Every year at the start of Year 12 Menai High School teachers measure student achievement in each HSC subject and then set a target to predict success by exam time.

Principal John Stanley explains the band prediction tracking measure: “We say to the students, ‘Whatever band you’re sitting in at the start of Year 12 we want to move you one band higher by HSC time’,” he said.

“And it’s working, along with our strong learning culture – 40 per cent of our cohort this year are band 5 and 6.”

The learning culture includes high expectations and trusting relationships for both students and teachers and consistent formative assessment and feedback.

The HSC class of 2024 is receiving additional respect from Menai High teachers as they had just entered their teenage years in Years 8 and 9 when COVID-19 severely disrupted their learning with lockdowns, learning from home, staggered starts, masks and mass vaccinations.

“This is the cohort that went through COVID in their junior years and had a rough trot,” Mr Stanley said.

“Every principal will tell you this, about how proud we are at how these students came back in Year 10 and knuckled down for their senior studies.”

Menai High was back to its consistent HSC performance of pre-COVID years, with the 180 students receiving 91 Band 6s and at least a dozen students with ATARs over 95.

First in State

Mischa Davies was first in the State in English Studies Examination, the two-unit course that focuses on honing writing and literacy skills and the fundamentals of English, with less of an emphasis on studying novels, plays and poetry as in other English courses.

“Mischa was a diligent, focused and friendly student who not only attended every lesson and consistently applied herself but always sought the feedback of her teachers and worked with our learning support staff to keep developing her writing,” Mr Stanley said.

“Importantly, she succeeded across all her subjects with high ranks and strong results in subjects ranging from English to Visual Arts to Textiles and Design. A true product of Menai High School exit outcomes of being a skilled learner, skilled citizen and skilled for life.”

Twins Lily and Kallie Thompson joined friends today at Menai High’s traditional barbecue for HSC students. The twins and their parents were filmed on Wednesday by The Sydney Morning Herald as Lily logged in for her HSC results at 6am.

Lily said she studied up to four hours a day in the lead-up to the HSC exams, often with friends at local libraries.

“We also used a study tracking app to study together and create an additional motivation as well as a friendly competition,” she said.

“But most of all, throughout my preparation for the HSC, I prioritised food, rest, and enjoyment, because your mental health is more important.”

Isaac Warwar worked hard for his ATAR of 96 studying Advanced English, English Extension 1 and 2, Drama, Ancient History, History Extension and Standard Mathematics, with three major works to develop for the HSC. He would like to pursue a career as a writer via university study in law and communications.

Reaching the finish line of Year 12 and the HSC was “the greatest I’ve felt all year”.

“The HSC seems so far behind and everything in the future seems so close. It is such an exciting time,” he said.

“I wish I knew how this felt when I was doing my HSC, so I had that light at the end of the tunnel but it’s here now and it’s great.”