Katoomba High School
Katoomba High School students achieved outstanding results in the 2012 HSC Exams, with Band 6 scores earned in English, maths, textiles/design, music and French (beginners).
The school also achieved 55 Band 5 results, with several students missing a Band 6 result by just one mark.
Ben Terracini achieved Band 6 in maths extension 1 and music 1 and gained the school’s highest ATAR of 94.75.
Julia Davies performed particularly well in English, scoring Band 6 in advanced English, extension 1 English and extension 2 English and she scored an ATAR of 88.65.
Maddy McGlinn scored a Band 6 in textiles/design and French (beginners), achieving an ATAR of 86.40.
Other students who did very well included Qi Qi (88.90), George Chard (85.80), Gemma Clendining (82.00), Jessica Kemister (81.80), Angelica Widnyana (80.20), Anneka Diaz (79.10), Maddy Dean (76.90), Maddy Todhunter (75.05) and Shannon Banner (72.65).
Katoomba High School noted its English results this year were particularly good.
“The three Band 6 scores achieved represent the best performance of any high school in the Blue Mountains and Penrith regions, excluding Penrith Selective High.
“Katoomba High appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald Merit List for English, being one of the highest ranked comprehension high schools in the state.
Korowal
Korowal students at Hazelbrook achieved notable HSC results in drama, visual arts, religion and advanced English.
“At Korowal we deliver the NSW Board of Studies compressed course model where students complete an HSC Course in 12 months, with the entire program completed over two years,” said school co-ordinator, Mark Thomas.
“Korowal has successfully delivered this model for 15 years. We wish to congratulate all of our graduating Year 12 students, as well as the Year 11 students, in their personal achievements. These accomplishments include their development as people of integrity with a strong sense of moral purpose as well as their HSC results. We express our gratitude to their teachers for their dedication and care.
“Again this year the students have achieved notable results in drama, visual arts, studies of religion and English advanced.”
Blue Mountains Grammar
Blue Mountains Grammar School saw about 31 per cent of its Year 12 students gain at least one Band 6 or Extension E4 Band result and early indications are that three-quarters of the students will gain an ATAR above 70.
An ATAR above 90 was achieved by 22 per cent of the students and in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Honour Roll, BMGS students gained 40 mentions across 18 HSC courses.
The school’s management team said one of the most pleasing aspects of the results of this group was that contrary to recent reports indicating that girls in the 2012 NSW cohort outperformed boys in terms of top marks, the honours at BMGS were shared equally between boys and girls.
Penrith High School
Blue Mountains teenagers were among the top HSC achievers from Penrith High School last year.
Siri Anderson of Lapstone, Emily Cowcher of Blaxland and Gabrielle Davy of Springwood joined eight other Penrith students on the HSC All Rounder list, achieving more than 90 per cent in their 10 best units.
Penrith High School students received more than 250 marks above 90 in individual subjects.
“Overall results are excellent and are what we expected from a hard working and talented year group,” said Penrith High School principal John Elton.
Springwood High School
Springwood High School principal Robyn Asboth said the school’s students “once again performed very well in the HSC and achieved their personal bests”.
“At this time we haven’t heard from all our students but I would like to congratulate some I know are on our high achievers list — Chelsea Elliott, Tobias Elliott-Orr, Hadeel Kalla, Natasha Whitby, Michaela Apostolov, Anna Bellotti, and Lewis Barber,” she said.
Springwood High School was awarded 20 individual Band 6 results (a mark of 90/100 or greater), ranging across seven subjects. Subject highlights included four Band 6 results being awarded in ancient history, three in French beginners and three in industrial technology.
Community and family studies students did particularly well with the class performing well above state average and 50 per cent of students achieving a Band 6 or Band 5 result.
One hundred and twenty six Bands 6 and 5 results were awarded to Springwood High School students. In textiles and design, 83 per cent of students achieved an HSC mark of 80/100 or greater, exceeding the comparative state percentage by 37 per cent. In French beginners, 72 per cent of students achieved an HSC mark of 80/100 or greater, exceeding the comparative state percentage by 25 per cent.
Winmalee High School
Winmalee High School’s HSC results included at least six students who scored an ATAR above 90, while about eight students scored between 80 and 90 and the majority of the remainder were in the 70s.
Those students who scored 90 and above included Fiona Harrop on 97.35. Fiona was also ranked third in the state in hospitality.
Other students whose results were known at the time of going to press include Alisa Sullivan (ATAR of 91), Josh Lovett (ATAR of 90), Casey Palmer (93.15), Hannah Casey (90), Alexandra Reynolds (94.00), whilst Rebekah Fulthorp (89.3) and Asumi Willis (89.7) also received outstanding results.
Twenty four students received Band 6 results, with seven of these students studying drama.
The Gazette was unable to contact all local schools before going to press. More HSC results will be covered in upcoming editions.