Baulkham Hills High School

Baulkham Hills High School (BHHS, colloquially known as Baulko[6]) 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.

Baulkham Hills Public School
Location
Baulkham Hills, Sydney, 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
PrincipalJeanne Bathgate[2]
Teaching staff83.4 FTE (2018[3][4])
Years7-12
Enrolment1225[5] (2020)
CampusSuburban
Colour(s)Olive green & burnt orange   
Websitebaulkham-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

Established in June 1970, 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.[3] 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.[7][8][9]

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 2020, the school again returned to second place in New South Wales. In 2010, Baulkham Hills High School was ranked the most popular school in NSW for high school applications.[10]

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.[11] 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.

"The school emblem consists of the school name and the motto "PERSEVERE". It also shows an orange, as this area was one of the main orange producing areas of the State, and the school in fact is built on an orange orchard."[12]

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 (red), Suttor (blue), Meehan (yellow) and Hughes (green).

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 2020 the total number of enrolments was 1,225 students.[13]

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 2020, the lowest admitted score was 234 out of the maximum 300.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.

  • Tournament of Minds
  • Future Problem Solving
  • Mock Trial
  • 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 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 (the main open space in the centre of the school) every Thursday afternoon from 1500 to 1700. 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:

  • Army drill, dress, and bearing
  • Survival
  • Fieldcraft
  • First aid
  • Navigation
  • Leadership in the field
  • RATEL (radio telecommunications)
  • Physical training

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
  • Green Group (A club devoted to saving the environment and environmental preservation activities)

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 1 October 2020.
  3. "Baulkham Hills High School, Baulkham Hills, NSW: School profile". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  4. "School Profile" (PDF). School profile. Baulkham Hills High School. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  5. "School Finder". web.archive.org. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  6. "Baulkham Hills High School Newsletter Issue #1 2020" (PDF). Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  7. "School profile | My School". www.myschool.edu.au. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  8. Noonan, Gerard (19 November 2002). "More than maths adds up to success". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  9. "Lure of opportunity makes it worth going the distance". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 November 2005. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  10. Patty, Anna (17 August 2010). "Sydney schools that top the popularity contest". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  11. "History: Baulkham Hills High School".
  12. "Our History - Baulkham Hills High School". baulkham-h.schools.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  13. "School Finder". web.archive.org. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  14. Office, Gea (21 April 2020). "2020 Selective High School Minimum Entry Scores". Global Education Academy. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  15. "Baulkham Hills High finishes in first place". Hills News. 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  16. "Baulkham Hills High School win inaugural quad-school". Daily Telegraph. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  17. 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.
  18. Summers, Anne (18 August 2013). "Master of the maze". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016.
  19. "Swearing in of Judge Jayne Jagot", Attorney-General's Department (NSW). Accessed 21 April 2009.
  20. 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.
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