there will be a renewed emphasis on maths in the sciences, especially physics and chemistry.

But several prominent mathematicians attacked the draft maths syllabuses, and warned that the standards authority risked its credibility because the drafts were littered with poor mathematical language. A new topic, the Craft of Writing, will be mandatory for all English students – the only compulsory HSC subject.