Principals Report

As we come to the end of the year of 2024, there is a great sense of achievement when we review the academic results of our departing cohort of Year 12 students. With a higher proportion of the cohort than ever receiving an ATAR score over 90, our Year 12 students have performed above expectations. 

On Tuesday this week, we celebrated the learning and growth of all our Year 12 students in our Graduation Ceremony at the Centre in Ivanhoe. It was wonderful to have that opportunity to see our Year 12 students and their families again, and to take the time to recognise and celebrate how far they have come in the past six years as students at Thornbury High School. 

The academic success of our students would not have been possible without the hard work, commitment and care of all the staff at THS. Our brilliant, award-winning teachers work extremely hard to teach and challenge all learners to continue learning, and our dedicated, caring and highly effective education support staff members do everything in their power to make sure that staff and students have the resources, inclusion support and wellbeing programs to thrive at school. I am very grateful for the work they all do to look after everyone at THS. 

2024 has been a very successful year for the THS community. Our NAPLAN results improved in all areas, students reported in the Attitudes to School Survey feeling more connected to school than in the past, and staff survey results improved in all areas compared to 2023 results. 

In Term 4 this year, the Department of Education changed our school performance rating from ‘Renew’ (performance is static or declining) to ‘High’ (outcomes are high across a range of learning and wellbeing measures). This is different from what the Department categorises as ‘similar schools’ as they are predominantly rated as ‘Medium’ or ‘Developing’. 

Earlier in the year, the Victorian government announced an investment of $12 million to support the successful Homework Clubs and School Community Liaison Officer programs – this announcement was made at Thornbury High School as our implementation of this program has been recognised as being highly effective.   

Underpinning these achievements is our commitment to supporting every student, every day at THS. Our core values are achieving, engaging and connecting, by which we refer to our students achieving great learning growth in different areas of the curriculum, engaging with our rich program in Sports, Arts, Leadership and Languages, and connecting with staff, students and the community. As the principal of THS, I feel very proud to lead this school. It’s been a great year, and now I believe we’re all ready for a long break over summer. 

Personally, I look forward to reading a number of books on my bookshelf over the next few weeks – first of all, Susanna Clarke’s fantasy novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell which looks very interesting. I’m also planning to catch up with friends over good food and wine, spend some time watching films, playing and listening to music, and enjoying some relaxing walks with my wife and daughter in the sunshine. I wish you all a restful, relaxing summer and look forward to seeing everyone back on site here at THS next year. 

The first day for staff will be Tuesday, January 28, then Year 7 and Year 12 students will start on Wednesday, January 29, and everyone else on Thursday, January 30. 

Lars 

Principal