The nation’s top performing schools, principals and teachers have been recognised in this year’s Australian Education Awards, held in Sydney on Friday 9 August.

The prestigious awards run by ‘The Educator’ celebrate excellence in education in all school sectors across Australia.

Top honours went to Hunter River Sports High as Australian School of the Year, The Hills School as Special Education School of the Year, and Loreta Kocovska from Windang Public School named as Primary School Principal of the Year – Government.

Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said he was “very proud but not at all surprised” to see public schools, teachers and leaders recognised at the highest levels.

“In NSW we know that public education is the best education that money can’t buy,” he said. “The educators and schools nominated for these awards, and those that won, are proof of that.”

Lake Cargellico Central School won the award for best First Nations Education from a field of finalists that included six other NSW public schools.

Berry Public School, which won student wellbeing awards at the 2022 and 2023 awards, was this year named NRL Primary School of the Year – Government.

Hunter Sports High took the top spot for AFL Secondary School of the Year – Government.

NSW public education was well represented across the award categories, with 22 schools and nine principals, deputy principals and teachers among the finalists.

“I congratulate our winners, and I acknowledge all the hard-working people in our schools who make a difference to the lives of students, every single day,” Mr Dizdar said.

The awards were determined by a panel of 25 judges with professional backgrounds related to the education sector. The full list of winners is on The Educator website.

NSW public education winners and finalists:

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF THE YEAR

Winner: Hunter Sports High School

Finalists: Berry Public School; The Hills School

SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL OF THE YEAR

Winner: The Hills School

Finalist: Five Islands School

PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR – GOVERNMENT

Winner: Loreta Kocovska, Windang Public School

Finalists: Bronwyn Jeffree, Tarrawanna Public School (now Yowie Bay Public School); Lisa Parrello, St Marys North Public School

IDEAGEN BEST FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION PROGRAM

Winner: Lake Cargelligo Central School

Finalists: Bangor Public School; Curran Public School; community of schools - Revesby Public, Picnic Point Public, Picnic Point High School; Toronto Public School

NRL PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR – GOVERNMENT

Winner: Berry Public School

Finalists: Cessnock East Public School; Galston Public School; Governor Philip King Public School; Hurstville Public School; Yates Avenue Public School

AFL SCHOOLS SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR – GOVERNMENT

Winner: Hunter Sports High School

Finalist: Secondary College of Languages

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR

Finalists: John Wigan, Asquith Girls High School; Laura McRae, Orara High School

EDUCATION RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

Finalist Jade Bassett, Rutherford Technology High School

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR – GOVERNMENT

Finalists: Christopher Robertson, Aurora College; Rachel Byrne, Hunter Sports High School

SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR – GOVERNMENT

Finalists: Dr Vladmir Tosic, North Sydney Boys High School; Kylie Winslade, Orange High School

GROK ACADEMY INNOVATION IN CURRICULUM DESIGN

Finalist: Asquith Girls High School 

BEST PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM

Finalists: Oakhill Drive Public School; Wattle Grove Public School 

PRIME SUPER REGIONAL SCHOOL OF THE YEAR

Finalists: Barham High School; Murwillumbah Public School