With the anticipation building across New South Wales, students from various educational institutions prepared to receive their 2024 Higher School Certificate (HSC) results this week. Among the stories tugging at the heartstrings and sparking joy are the accomplishments of those at the Central West Leadership Academy, who were able to access their results one day earlier. This educational institution, focused on helping students enter university, celebrated this milestone as its inaugural cohort waited excitedly for their marks.
The Central West Leadership Academy, unlike many traditional schools, did not offer the standard HSC track. Instead, it opted to provide its students with pathways primarily directed toward future academic pursuits. With this focus, the academy's students had their eyes on higher education, demonstrating the institution's commitment to their aspirations.
Meanwhile, at the same time, awareness of alternative pathways intensified as record numbers of students turned to the International Baccalaureate (IB) this year, favoring it over the conventional HSC. Many students reaped the rewards of their hard work when results were released early Tuesday morning, just one day before the traditional HSC results. Schools such as Newington College and Santa Sabina College proudly highlighted their top achievers, with multiple students earning perfect scores of 45.
Isaac Holmes, Minh Nguyen, and Hugh Smith, all from Newington, celebrated their perfect scores. Nguyen, who happened to be on holiday with family in Japan at the time of the results, expressed his happiness, recounting, "I’d woken up early out of stress so it was a huge relief when I saw my score, and I was cheering with my parents and brother out of happiness." Meanwhile, Santa Sabina College's Tanisha Chari and Rochelle Dias also achieved perfect scores. Dias, feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, chose to have her family check her results, allowing their reactions to ease her anticipation.
The International Baccalaureate has seen popularity growth, especially following the recent lifting of the ban on public schools offering it as a viable alternative to the HSC. Education Minister Prue Car highlighted the advantages, stating, "While offering a new program like IB isn’t easy, interested schools can now make requests for their establishments to register with the program, bringing NSW more aligned with other states like Queensland." This shift is set to widen academic options for students.
Across the state, 827 IB students participated, marking a 15 percent increase from last year—prompted by more schools providing this academically rigorous track. Changes like this help meet the needs of diverse student strengths and learning preferences.
The story doesn’t end there — five remarkable students topped their peers to claim victory at the HSC level for their subjects. James Napoli from The Kings School was elated to have achieved first place for Agriculture. After years of dedication and study, he mentioned, "I’m still happy I enjoyed the process and the result is just a lovely cherry on top." This reflects the sentiments echoed by his fellow students winning top honors across diverse subjects, including Primary Industries.
Last week, the HSC granted recognition to James alongside four students—Freya Hooper, Poppy Starr, Jorja Barnett, and Josephine Galcsik—who all scored equal first place for Primary Industries. Each student validates the commitment they have to their farming roots, expressing gratitude and appreciation for their educational journeys toward agriculture.
Freya Hooper, who drew inspiration from her family’s working farm, expressed her excitement over her achievements, acknowledging her passion for livestock and her new milestone as she prepares to study agricultural science at university. She said, "There are so many different methods to handling your livestock, and I want to learn as much as I can."
Jorja Barnett shared her passion for farming, already working part-time at a dairy farm. Similarly, Poppy Starr conveyed her enthusiasm for multi-disciplinary agriculture, saying, "I know a bit about cropping and sheep, but then I went to boarding school and joined the cattle team, and that's a whole other thing. There is so much to love about ag!"
Recognizing HSC top achievers is also about celebrating diverse subjects and talent. Recent awards revealed Sydney Grammar students dominated the first-in-course accolades, scooping up numerous prizes across subjects like economics and ancient history. The accolades linked to these achievements invoke inspiration to others following their academic footsteps. Anubhav Ammangi from Redeemer Baptist School, who has continuously achieved top level success, secured the top spots for chemistry and software development.
The trend continued as students from all walks of life celebrated successes, showcasing the vibrant educational environment of New South Wales' schools. Sydney Grammar’s Thomas Collins—a diligent student—secured the top prize for both Chinese and French extension, and another student, Grace Costigan, topped English extension 2 for her creatively written fiction. These accomplishments intersect excitement for language studies with cultural appreciation.
Equally impressive are the stories from the students who placed first across various subjects. Joshua Paik from James Ruse Agricultural High School, who finished first in physics, characterized his impressive turnaround after beginning the year ranked lower than most. He explained, “At first, I didn’t think I was great at it. I ended up dedicting lots of time.” This notion highlights the power of perseverance and dedication, keys to success echoed by many students across the HSC results.
The HSC results this week served as platforms for recognition, not only for individual achievements but also for the diverse academic roads taken by students as they seek higher education. The culmination of hard work, late-night study sessions, and resilience will follow these students as they aim for their chosen future paths.
Yet, the showcase of accomplishments also raises questions and discussions about the effectiveness of the education system and how it can continue to evolve for future students. With initiatives pushing for broader curriculum options, recent policy changes and the introduction of the IB promise to create educational frameworks suited for varying strengths across the growing student demographic.
With more than 80,000 students across the state reporting their results and more than 130 students achieving top honors, it’s clear these young individuals are primed for success as they enter their next chapter. The HSC results not only highlight outstanding performance but also the diverse potential of New South Wales' students—strength marking them as they transition proudly from their secondary schooling experiences.