Catholic Schools NSW congratulates the First in Course HSC recipients

26 students from 24 Catholic schools across NSW were recognised at today’s 2024 HSC First in Course ceremony. The top-performing students achieved First in Course honours across 21 subjects, including English Standard and Mathematics Advanced as well as vocational courses, languages and Studies of Religion. This year’s number of First in Course students and schools is an increase from last year’s 22 students from 20 Catholic schools. 

 

Catholic school students excelled in some of the most popular courses in the state. A Loreto Kirribilli student was the sole First in Course recipient in English Standard out of 33,000 participants, the largest course in the HSC. A Marist College Kogarah student and a Waverley College student received an equal first, amongst four, for Mathematics Standard 2, the second largest course in the state with 31,000 participants. A student from Oakhill College achieved the sole First in Course for Mathematics Advanced out of 16,500 participants, the seventh largest course.   

  

Eight Catholic school students received First in Course honours in 7 of the 12 VET courses examined: Business Services, Construction, Electrotechnology, Hospitality, Information and Digital Technology, Primary Industries and Tourism, Travel and Events. Six First in Course honours were presented to Catholic school students for language subjects, including Arabic Extension, Indonesian and Literature, Italian Continuers, Italian Extension, Portuguese Continuers and Vietnamese Continuers. Three students achieving First in Course honours also received a place in at least one other course. In addition, four students (among five recipients) received an equal first for Studies of Religion I. 

 

Danielle Cronin, Deputy CEO of Catholic Schools NSW, congratulated this year’s students and recognised the broad subject diversity in Catholic schools and their achievements.  

 

‘Congratulations to all First in Course winners. It is an incredible achievement, and your hard work and success in the HSC place you in great stead for the future, for university or elsewhere. I wish you the very best in those endeavours and look forward to hearing of your future success.’ 

 

‘It’s encouraging to see the First in Course Honours come from a broad range of subject areas and from so many schools. This underscores Catholic education’s aim to provide an holistic and high calibre education to students from all backgrounds and walks of life. Whatever students study in a Catholic school, and wherever they come from, they can be supported to realise their full potential.’ 

 

Catholic Schools NSW represents the state’s 592 Catholic schools and their 267,000 students.