Baulkham Hills High School
Encyclopedia
Baulkham Hills High School (colloquially known as "Baulko") is an academically selective high school located in Baulkham Hills
. The school was established in 1971 by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
, and currently caters for approximately 1200 students from Years 7 to 12.
The school is noted for its regularly outstanding academic results. In 2010, Baulkham Hills High School was ranked the most popular school in NSW for high school applications.
as their school was still being built, despite Baulkham Hills High 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 (DA) 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 (red), Suttor (blue), Meehan (yellow) and Hughes (green).
As a selective school, entry into the school in Year 7 is based upon results in a State-wide examination known as the Selective High Schools Test.
Entry into vacant places in later stages is based on a reserve list and other criteria, mainly reports from previous years. The school also has a Support Unit through which students with intellectual disabilities receive extra support and lessons designed to equip them for active participation in the wider community upon graduation. These students are also encouraged to take part in all aspects of school life and are an integral part of the school community.
There are also committees formed to make suggestions as to the running of the school, such as the Uniform Committee and school formal committees for years 10 through to 12.
Baulkham Hills, New South Wales
Baulkham Hills is a suburb in the north-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Baulkham Hills is located 31 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire...
. The school was established in 1971 by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training
New South Wales Department of Education and Training
The New South Wales Department of Education and Communities, a department of the Government of New South Wales, is responsibile for primary schools, secondary schools and Technical and Further Education colleges...
, and currently caters for approximately 1200 students from Years 7 to 12.
The school is noted for its regularly outstanding academic results. 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 non-selective public school. For the first few years the students were accompanied by students from Model Farms High SchoolModel Farms High School
Model Farms High School is a public high school in Baulkham Hills, a suburb in the northwest Sydney, New South Wales. The school is named so because the area was set up to demonstrate farming practices to convicts and others who wished to start a farm when the first settlers arrived...
as their school was still being built, despite Baulkham Hills High 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 (DA) for examinations resulting in over 90%.
The school was built on the site of a former orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
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 (red), Suttor (blue), Meehan (yellow) and Hughes (green).
Admissions and enrolment
Total enrolment in junior years (7-10) is approximately 180 students, and around 200 in senior years (11-12). Total number of enrolments is 1130 students.As a selective school, entry into the school in Year 7 is based upon results in a State-wide examination known as the Selective High Schools Test.
Selective school (New South Wales)
Selective schools in New South Wales, Australia are government high schools operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, that have accepted their students based upon their academic merit...
Entry into vacant places in later stages is based on a reserve list and other criteria, mainly reports from previous years. The school also has a Support Unit through which students with intellectual disabilities receive extra support and lessons designed to equip them for active participation in the wider community upon graduation. These students are also encouraged to take part in all aspects of school life and are an integral part of the school community.
Academic results
Baulkham Hills High School is well known for its outstanding academic results. They are noted as being one of the top 10 government high schools in New South Wales in this aspect.Sport
The school is also noted for being good at sport. 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). The school has a good record in these carnivals.Extracurricular activities
A range of sporting and other extracurricular activities occur at the school, including:- Army CadetsAustralian Army CadetsThe Australian Army Cadets is a youth organisation that is involved with progressive training of youths in military and adventurous activities. The programme has more than 19,000 Army Cadets between the ages of 12½ and 19 based in 236 units around Australia...
(Baulkham Hills High School Cadet Unit) - Duke of Edinburgh Award SchemeThe Duke of Edinburgh's AwardThe Duke of Edinburgh's Award , is a programme of activities that can be undertaken by anyone aged 14 to 24, regardless of personal ability....
- Chess Club
- Volleyball teams
- Philosophy Club
- Creative Arts Festival
- Drama Club
- Future Problem Solving
- Tournament of MindsTournament of MindsThe Tournament of Minds is a school competition program available throughout Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. Teams of students work to solve problems in a number of disciplines, including: applied technology, language and literature, mathematics and engineering, and social sciences...
- Run Fit
- Orchestra
- School Bands (Beginner, Junior, Senior, Concert, Stage)
- Soul Purpose (Christian group)
- Variety Night
- Music Nights
- Shakespeare Festival
- Mock Trial
- Debating (English, History)
- Mahjong Club
- School Choir
- Baulko Green Group ("keeping it green in D16")
- Baulko Bulletin (student magazine)
- Theatre Sports Group
- Baulko Outreach (student-community/charity outreach program)
- A Capella Group
- Industrial Chemistry (IC) Group
- Science Olympiad Team
- Photography Club
There are also committees formed to make suggestions as to the running of the school, such as the Uniform Committee and school formal committees for years 10 through to 12.
See also
- List of Government schools in New South Wales
- List of selective high schools in New South Wales
- List of Army Cadet Units across Australia