Hennessy tops HSC

The announcement was made last week and college principal Dr Peter Webster says he is over the moon about it.

“We are competing with the best schools in Sydney – schools like Freeman Catholic College and Delasalle College in Cronulla,” Dr Webster said.

To claim this title Young was competing against schools from Wollongong, Armidale, Walcannia (near Forbes), Wagga, Bathurst, Canberra-Goulburn, Lismore, Newcastle and Maitland.

Dr Webster said he attributes the success of his past students to the quality teaching staff the school has attracted.

“We have some of the best teachers who have moved to Young from popular private schools in Sydney and the staff are prepared to go above and beyond their required duties,” he said.

That extra mile is the creation of interactive learning such as blogs, study groups and extra support outside regular school hours.

“We have organised excursions to assist with their learning and the HSC symposium where with staff we look at and reflect on what worked last year and what didn’t and with students we give them to opportunity to find out what they can do better,” Dr Webster said.

For Dr Webster it was always a dream to have Hennessy competing with Sydney schools.

“You don’t have to be going to those schools in Sydney to get the marks, I’m competitive and proud of our regional location,” Dr Webster said.

While the school is performing academically well, Dr Webster said that isn’t his proudest achievement.

“We have had a number of challenges presented to us this term with students and staff having serious illnesses and a number of people losing family members – it’s the way we handle these types of events that make me proudest, that’s what stands us out,” he said.