Annual School Review - Kincumber High School

English
In 2011 the HSC results for English were
once again very favourable. Most students
achieved their most positive outcome in this
subject. On a “within school comparison”
English was the best performing faculty. The
attendance of students at successive study
days organised by the English Teachers’
Association proved very valuable, as HSC
markers for each section of the examination
explained what was required. This translated
into improved outcomes.
A particular success in the faculty was
achieved by the Year 8 debating team,
coached by Mrs Kay. The girls - Elizabeth
Jones, Olivia Bayliss, Lily Hayward and
Tahlia Mathieson - won the zone and regional
finals of the Premier’s Debating Challenge
overcoming all opponents, including those
from selective schools. The girls then went
on to contest the State finals in Sydney where
their skill and determination was apparent.
Their success is even more admirable when it
is realised that each debate involved an
“unseen” topic, which was issued to them one
hour before the debate. The girls then had to
prepare their case and argue it involving a
speech of eight minutes for each participant!
Various enrichment activities were organised
by the faculty including entries in the “Write
Now”, “Heywire” and “What Matters”
competitions for talented writers. Students
also participated in a Teen Masterclass
writing workshop at the State Library,
attended a performance of “The Cherry
Orchard” at Parramatta, participated in the
Model United Nations Program and in the
Gosford Mock Council.
Sport
Just as it always has, sport plays a large role
in the life of KHS and our students are quite
gifted. No less than 35 students represented
at Sydney North Regional level across a
range of sports, and 10 of these students
went onto State representation in cricket,
water polo, rugby, swimming, athletics and
cross-country. Two students, Lily Bardsley
and Nick Reekie, received Regional Blues in
Cricket and Swimming respectively, and
Mitch Farag received a Blue Endorsement.
Academic
In the National Assessment Program, the
results across the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 literacy
and numeracy assessments are reported on
a scale from Band 1 to Band 10.
The achievement scale represents increasing
levels of skills and understandings
demonstrated in these assessments.
Year 3: from Band 1 (lowest) to Band 6
(highest for Year 3)
Year 5: from Band 3 (lowest) to Band 8
(highest for Year 5)
Year 7: from Band 4 (lowest) to Band 9
(highest for Year 7)
Year 9: from Band 5 (lowest) to Band 10
(highest for Year 9)
and/or
In the School Certificate the performance of
students is reported in performance bands
ranging from Performance Band 1 (lowest) to
Performance Band 6 (highest).
6