Cessnock High School has received a commendation from the Minns Labor Government and the Department of Education for its outstanding results in the 2024 Higher School Certificate (HSC).
In a move that recognises the excellence in the state’s public high schools, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car has written to congratulate 24 public high schools – among them Cessnock High School– for their results.
The NSW Department of Education has recognised 14 metro and 10 regional and rural public high schools for high growth in their 2024 HSC results from across 452 public high schools that each year guide 42,000 Year 12 students through to the HSC.
Schools were identified for demonstrating consistent growth over seven years and an increase in the number of students who achieved in the higher bands of the HSC. The schools also demonstrated positive progress for students across other achievement bands.
The schools implemented effective teaching to deliver great results for students, including improving the consistency of explicit teaching across subjects and classrooms, and setting high expectations for their students.
Letters signed jointly by Minister Car and the NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar went out this month to the schools congratulating them on their achievement.
The identification of the 24 schools that have shown the greatest improvement in results in the top bands comes a month after the Minns Government announced ambitious academic, HSC attainment and school attendance targets designed to lift outcomes for all students.
Member for the Electorate of Cessnock, Clayton Barr MP, said:
“These are outstanding results for students in Cessnock High School and I could not be prouder of this recognition.”
“The Minns Labor Government wants every child in NSW to achieve their full potential in our world-class public schools. With a qualified teacher in front of them, explicitly teaching from the knowledge-rich curriculum they can do that.”
“We are rebuilding public education in the electorate of Cessnock setting high expectations for our schools and students across the board, to ensure students aim high and work hard to meet their potential.”
Cessnock High School Acting Principal, Belinda Cooper said:
“I am incredibly proud of the students, staff, and community of Cessnock High School for this outstanding achievement. Receiving this recognition from the NSW Government and the Department of Education is testimony to the unwavering commitment of our dedicated teachers and the hard work of our students.”
“This commendation not only highlights our success in the 2024 HSC but also reinforces the incredible progress we have made over the past two years. Our students’ achievements in literacy and numeracy, as demonstrated by outstanding growth in NAPLAN results from Year 7 to Year 9, reflect the consistent effort we put into explicit teaching and targeted support. Additionally, this is the second consecutive year that Cessnock High School has been acknowledged for its HSC success, showcasing the sustained impact of our collective commitment to high expectations and continuous improvement.”
“I would like to thank our community for their ongoing support and our incredible staff for their dedication to making a difference every day. We remain focused on building on this success to ensure every student at Cessnock High School has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”