They were arguably the most disadvantaged cohort to ever sit the exam, but that hasn’t stopped the Class of 2020 from excelling in this year’s HSC.
Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell, said the Class of 2020 had shown perseverance all year, with their results evidence that hard work does pay off.
“Despite all the hurdles, the Class of 2020 has performed on par with what we would expect in a normal year, which is an incredible achievement,” Mitchell said.
“The Class of 2020 has displayed a tremendous sense of unity and resilience this year and all students should be proud of what they have achieved.”
HSC marks were released across the state on December 18, with Central Coast students achieving some phenomenal results.
Gosford High School was the Coast’s overall highest achieving school, ranking 72nd in the state, with Erina Height’s Central Coast Grammar School ranked 83rd and the only other local school to make the top 150 schools list.
Students from southern schools also dominated this year’s HSC Merit Lists, with Gosford High School students Mikayla Bewley, Liam Chaney, Zoe Clarke, Liam Davies, Patrick Fang, Sophie Norris and Mikhail Savkin all making the All-Round Achievers List (students who achieved a result in the highest band possible in 10 or more units of courses in their current pattern of study), along with St Philip’s Christian College’s Louise Huang.
And that result was mirrored in the local rankings for Top Achievers (students who achieved one of the highest places in their HSC or VET course), with Kincumber High School’s Jessica Sanchez ranked first in the state for Community and Family Studies and Central Coast Grammar School’s Katelyn Williams placed fourth in Society and Culture.
Gosford High School’s Sophia Stewart, Sophie Kelly, Jessica Livette-Vial and Patrick Fang rounded out the list, with Stewart ranking 10th in English Extension 2, Kelly sixth in Food Technology, Livette-Vial second in French Beginners and Fang seventh in Mathematics Extension 1.
And while Southern schools may have performed better overall than their Northern counterparts, Gorokan High School, Lakes Grammar, MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale, Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance Campus, Wadalba Community School, Wyong Christian Community School and Wyong High School all had at least one student make the Distinguished Achievers Merit List (students who achieved a result in the highest band for one or more courses).
Gorokan High School Principal, Matthew Boake, said Year 12 should be proud of all they’ve achieved this year.
“We are very proud of all our Year 12 students.
“Our students achieved six Band 6 results across six different subjects and one E4 Band in Extension Maths.
“There were a further 39 Band 5 results achieved.
“Congratulations to an amazing cohort who conquered everything 2020 threw at them.”
It’s a sentiment being echoed across the State as schools and communities celebrate the success of an amazing group of young people and the families, teachers and school staff that supported them every step of the way through the trials and tribulations of 2020.
“Parents, students, staff and the wider community have all gone above and beyond this year.
“Congratulations to the Class of 2020 and the entire school community of NSW for all that you achieved this year and all the best for the future,” Minister Mitchell said.
Dilon Luke