St Marys Senior High School is an academically comprehensive senior high school. It is a post-compulsory, public, co-educational, senior high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

, located in St Marys

St Marys, New South Wales

St Marys is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. St Marys is located 45 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Penrith....

, a Western Suburb

Western Sydney

Western Sydney is a major region of Sydney, Australia. It has a number of different definitions but one consistently used is the region composed of the 11 councils which until recently were all members of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils:* Auburn Council* Bankstown City Council*...

 of Sydney, New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

.

Established in 1989, the school is the first NSW Government senior high school and currently caters for approximately 850-900 students from Years 11 and 12.

History

St Marys Senior High School was the first NSW Government senior high school. It was established in 1989 on the site of the comprehensive high school which first opened in 1956 (formerly known as St Marys High School). 2009 will be the school's twentieth year operating as a senior high school.

Admissions and Enrolment

Acceptance to St Marys Senior High School is competitive; over one thousand students from the Penrith

City of Penrith

The City of Penrith is a Local Government Area in Sydney, located about west of Sydney's central business district.- History :The Municipality of Penrith was incorporated on 12 May 1871 under the Municipalities Act 1858. On 3 March 1890, St Marys was separately incorporated, and on 26 July 1893...

 and Western Sydney

Western Sydney

Western Sydney is a major region of Sydney, Australia. It has a number of different definitions but one consistently used is the region composed of the 11 councils which until recently were all members of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils:* Auburn Council* Bankstown City Council*...

 areas apply for the approximate 450 places offered for each year. Students wishing to enrol complete an online registration to attain enrolment forms. Applicants must also include with their enrolment form their half-yearly report and complete a 'Personal Profile' which allows applicants to indicate things about themselves to assist the school's enrolment committee in making their decisions about applicants.

Current enrolment at St Marys Senior High School is 847.

School Life

The school life of St Marys Senior High School is very different to that of a normal High School as it offers an adult learning environment, similarly to a university. Students may refer to their teachers by their first name. No school uniform is enforced, but are however required to follow school dress code; either uniform as sold by the school or school colours; green, white, grey and black. Students are required to carry an identification card and are allowed to leave the school premises during their non-timetabled periods. Student parking is also available for students driving to and from school.

Curriculum

St Marys Senior High School is registered and accredited with the New South Wales Board of Studies, and follows the mandated curriculum for Years 11 and 12.

The large number of HSC students means that almost the full range of Board HSC subjects, as well as a number of Joint School - TAFE courses and other courses designed to meet students' special needs and interests are provided.

Subjects

Commercial Studies

• Business Studies
• Economics
• Legal Studies
• Society and Culture

Computing Studies

• Information Process and Technology
• Software Design and Development

Creative and Performing Arts

• Dance
• Photography
• Digital Imaging
• Music 1
• Music 2
• Music Extension (Performance Elective)
• Music Extension (Composition Elective)
• Music Extension (Musicology Elective)
• Studio Drawing
• Visual Arts
• Visual Design

English

• Advanced English
• ESL English
• Extension 1 English
• Extension 2 English
• Standard English

Human Society and Its Environment

• Ancient History
• Modern History
• Extension History
• Studies of Religion I
• Studies of Religion II
• Geography

Languages

• French Beginners
• French Continuers
• Filipino Beginners
• Filipino Continuers
• Japanese Beginners
• Japanese Continuers
• Japanese Extension
• German Beginners
• Italian Beginners
• Spanish Beginners

Mathematics

• Mathematics
• Extension 1 Mathematics
• Extension 2 Mathematics
• General Mathematics

PD/HEALTH/PE

• PDHPE
• Sports Lifestyle & Recreation

Science

• Agriculture
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth and Environmental Studies
• Community and Family Studies
• Food Technology
• Design and Technology
• Engineering Studies
• Industrial Technology
• Textiles and Design
• Physics
• Senior Science

Technological and Applied Studies

• Exploring Early Childhood
• Community and Family Studies
• Food Technology
• Design and Technology
• Engineering Studies
• Industrial Technology
• Textiles and Design

VET Courses

• Business Services
• Hospitality
• Entertainment Industry
• Information Technology

Achievements

• In 2008, a St Marys Senior High School student was awarded first place in the Society and Culture Higher School Certificate (HSC) exam.
• In the 2008 HSC exams, St Marys Senior High School had 5 students achieve recognition on the Board of Studies All Rounders List.

External links

• St Marys Senior High School website
• NSW Department of Education and Training: St Marys Senior High School