Baulkham Hills High School


Baulkham Hills High School is a government-funded academically selective co-educational secondary day school, located in Baulkham Hills in the Hills District of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Established in June 1971, the school enrolled approximately 1,220 students in 2018, from Year 7 to Year 12, of whom one percent identified as Indigenous Australians and 83 percent were from a language background other than English. The school is operated by the NSW Department of Education in accordance with a curriculum developed by the New South Wales Education Standards Authority; the principal is Jeanne Bathgate.
In 2016 and 2017 students were placed second in the NSW Higher School Certificate. The school was ranked fifth in 2018, and ninth in 2019. In 2010, Baulkham Hills High School was ranked the most popular school in NSW for high school applications.

History

Baulkham Hills High School was established in 1971 as a public comprehensive high school. It was officially opened on 23 March 1974 by the then Governor, Sir Roden Cutler. For the first year, students and teachers at the school were relocated to nearby Castle Hill High School whilst Baulkham Hills High School was still under construction. Later, the students were accompanied by students from Model Farms High School as their school was still being built, despite Baulkham Hills High still being incomplete at the time. The school's first selective cohort was in 1990, with all grades being selective by 1995. Over time, the school's academic ranking has improved and in 2009 was ranked 2nd by The Sydney Morning Herald for total number of distinguished achievers for examinations resulting in over 90%.
The school was built on the site of a former orange orchard, with the region having once been a major orange producing area of Sydney. This history is acknowledged by the use of an orange on the school logo. The use of the word "Persevere" as the school motto encourages students to persevere in all their studies. Acknowledgement of the agricultural history of the area is also reflected in the naming of the four intramural sports houses of the school, which are named after four prominent early European settlers in the area: MacDougall, Suttor, Meehan and Hughes.

Admissions and enrolment

Total enrolment in junior years is approximately 180 students per year group, and around 200 per year group in senior years. the total number of enrolments was 1,212 students.
As a selective school, entry into the school in Year 7 is based upon results in a statewide examination known as the Selective High Schools Test. As of 2015, students must achieve a score of at least 235 in this examination to be accepted at the school. Entry into vacant places in later stages is based on a reserve list and other criteria; mainly reports and academic achievements from previous years.

Facilities

Departments and staff rooms

There are eleven staff rooms for all of the faculties.
The school holds annual sports carnivals for swimming, cross country and athletics. Selected students compete in wider regional competitions, from Zone and Area to the CHS. There are 2 teachers who are the sports organisers overseeing sport.

Tri-School Tournament

The Tri-School Tournament was first held in 2011 between Baulkham Hills, James Ruse Agricultural High School and Girraween High School. Teams from each school participated in basketball, soccer and touch football. Baulkham Hills obtained first place in both the 2011 and 2012 tournaments.

Quad School Tournament

Starting 2013, Penrith High School joined the sporting tournament previously known as the Tri-School Tournament between Baulkham Hills High School, James Ruse Agricultural High School and Girraween High School. In addition to basketball, soccer and touch football, Penrith hosted table tennis in 2013. Again, Baulkham Hills High School won the tournament. The competition returned in 2014, with Baulkham Hills hosting basketball, Girraween hosting touch football, James Ruse hosting soccer and Penrith hosting volleyball. Again, Baulkham Hills High School won the tournament. In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 the Quad School Tournament continued and all five years were won by Baulkham Hills High School.

Academic

A variety of academic extra-curricular activities are offered, in various subject areas.
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In addition to sporting competitions and tournaments such as Zone, Area and CHS, the school offers additional sporting activities to selected students, including:
Australian Army Cadets is a youth development organisation with ties to the Australian Army and is very popular at Baulko, being home to one of the largest school based units in the country with a posted strength of approximately 150 students. Cadets parade in the school quadrangle every Thursday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm. In this time, recruits and intermediate cadets are instructed by older students who have earned the rank of a non-commissioned officer, in drill, military traditions, navigation, survival, fieldcraft and leadership. Cadets participate in the Castle Hill RSL ANZAC Day Dawn Service every year and attend many camps and activities throughout the year to apply their knowledge, including a trip to Holsworthy or Singleton Military Base to experience shooting live rounds on the current service rifle of the Australian Army and Navy, the F88 Austeyr.
The unit has produced outstanding leaders who have proceeded to become Regimental Sergeant Majors or Commanders of all NSW cadets. Cadets also go on an AFX camp every year where they learn and enhance their skills in:

Creative and performing arts

The school offers various activities in the field of creative and performing arts, including: