Baulkham Hills High School

Baulkham Hills High School (colloquially known as Baulko[6]) is a government-funded academically selective co-educational secondary day school. It is located in Baulkham Hills in the Hills District of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Baulkham Hills High School
Location
Baulkham Hills, New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates33°45′5″S 150°59′26″E
Information
TypeGovernment-funded selective co-educational secondary day school
MottoPersevere
Established23 March 1974 (23 March 1974)[1]
Educational authorityNew South Wales Department of Education
OversightNSW Education Standards Authority
PrincipalWayne Humphreys[2]
Teaching staff84.4 FTE (2021[3][4])
YearsYear 7–Year 12
Enrolment1,230[5] (2020)
CampusSuburban
Colour(s)Olive green & burnt orange   
Websitebaulkham-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

The principal is Wayne Humphreys.[7] The school was ranked second in the NSW Higher School Certificate in 2016, 2017 and 2020, ranked fifth in 2018, and ranked third in 2021. In 2010, the school was ranked the most popular school in NSW for high school applications.[8]

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.[9] 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. The school's first selective cohort was in 1990, with all grades being selective by 1995.

The school's location holds historical significance, having been established on the grounds of a former orange orchard. This area of Sydney was once renowned for its significant orange production. This historical connection is symbolically represented through the inclusion of an orange in the school logo. The school's motto, "Persevere," encourages students to maintain their dedication across all aspects of their studies.

"The school emblem incorporates the institution's name along with the motto "PERSEVERE." Notably, an orange is featured in the emblem as a nod to the region's past as a major orange-producing area within the state. The school's establishment took place on land that was once utilized for cultivating oranges."[10]

Furthermore, this agricultural heritage is evident in the naming of the school's four intramural sports houses, which pay tribute to prominent early European settlers in the local area. These houses are named after MacDougall (represented by the color red), Suttor (blue), Meehan (yellow), and Hughes (green). This approach reflects the school's commitment to preserving and honoring its historical roots within the community.[11]

Admissions and Enrolment

Total enrolment in junior years (Year 7 to Year 10) is approximately 180 students per year group, and around 200 per year group in senior years (Year 11 and Year 12), due to transfers from other schools. As of 2021 the total enrolment was 1,230 students.[5]

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. In 2020, the lowest admitted score was 234 out of the maximum 300.[12] 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 ten staff rooms for all of the faculties.

Extracurricular Activities

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 (Combined High Schools). 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.[13]

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. [14] 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.

Since the introduction of Quadschools, Baulkham Hills have won the competition 10 times, 9 of them being consecutively, and Penrith has won once.

Academic

A variety of academic extra-curricular activities are offered, in various subject areas.

  • Tournament of Minds
  • Future Problem Solving
  • Mock Trial
  • OzCLO (Computational and Linguistics Olympiad)
  • Debating
  • Physics, Chemistry and Biology Olympiad Team
  • Mathematics Olympiad Team
  • Australian and New Zealand Brain Bee Competition

Sport

In addition to sporting competitions and tournaments such as Zone, Area and CHS, the school offers additional sporting activities to selected students, including:

Cadets

Australian Army Cadets is a youth development organisation with ties to the Australian Army. Cadets parade in the school quadrangle (the main open space in the centre of the school) every Thursday afternoon. 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.

Creative and performing arts

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

  • School Bands, including Junior, Intermediate, Concert, Senior, and Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
    • Specialised bands, including String Ensemble, Big Band, and Orchestra.
  • School Choir
  • Music Nights
  • Variety Night
  • Drama Club
  • Photography Club
  • Art Club

Other Extracurriculars
  • Chess Club
  • Green Group (environmental club)
  • Outreach (A club that organises events for charity)
  • Baulko Bulletin (newspaper about the school)
  • Social Justice (Political debate and raising awareness for social issues)
  • B-Soc (Business Society)
  • B-Well (Mental-health club)
  • Soul Purpose (ISCF)
  • Spectrums (LGBT club)

Notable alumni

Notable teachers

See also

References
  1. "Our History – Baulkham Hills High School". baulkham-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  2. "Our staff – Baulkham Hills High School". baulkham-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. "Baulkham Hills High School, Baulkham Hills, NSW: School profile". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  4. "School Profile" (PDF). Baulkham Hills High School. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  5. ACARA. "My School provides information that helps parents and the community in understanding the performance of schools over time". My School. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  6. "Baulkham Hills High School Newsletter Issue #1 2020" (PDF). Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  7. "Our staff – Baulkham Hills High School". baulkham-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. Patty, Anna (17 August 2010). "Sydney schools that top the popularity contest". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  9. "History: Baulkham Hills High School".
  10. "Our History – Baulkham Hills High School". baulkham-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  11. "Baulkham Hills – A Brief History | Parramatta History and Heritage". historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  12. Office, Gea (21 April 2020). "2020 Selective High School Minimum Entry Scores". Global Education Academy. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  13. "Baulkham Hills High finishes in first place". Hills News. 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  14. "Baulkham Hills High School win inaugural quad-school". Daily Telegraph. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  15. Stavrou, Nikolaos (21 July 2010). "Shining Star - Tireless Pursuit of Justice". Mt Druitt St Marys Standard. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  16. Summers, Anne (18 August 2013). "Master of the maze". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016.
  17. Law Council of Australia (22 September 2022). "Appointment of the Honourable Justice Jayne Jagot". Law Council of Australia. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022.
  18. Spierings, Steven (25 October 2011). "Stephanie Schweitzer targets London Paralympics — Local News — Sport — Athletics". Hills News. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  19. "Gordon Smith". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  20. "Jacob Groth Results | Commonwealth Games Australia". commonwealthgames.com.au. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  21. Australia, Athletics. "Jacob Groth". www.athletics.com.au. Retrieved 26 June 2022.


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