18 Dec 2019
Springwood High School takes pride in being a school for all, and is the top ranked school, public or private, in the Blue Mountains in 2019.
“Our teachers deserve to be recognised and praised. We are a public comprehensive school, and proud to be inclusive and wide-ranging in our curriculum and in advancing our students’ possibilities in life,” says principal Dr Mark Howie. “This is evident in our 2019 HSC results. It is a humbling experience to be the top ranked school in the Blue Mountains this year, and to have been publicly recognised and lauded for the consistent improvement in HSC results that has been evident over the last 4 years. We applaud the achievements of our students in the HSC, and congratulate and thank their parents and carers for their support. We are also grateful for the P&C’s wonderful support and advocacy for our students and school.”
Individual highlights include two students being recognised as ‘Top Achievers’ by the NSW Educational Standards Authority. McKenna Dimmock placed 5th in the state in Community and Family Studies and Miya Chesterman placed 3rd in the state in German Beginners, which she studied through the Dubbo School of Distance Education. Miya and Emily Pickering have both been recognised as an HSC ‘All-round Achiever’, having achieved a result in the highest band possible (Band 6 or Band E4) in 10 or more units of study.
Mara Lee-Griswold was selected for the ‘Texstyle’ annual exhibition of outstanding HSC Major Textiles Projects. Max Ogle and Gabriel Frechtling had their individual performances nominated for ONSTAGE, the annual presentation of exemplary works from the Drama HSC. Miya Chesterman’s music composition was nominated for ENCORE, a showcase for outstanding HSC Music students, and she will be cited on the online program for this showcase for her exemplary viva voce.
The school received 36 mentions on the Distinguished Achievers List, encompassing the achievements of 22 students across 18 subjects, which attests to the range and depth of students’ achievements across the curriculum.
Outstanding ATAR scores were achieved by Emily Pickering, 98.75; Miya Chesterman, 97.55; McKenna Dimmock, 96.80; Scott Waddell, 92.85; James Grant, 91.10; Isabella Henderson, 90.75; and Hannah Travers, 89.4.
The school’s 3+3 Compacted Curriculum model for HSC delivery means the distinguished achievers may have been completing their first or their second year of HSC exams. Completing their first three subjects and exams, Natasha Mann and Maya Costa achieved Band 6 results in two of their three subjects, meaning they received marks of 90 or more. “Very notable in this year’s results,” says Dr Howie, “is that four students achieved Band 6 results in both Visual Arts and Textiles and Design, both subjects in which students complete and submit a major project, as well as sit a written exam. This attests to the students’ developing project management skills, their creativity and application, and the exemplary teaching they experienced.”
The school’s academic achievements in 2019 have extended beyond the HSC.
“In recent weeks we have learned that our exemplary Year 9 students outperformed the nation’s best in the PISA reading and scientific literacy components. Such results carried through to NAPLAN with our percentage of Year 9 placing in the top 2 bands for reading and numeracy being commended and bettering ‘like’ schools.”
“Our best wishes go to our students as they move to the next stages in their lives, and we honour the wonderful support of their families and our inspiring school community,” said Dr Howie.