Sydney Catholic Schools’ Executive Director, Tony Farley, has congratulated our 2020 HSC top achievers on their outstanding results in a challenging year.

In this video announcement he applauded the hard work of our 3876 HSC students who collectively have received 2602 merit awards. 

“This morning’s results have confirmed that the students and teachers in our 33 secondary colleges have a great deal to be proud of,” Mr Farley said.

Good Samaritan Catholic College Hinchinbrook student, Nathan Galindo

First in Human Services: Good Samaritan’s Nathan Galindo.

Impressively, five Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) students have topped the state in their HSC courses, and Brigidine College Randwick has improved their ranking for the second straight year to remain SCS’ highest ranked school.

Brigidine is now 49th in NSW, compared to 64th in 2019, according to data derived from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

The rankings are calculated using the ratio of the number of band 6 (90-100 marks) results to the number of exams sat by the school. 

Freeman Catholic College in Bonnyrigg Heights had the highest number of All-Round Achievers recipients from SCS’ cohort with eight of the total received.

“SCS is absolutely delighted with the HSC results which show consistent improvement,” SCS’ Director Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien, said. 

Sydney Catholic Schools' Director of Education and Research Dr Kate O'Brien

Dr Kate O’Brien. Photo: Kitty Beale

“All students who completed the exams should be very proud of their achievement,” Dr O’Brien said.

“It shows persistence, tenacity and this year, more than anything, commitment. 

“The creativity to adapt during COVID-19 has resulted in excellent results from teachers and strong rewards for students.

“This is clearly evident in the number of students recognised as distinguished achievers (2511).

“To achieve a band 6 or 4E result shows the pursuit of excellence, constantly refining a piece of work to continuously improve.”

“The creativity to adapt during COVID-19 has resulted in excellent results from teachers and strong rewards for students” – Dr Kate O’Brien

First in Course

St Patrick’s College Sutherland performed exceptionally, having two students top the state in an HSC course.

Zara O’Mahony topped Construction and Taylah Pye topped Tourism, Travel and Events.

Jasmine Burrows from Brigidine College in Randwick came first in Chinese Beginners and Nathan Galindo from Good Samaritan Catholic College topped Human Services.

Constance Koh from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College topped Studies of Religion II, impressing SCS’ Mission & Identity Director, Anthony Cleary.

“In 2020, I am very pleased to announce that we had a student who gained first place in Studies of Religion our congratulations are with Constance Koh for her outstanding achievement,” Mr Cleary said.

“Each year, students from Sydney Catholic Schools achieve very good HSC results in Studies of Religion.

This is borne out in the large number of students who attain a Band 6, and also in the number of schools achieving above the state average.” 

St Patrick's College Sutherland student, Taylah Pye

First in Tourism, Travel and Events: Taylah Pye.

St Patrick's College Sutherland student, Zara O'Mahony

First in Construction: Zara O’Mahony.

SCHOOL RANKINGS

Five of our 33 secondary schools are now in the Top 100 across NSW.

Brigidine College Randwick is ranked 49th, followed by St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove at 77th and Bethany College Hurstville not far behind at 80th.

St Clare’s College Waverley has climbed nine places into 86th and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Kensington has jumped 38 positions to move into 98th position.Brigidine College Randwick is ranked 49th, followed by St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove at 77th and Bethany College Hurstville not far behind at 80th.

Just outside the Top 100 is Aquinas Catholic College Menai who jumped 57 spots into 101st.

Notable jumper is De La Salle College Revesby Heights, climbing a whopping 144 positions to move into the Top 200 in 194th spot.

Brigidine College Randwick student, Jasmine Burrows

First in Chinese Beginners: Jasmine Burrows.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington student Constance Koh

First in Studies of Religion II: Constance Koh.

At a glance

SCS Merit List

SCS awards highlights

  • Overall awards: Brigidine College Randwick received the highest number of the above awards overall (184 of SCStotal 2602), followed by St Ursulas College Kingsgrove (181), and Bethany College Hurstville and Freeman Catholic College Bonnyrigg Heights (169 a piece)
  • All-round Achievers: Freeman Catholic College Bonnyrigg Heights had the highest number of All-round Achievers recipients from SCScohort (8), followed by St Ursulas College Kingsgrove (7), and Brigidine College Randwick and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington (4 a piece)

First in Course

  • Brigidine College Randwick: Jasmine Burrows, First in Course in Chinese Beginners
  • Good Samaritan Catholic College Hinchinbrook: Nathan Galindo, First in Course in Human Services Examination
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Kensington: Constance Koh, First in Course in Studies of Religion II
  • St Patricks College Sutherland: Zara OMahony, First in Course in Construction Examination
  • St Patrick’s College Sutherland: Taylah Pye, First in Course in Tourism, Travel and Events Examination

Send your congratulations to our students by visiting the SCS Facebook page.