Especean

Curriculum

2023 Higher School Certificate Results

Last year, one hundred and sixty-five Year 12 students sat the HSC examinations in thirty-four courses plus twenty-two Year 11 students accelerated in HSC Mathematics Advanced 2 unit. Two Year 11 students accelerated in Italian sat HSC Italian Continuers, one of whom, Jeremy Simonetto, also sat HSC Mathematics Advanced. Sixty-six students (40% of total Year 12 candidates) and fourteen Year 11 accelerated students made the 2023 HSC Distinguished Achievers List (or Merit List) one hundred and fifty-one times, having attained marks of 90% or more in various courses. There were many highlights and outstanding results attained by the Class of 2023. The following points illustrate just a few:

  • College Dux for 2023 is James Bellamy, who attained an ATAR of 99.25 and placed on the State’s All Rounders List with six merit (or Distinguished Achievement) listings. Angus Reen is Proxime Accessit with an ATAR of 98.65 who also placed on the State’s All Rounders List with seven merit listings. Rob Cadisal placed third in the HSC Class of 2023 with an ATAR of 97.70 and four merit listings.
     
  • Three students were placed on the State’s All Rounders List, each having placed on the Distinguished Achievers List for courses totalling 10 or more units – James Bellamy, Angus Reen and Matthew Younan who attained an ATAR of 97.10 with five merit listings.
     
  • Two students made the State’s Top Achievers List. James Bellamy placed Thirteenth in the State in Modern History and Lachlan Macher placed Third in the State in Information and Digital Technology.
     
  • Eighty candidates made the Distinguished Achievers List one hundred and fifty-one times across twenty-eighty courses, i.e., 82.4% of College courses sat.
     
  • Thirty-four students from one hundred and fifty-five ATAR eligible candidates (22%), attained an ATAR above 90. Many students achieved a high ATAR and made the meritorious 2023 HSC Distinguished Achievers List in a number of courses. For example, not including those already mentioned: Anthony Alafaci, ATAR 96.05 and four merit listings; Christian Bitar, ATAR 97.25 and five merit listings; Luke Goldsmith, ATAR 95.50 and four merit listings; Antonio Laggis, ATAR 95.75 and four merit listings; Vittorio Marando, ATAR 95.90 and three merit listings; Luke Mouawad, ATAR 97.05 and one merit listing; Alessandro Romeo, ATAR 96.05 with four merit listings; Justin Speranza, ATAR 95.80 and five merit listings; William Symons, ATAR 95.65 and four merit listings; and Luke Ters, ATAR 96.95 and six merit listings. [Note that some students who completed HSC Mathematics Advanced in 2022, had these 2022 results included in the determination of their 2023 ATAR.]
     
  • In 27 out of 34 (79.4%) courses examined, the College examination average was above that of the State examination average. For example, courses with a College candidature greater or equal to ten and a school vs State variation greater than five include: Business Studies with 8.76 marks above the State average; Economics, 9.82 above; Industrial Technology, 11.80 above; Information Processes and Technology, 12.41 above; Legal Studies, 5.71 above; Mathematics Standard 2, 6.38 above; Mathematics Advanced, 7.13 above; Modern History, 6.77 above; and Visual Arts with 6.70 marks above the State average. Excellent results were also achieved in Ancient History (five students) with 8.76 marks above the State average; Mathematics Extension 2 (three students), 7.07 above; and Music 2 (one student) with 11.52 marks above the State average.
     
  • Twelve courses had no students below Band 4/E3: Ancient History, Economics, 
    English Advanced, English Extension 1, Drama, History Extension, Italian Extension, Mathematics Extension 2, Music 1, Music 2, Music Extension and Visual Arts.
     
  • Many courses had a percentage representation of students with a mark of 90% or above, i.e., Band 6 or E4, greater than that of the State. For example, Business Studies 20.00% of College candidates attained a Band 6 compared to 11.28% for the State; Economics 43.75% compared to 13.04%; Industrial Technology 33.33% compared to 7.56%; Information Processes & Technology 20.00% compared to 6.72%; Italian Continuers 33.33% compared to 26.34%; Mathematics Advanced 37.87% compared to 22.31%; Modern History 18.42% compared to 10.20%; PDHPE 14.58% compared to 6.37%; and Visual Arts 44.44% of College candidates attained a Band 6 compared to 18.46% for the State.
     
  • Similarly, there were twenty-eight courses (80%) where the percentage representation of students in the two highest performance bands representing a percentage mark equal or above 80%, i.e., Bands 5/E3 and 6/E4, were greater than that of the State. For example, in courses with a candidature greater or equal to 15, Biology had 36.66% of College candidates who performed in the two top bands compared to 31.82% for the State; Business Studies 74.66% compared to 35.75%; Construction 59.99% compared to 32.42%; Economics 81.25% compared to 48.34%; English Standard 30.00% compared to 13.12%; English Advanced 86.73% compared to 67.12%; Industrial Technology 62.95% compared to 23.57%; Mathematics Standard 2 55.68% compared to 31.42%; Mathematics Advanced 75.74% compared to 49.72%; Modern History 52.63% compared to 34.86%; PD/Health/PE 43.74% compared to 30.70%; Studies of Religion II 70.58% compared to 45.98%; and Visual Arts had 100% of College candidates who performed in the two top bands compared to 65.44%for the State.

Bearing in mind that the College is an academically non-selective comprehensive boys’ school, the 2023 HSC results are excellent. St Patrick’s College is a school where ordinary boys achieve extraordinary things.

2024 Assessment Information

Parents, carers and boys should note that the assessment handbooks and calendars for 2024 are currently being compiled by the Heads of Departments. As in previous years, when completed, the 2024 assessment information will be posted on CANVAS and in the TASS Parent Lounge. Please note that Year 12 were issued with their HSC Assessment Handbook at the commencement of fourth term last year.

Elective Subject Changes for Years 9 and 11

Achieving academic success begins with the selection of courses suited to each student’s capabilities and interests. That is why an extensive process of subject selection is put in place each year where both parents/carers and their sons of Years 8 and 10 are given information sessions, prospectuses, and the opportunity to discuss and research their choices for Years 9 and 11 respectively. 

 

The choices made last year formed the basis of the 2024 College Timetable. Therefore, changes to elective subjects in the new academic year are not automatic and are limited by timetable constraints, staffing and class numbers. Many requests to change may not be possible.

 

A few changes are being made in the first few days of this term primarily to correct anomalies and accommodate changes from Advanced to Standard level courses in Year 11 English and Mathematics or from Accelerated Mathematics to the normal stream.

 

Boys in Years 9 and 11 now wishing to change elective subjects need to see Mr Cutrupi from Monday 19 February through to Wednesday 21 February inclusively to collect a Subject Change Application Form. After Wednesday 21 February no more application forms will be issued.

 

Completed subject change forms, including a parent/carer signature, must be returned to Mr Cutrupi by no later than 3:30 PM Friday 23 February. After that, applications will close and those received will be ignored.

 

For Year 11, depending on the nature of the requested subject change, a parent/carer and son interview with Mr Cutrupi may be required to approve an application.

 

It is important to note that although no further changes will be ordinarily considered after Friday 23 February, requests to change from Advanced to Standard level courses in Year 11 English and Mathematics may be considered.

 

In consolidating a program of study for Year 12 in 2025, discontinuation of subjects to a minimum of 10 units cannot occur until the commencement of the HSC course in fourth term of Year 11.

 

Michael Cutrupi 

Director of Curriculum