From the Deputy Principals

Term 2 at Camden High School has many events and initiatives that we look forward to every year, but one of the more important components of Term 2 is our subject selection interview process for Year 10 students and their families.

In 2018-19, we initiated an inquiry to improve our HSC results. As the school looked at our data, we knew that we had academically capable and deeply-engaged students, but that this was not translating into high levels of HSC success. We took the opportunity during learning-from-home in 2020 to interview as many students as possible in year 10 who were intending to move into senior study, before they selected their subjects. In this meeting, we discussed with them and their parents the subject options and preferences, their capabilities and capacity to achieve at a high level, as well as other external factors such as time and stress management. 

The purpose of these interviews is not to make sure every student achieves a band 6, as this is not always a realistic goal. Instead, our aim is to ensure that every student completing their HSC is best equipped to achieve their best mark.

At the conclusion of 2023, those same students sat their HSC and realised their potential across the board - Camden High School increased the number of HSC results in the top three achievement bands by 10.5%. Coupled with this were historically low N-Determination rates, meaning more students successfully attained results in their subjects, and an increase in the variety of courses where students achieved a Band 6 result.

All in all, we think we’ve found a key to unlocking the potential in our senior students – the active collaboration between school and home, using data and observations to drive discussions that put students in the best position to achieve at their highest result.

As this newsletter is being created and read, this year’s team of Mr French, Mrs Bui, Mrs Tyson and Mr McKimm are meeting with Year 10 parents (almost 1/3 of continuing students have had their meeting at the time of writing this), and are really excited to discuss options, choices, and collaborate with parents and students to successfully navigate senior study. We wholeheartedly believe that the right students in the right courses will always achieve their best mark.

Subject Selection Booklet