Gosford High excels in HSC

Rebecca Owens topped the state in Investigating Science

Students from Gosford High School have excelled in this year’s HSC, with 10 included on the All Rounder Achievers list having attained Band 6 or Band 4 in every one of their subjects and one topping the state in a subject.

Rebecca Owens came first in NSW Investigating Science, the fourth consecutive time a GHS student has topped that particular subject.

Making the All Rounders list were Nomi Henrique, Michael James, Lilliana Davis, Monique Devries, Jackson Hood, Zander Latimer, Dhinesh Ponnappan, John Smit, Mingyuan Xu and Joshua Zhang.

Principal Michael Smith said it was a “massive achievement”, with all students performing exceptionally well.

“Our preliminary analysis also shows the school has moved up in the overall NSW ranks considerably,” Smith said.

He said the results were especially impressive given the challenges presented by COVID-19 in recent years.

“Being a selective high school we have students travelling from all over – from Leichhardt to Lake Macquarie – and many have had different lockdown rules since the beginning of the pandemic,” he said.

“These results demonstrate the importance of face-to-face teaching.

“We managed with online learning but there is no substitute for being in a classroom with a good teacher.”

Smith said 251 students were classed as Distinguished Achievers (DA), scoring more than 90 in at least one of their courses, with some students being listed multiple times for success in more than one course.

“The 177 students who sat the HSC have already received more than 400 offers for university courses, with many receiving multiple offers,” he said.

“This puts them in a very good position moving into the future.”

In other results for the Central Coast, Warners Bay High School student Tyler Freund also made the All Rounders list, along with Phoebe Britten and Isabel Fanning from Central Coast Grammar.

Kincumber High School had 27 students on the DA list, including Elise Georgeson with four Band 6s.

Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College had 26 students on the DA list, including: Gabrielle Gilmore, Hugh Johnson and Chloe Patch, all with three Band 6s.

Brisbane Water Secondary College had 14 on the DA list, including Zarne Thomas with three Band 6s.

To view the First in Course merit list, visit: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/about/events/merit-lists/first[1]in-course.

All Round Achievers, Top Achievers and Distinguished Achievers are on the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) website.

Terry Collins