Especean

Curriculum

2021 Higher School Certificate Results

Last year, 171 Year 12 St Patrick’s College students sat the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations in 35 courses plus nineteen Year 11 students, accelerated in HSC Mathematics Advanced. There were many highlights and outstanding results attained by the Class of 2021. The following points illustrate just a few:

  • College Dux for 2021 is Patrick Tandiono, who attained an ATAR of 99.15 and placed on the State’s All-Rounders List with six merit (or distinguished achievement) listings. Lawrence Young is Proxime Accessit with an ATAR of 99.10 and five merit listings. Luke Coorey and Rowan Wanigesekera placed equal third in the HSC Class of 2021 with ATARs of 98.60 and four merit listings each.
     
  • 53 students (31% of total Year 12 candidates) and seventeen Year 11 accelerated Mathematics students made the Distinguished Achievers List (or Merit List) one hundred and 32 times, having attained marks of 90% or more in various courses.
     
  • Four 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. Joining Patrick Tandiono as All-Rounders are Jordan Foti, ATAR 96.20 with five merit listings; Christopher Gatto, ATAR 96.25 with five merit listings; and Dion Michalopoulos, ATAR 97.45 with five merit listings.
     
  • Steven Dann of Year 11 made the State’s Top Achievers List, placing 17th in the State in Mathematics Advanced. This is a remarkable achievement for a Year 11 student given that many Mathematics Advanced candidates are in Year 12 concurrently sitting Mathematics Extension 1. In addition, Steven’s classmates also performed brilliantly with seventeen of them (including Steven) attaining a Band 6 in Mathematics Advanced and two attaining top Band 5 results.
     
  • 29 students (17.5% of eligible candidates), as far as we know, attained an ATAR above 90. Many students achieved a high ATAR and made the meritorious Distinguished Achievers List in a number of courses. For example, not including those already mentioned: Luke Bechara, ATAR 94.15 and three merit listings; Anthony Bounassif, ATAR 97.50 and three merit listings; Patrick Chong, ATAR 94.25 and three merit listings; Dylan Dao, ATAR 94.20 and four merit listings; Giacomo Feher, ATAR 94.30 and two merit listings; Jeremy Gebrael, ATAR 96.65 and two merit listings; and James Herberstein, ATAR 95.20 with four merit listings; and Zachariah Mouawad, ATAR 95.85 and three merit listings.
     
  • In 28 out of 35 (80%) College 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 25 and a school vs State variation greater than five include: Biology with 6.17 marks above the State average; Mathematics Advanced, 6.90 above; and Physics with 5.68 marks above the State average. Excellent results were also achieved in Mathematics Extension 2 (six students) with 5.03 marks above the State average. Good results were also achieved in: Business Studies with 4.21 marks above the State average; Industrial Technology, 4.21 above; Information Processes and Technology, 4.98 above; Mathematics Standard 2, 4.97 above; Modern History, 4.74 above; Music 1, 4.36 above; and Visual Arts with 4.70 marks above the State average.
     
  • Eleven courses had no students below a Band 4/E3: English Advanced, English Extension 1, History Extension, Industrial Technology, Italian Continuers, 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, in Biology 11.11% of College candidates attained a Band 6 compared to 7.11% for the State; Business Studies 13.20% compared to 9.37%; Construction 10.00% compared to 4.24%, Economics 21.42% compared to 14.83%; Information and Digital Technology 14.28% compared to 2.37%; Mathematics Standard 2, 9.63% compared to 5.30%; Mathematics Advanced 42.10% compared to 23.19%; Mathematics Extension 1, 42.85% compared to 37.19%; Music 1, 37.50% compared to 19.96%; and in Visual Arts 22.22% of College candidates attained a Band 6 compared to 16.92% for the State.
     
  • Similarly, there were 28 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 25, Biology had 62.96% of College candidates who performed in the two top bands compared to 31.07% for the State; Business Studies 60.63% compared to 35.63%; Construction 40.00% compared to 29.20%; English Advanced 81.92% compared to 68.65%; Mathematics Standard 2 38.93% compared to 24.50%; Mathematics Advanced 76.31 compared to 50.10%; Mathematics Extension 1, 82.13% compared to 74.11%; Modern History 51.21%  compared to 37.59%; Physics 64.00% compared to 40.42%; and Studies of Religion II had 64.70% of College candidates who performed in the two top bands compared to 46.08% for the State.

Bearing in mind that the College is an academically non-selective comprehensive boys’ school, the 2021 HSC results are excellent. St Patrick’s College is a school where ordinary boys achieve extraordinary things.

2022 Assessment Information

Parents/carers and boys should note that the assessment handbooks and calendars for 2022 are currently being compiled by the Curriculum Team. As in previous years, when completed, the 2022 assessment information will be posted on Canvas. Please note that Year 12 were issued with their HSC Assessment Handbook at the commencement of Term 4 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 2022 College Timetable. Therefore, change 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 were 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 21 February through to Wednesday 23 February inclusively to collect a subject change application form. After Wednesday 23 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 25 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 25 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 2023, 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