Our Class of 2023 and accelerated Year 11 students, along with their teachers, have achieved great success this HSC year, exhibiting unwavering commitment and consistently demonstrating remarkable maturity, integrity, and mutual respect. They have benefitted too from an extensive engagement in the co-curricular life of our School. Pleasingly, they exemplify the success of our ongoing HEROIC learning model, which bolsters our students to excel in their learning journey and thrive in their lives.

Individually, we take immense pride in acknowledging the achievements of our Dux of Boys’ Grammar, Matthew Johnston (ATAR: 98.65), and our Dux of Girls’ College, Angelina Hellawell (ATAR: 98.15). Angelina also reached the All-Round Achievers list, having achieved a Band 6 in each of her subjects. The exceptional results of these two students are a testament to their years of hard work and dedication.

As always, this final result and culmination of 13 years of formal schooling reflects the encouragement, dedication and drive of all their teachers, and, of course, the support of their families.

More broadly, we are thrilled to share that one quarter of our students attained an ATAR of 90 or over, with an impressive 6% exceeding 98 and 10% exceeding 95. In the state, the median ATAR was 71.05 – significantly less than our median ATAR of 83.5.

In a testament to our students’ outstanding progress this year, the number of Band 6 results have again climbed year on year. Kudos to our 50 students who collectively secured an impressive 86 Band 6 results (a score of 90+) across 24 subjects.

Notable results were achieved by students in specific subjects, with 100% of students achieving the top two Bands in Dance (state average 68.75), English Extension 2 (85.52), Food Technology (29.67), History Extension (85.21), Music 1 (68.7), Music Extension 1 (95.84), and English Extension 1 (94.23). 90% of students achieved the top two Bands in Design and Technology (47.21), and over 80% of students achieved the top two bands in English Advanced (67.12), Visual Arts (65.44) and PDHPE (30.7).

Special recognition must be afforded to the eleven Dance, Industrial Technology Multimedia, Drama and Visual Arts students, who received a total of 16 nominations for CALLBACK (ten nominations from five students), SHAPE (four nominations), OnSTAGE (one nomination) and ARTEXPRESS (one nomination), showcasing exemplary student works in Dance, Design and Technology, Industrial Technology, Textiles and Design, and Visual Arts.

Individual acknowledgement must go to Year 11 Accelerated Dance student Charlotte T, whose Major Study Performance was selected for inclusion in the CALLBACK performance in February 2024.

Indeed, our 22 Year 11 accelerants must all be applauded for their exceptional results across both Dance and Mathematics Advanced this year. 100% achieved the top two Bands, and 60% and 80% respectively achieved Band 6 results, with Vladislav S and Yarra J earning the extraordinary mark of 98% in Mathematics Advanced.

Vladislav and Yarra exemplify the very definition of a HEROIC Learner in their academic excellence and well-roundedness. Both these students found the time this year to achieve their academic potential whilst serving their community, as mentors to their younger Year 5 and 6 peers in our HEROIC Questioners ethics club.

In matriculation news, pleasingly, 73% of the cohort have received a total of 142 early offers from 16 universities spanning four states. Notably, Kael Borrello, who plans to study a double Commerce degree at UNSW, has also been offered a prestigious cadetship through Professional Cadetships Australia, which will enable him to simultaneously study and work with Macquarie Bank part-time.

Of the students who have not received early offers, many intend to study at institutions that do not offer early entry schemes, one has been offered an apprenticeship at AUSGRID, one is moving back to the Netherlands and one has been accepted into Animal Studies at TAFE.

This mature cohort must be commended for their dedication to their studies, the performing arts, creativity, sports, and for their demonstration of robust leadership skills. They have certainly embodied our School's enduring motto semper diligens, by being ‘always hardworking’. These traits will undoubtedly position them well for the promising and ever-evolving paths that lie ahead.

We invite you to share in our hopes for the success of the Class of 2023 in whichever post-school endeavours they choose to pursue.