2023 HSC Results 

Dear Parents and Carers

I trust you are well as we commence the Christmas/January school holidays.

Yesterday, Higher School Certificate (HSC) results were released for all schools in New South Wales. Chevalier College can be well pleased with those results. Of the 36 courses completed by the 2023 Chevalier Year 12 cohort, 25 courses were above state average.

Much of the media hype which surrounds HSC results focuses on Band 6 results. And whilst a school’s value is measured by much more than annual Band 6 results, there is still great worth in recognising and celebrating academic rigour when it occurs.

With that in mind, there were many ‘data points’ which confirm excellent results achieved by the 2023 Chevalier HSC cohort. They include the following:

• 55.55% of Music 1 students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 22.56% of the state.
• 50% of Chevalier students who sat the Human Services Exam achieved a Band 6 as compared to 1.99% of the state.
• 37.5% of Modern History students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 10.2% of the state.
• 35.71% of Mathematics Extension 1 students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 34.22% of the state.
• 33.33% of Physics students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 13.05% of the state.
• 30.76% of Visual Arts students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 18.48% of the state.
• 25% of Society and Culture students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 11.62% of the state.
• 24% of Studies of Religion 1 Unit students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 13.89% of the state.
• 20% of Mathematics Standard 2 students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 9.15% of the state.
• 18.18% of PDHPE students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 6.37% of the state.
• 16.66% of Legal Studies students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 13.86% of the state.
• 14.28% of Community and Family Studies students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 5.7% of the state.
• 14.28% of English Advanced Unit students achieved a Band 6 as compared to 13.78% of the state.

Another way of representing our excellent results ‘Band 6 wise’, can be seen by the table below provided by Catholic Schools New South Wales.

Over the next few days, there will be much reporting about the ‘ranking of schools’ across New South Wales. One measure is to rank schools using Band 6 results as a percentage of the number of exams/marks for every student for every course. In 2023, Chevalier College had 119 students across 36 courses who completed 598 entries (courses) with 74 Band 6 results. This equates to a Band 6 rate of 12.4%. Based on this rate, Chevalier College is ranked 141 which means, for the first time in a while, Chevalier College can call itself a “Top 150” school. Our improvement in this area over the last 6 years can be seen below.

Of course, the narrow focus on Band 6 results does not convey the many success stories of students who achieved incredible Band 4 and Band 5 results. Such results reflect achievement, in some cases, beyond their expected results – and there are many of them! The number of subjects which were above state average for Band 5 results was extremely impressive.

ATARs wise, the news is just as good. We had 5 students achieve an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Assessment Rank) above 98.

• 20 students out of a possible 93 students attained an ATAR of 90 or more.
• 44 students out of a possible 93 students attained an ATAR of 80 or more.

The 2023 HSC cohort are to be congratulated on their outstanding results. Just as importantly, the teachers who have been there for those students are also to be congratulated. Their subject matter expertise, experience of HSC delivery and willingness to go the extra mile, has ensured potential being realised through pleasing results. The pastoral care offered by Home Room Teachers and Stage Coordinators cannot be

underestimated. The organisation, reflection and direction offered by Leaders of Learning played a significant part in these results, and we cannot forget the drive and expertise provided by both Mrs Rebecca Graham and Mr John Hargreaves, which starts when students are in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10.

We continue to remember that education is more than ‘one number on one day’. In 2024, we will continue to evolve and grow as an MSC educational community as we nurture the faith, care and learning for young people of the Southern Highlands and beyond. With the mantra of ‘HSC and Capabilities’, ‘ATAR and Complex Competencies’, we look forward to maintaining our commitment to excellent HSC results whilst also adopting a future facing outlook which strives for ‘Learning recognition beyond an ATAR’ for all students.

May you all enjoy the blessings of the Christmas season and may you appreciate the rest that comes with January school holidays.

Warm regards

Greg Miller

Principal