SJC celebrates excellent HSC results

The graduating Year 12 class of St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, is celebrating a number of outstanding group and individual performances in the 2009 Higher School Certificate.

Six students, Jackson Busse, Timothy Chow , Campbell Hasler, Brent Lewis, James McGrath and Joram Richa, have been named on the Premier’s All Rounders Merit List for scoring more than 90 in 10 or more of their units. One student, Benjamin Romeo, has been named on the Merit List for achieving first place in NSW in the Primary Industries Examination (see story here).

Almost half of the Year 12 cohort (47 per cent) has been named on the Distinguished Achievers List for scoring in the top band for a subject, with the list containing 164 SJC entries from 86 students across 31 different courses.

Of the 39 courses examined at the College, 33 recorded an average examination mark above the state exam mean. Particularly strong results were recorded in:

• Music 1 (11.31 marks above the state exam mean)
• Drama (10.98 marks above the state exam mean)
• Ancient History (10.75 marks above the state exam mean)
• Studies of Religion II (7.90 marks above the state exam mean)
• Primary Industries Exam (7.25 marks above the state exam mean)
• Senior Science (6.96 marks above the state exam mean)
• Agriculture (6.72 marks above the state exam mean)
• English – ESL (6.63 marks above the state exam mean)
• Geography (5.54 marks above the state exam mean)
• Economics (5.29 marks above the state exam mean)

26 per cent of all extension course exam results were in the top band (marks above 90), and 85 per cent of all extension results were in the top two bands (marks above 80). Almost half of all 2 unit course exam results (446 out of 945) were in the top two bands.

The College received pleasing results in English, the only mandatory course in the HSC, with all courses above the state mean. In English Advanced, 100 per cent of students were placed in the top three bands (scoring a mark of 70 or more). In English as a Second Language (ESL), 97 per cent of students were in the top three bands compared to only 56 per cent across the state. In English – Extension 1, 88 per cent of SJC students achieved a course mark of greater than 35 out of 50 while In English – Extension 2, 100 per cent of students achieved a course mark of greater than 35 out of 50. Both these Extension courses had the highest number of St Joseph’s candidates since their inception in 2001.

This year, 13 Year 11 students from St Joseph’s studied the 2 Unit Mathematics and Mathematics Extension 1 courses as part of an accelerated Maths program at the College. Of the 13 students, twelve achieved Band 6 results (over 90%) in the 2 Unit Mathematics course. In the Extension 1 course, four accelerated students achieved Band E4 results (over 45 out of 50), and nine students achieved Band E3 results.

Other notable results were recorded In Music 1, where all students scored Band 5 or above for the fifth consecutive year. In Drama, English – Advanced, Music 1, Visual Arts, Latin Continuers, Japanese Continuers, Studies of Religion II, and Primary Industries all students achieved a mark of 70 or above (Band 4).

Headmaster of St Joseph’s College, Mr Ross Tarlinton, said he was extremely pleased that St Joseph’s College had once again achieved excellent results across a wide range of subjects. “These results highlight the success we have in providing boys with a first class, comprehensive education.” he said.”The boys have recorded outstanding achievements right across the curriculum and this is the result of hard work, self-belief and the opportunity and encouragement to extend themselves at the College.

“This year’s excellent results are well deserved. I congratulate the Year 12 students, as well as their families and teachers, on these wonderful achievements.”