Public school teachers, students, employees, parents and advocates from across the state were honoured last night at the 2025 Public Education Awards. More than 700 people gathered at Sydney Town Hall as 121 awards celebrated outstanding individual achievements, breakthrough school initiatives, community partnerships and major contributions to public education.

Of the 112 primary and secondary schools acknowledged, 21 schools received multiple awards with Newcastle’s Hunter Sports High School receiving a noteworthy four awards and Sydney’s James Ruse Agricultural High School and Prairiewood High School receiving three.

Regional NSW schools Kooringal High School and Denison College of Secondary Education, Bathurst High Campus also received three awards each across multiple categories. One such award was the inaugural Secretary's Champion of Service and Representation Award, which recognised employees who have represented the department exceptionally in service.

Denison College of Secondary Education, Bathurst High Campus VET teacher Peter Kell and Bathurst-based VET curriculum officers Philippa Mortimer and Rachael Kelly were awarded for their leadership and commitment to the Rural Students Café at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Also of note was Auburn North Public School, which took out two Secretary’s Awards for Outstanding School Achievement. The awards honour their success in upskilling educators in Maths and English through the ‘Becoming Mathematicians’ professional learning and ‘Lights On’ literacy projects.

Forty students from across the state received a Minister's Award for Excellence in Student Achievement, including Maryana Abdo, School Captain at Miller High School in Sydney’s west.

Maryana is an Iraqi refugee and self-taught opera singer who performed the Les Misérables hit ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ in front of event attendees, including the Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos and the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education Murat Dizdar.

Minister Houssos said she was excited to celebrate the many extraordinary achievements, initiatives and people in a week themed ‘Ignite your potential’.

“The Public Education Awards highlight the extraordinary work happening in our schools every day. It’s important we take the time to pause and celebrate those who go above and beyond to support student learning and wellbeing,” said the Minister. "These awards are more than a celebration — they are a reflection of the values that underpin public education: equity, excellence and inclusion."

The winners from across NSW were selected in the following categories:

• Minister's Award for Excellence in Student Achievement
• Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Award
• Secretary's Award for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
• Secretary's Living Our Values Award
• Secretary’s Award for Excellent Service
• Secretary's Champion of Service and Representation Award
• Secretary's Award for Outstanding School Achievement
• Public School Parent and Volunteer of the Year Award
• Alumni of the Year
• Outstanding Advocate for Public Education.

Secretary Murat Dizdar said it was exciting to have this special night of awards as an opener to Public Education Week.

"Public education is deeply personal to me and I know first-hand the transformative power of great teachers and equitable opportunity,” Mr Dizdar said. "As a student at Fort Street and later a teacher at Ashcroft High, I learnt that education is a passport to prosperity.

“Through these awards we honour the best of the best in our system and showcase the power of public education.”

Mr Dizdar also acknowledged the 11 recipients of the Parent of the Year award who performed “invaluable support roles and who contribute significantly to their local NSW public school community”.

Public Education Foundation chief executive officer Manisha Amin said the Foundation’s mission was to support and celebrate the best of public schooling which is achieved through this major annual highlight.

“This year’s Awards reflect the depth and breadth of excellence across the State; from initiatives connecting students with Country and preserving the language and stories of Elders, to programs supporting young women in STEM, to efforts improving literacy and student engagement – these stories remind us of the powerful role public education plays in creating opportunity and belonging,” Ms Amin said.