Dubbo HSC results 2020: Best performing schools revealed

For the second year running one Dubbo school has come out on top in the HSC results, however there was a new entry on the list of top performers.

St Johns College in Dubbo. Picture: Jane Dempster / St Johns College

St Johns College has again emerged as the top performing high school in Dubbo, based on 2020 Higher School Certificate results.

Of the top performing 585 schools in NSW, St Johns College was ranked number 257 in 2020.

2020 was an unprecedented year for HSC students. Picture: Supplied

Dubbo College Senior Campus was the next best performer, ranked number 417.

The Dubbo Christian School came in at number 444 and the Dubbo Distance School of Education was ranked number 495.

In 2019, before the COVID pandemic disrupted students and staff like never before, St Johns College was ranked at 238 and Dubbo College Senior Campus at 358.

While those schools’ performances declined in the rankings in 2020, the Dubbo Christian School improved and entered the top list of schools after falling off it in 2019.

The Dubbo School of Distance Education also climbed up the rankings ladder in 2020, after it was ranked number 504 in 2019.

Macquarie Anglican Grammar School fell of the list of top ranking schools in 2020, after featuring at number 539 in 2019.

The Year 12 Graduation Dinner was held last Friday evening at the DRTCC. The evening was a wonderful success, honouring and celebrating the HSC Class of 2020.

Posted by St Johns College Dubbo on Thursday, November 19, 2020

St Johns College curriculum co-ordinator Mark Scullard said the school’s performance reflected a team approach to learning, where students individual needs were put front and centre.

“The results rely on working steadily throughout all the years of schooling, it’s not just about trying to upskill the kids in Year 11 and 12, it actually starts earlier,” he said.

“We try to put processes in place to build up their resilience, in terms of academic work. We gradually increase the rigour and understanding.

“You can’t do anything unless you understand the students skills and how they go about their learning. It’s not one size fits all.”

Mr Scullard said teachers at the school reached out to each other for support and ideas on how to help students achieve the best results they could.

“If something’s not working for a student you actually talk to other teachers who teach them or the year co-ordinator and they help

“It’s not just about you working with the student in isolation. The results they get in year 12 are not just about saying ‘congratulations to the staff who teach year 12’, it’s actually the whole school.”

St Johns students who completed their HSC in 2020 planned to pursue a variety of careers they were passionate about, Mr Scullard said.

“We’ve got students going on to study medicine, international studies, teaching, journalism, midwifery, nursing, law, engineering and deciding to go into trades.

“All you want is every kid in the state to do their best.”