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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}}
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{{Infobox school
{{Infobox school
| name = Penrith Selective High School
| name = Penrith Selective High School
| former_names = Penrith High School (1950–2011)<br>Penrith Academically Selective High School (2011–2016)
| former_names = {{bulleted list|Penrith High School {{smaller|(1950–2011)}}|Penrith Academically Selective High School {{smaller|(2011–2016)}}}}
| logo = Phs logo.PNG
| logo = Phs logo.PNG
| image =
| image =
| image_size = 240px
| image_size = 240px
| caption =
| caption =
| motto = {{lang-la|Altiora Peto}}
| motto = {{langx|la|Altiora Peto}}
| motto_translation = Striving for the highest
| motto_translation = Striving for the highest
| location = [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]], [[New South Wales]]
| location = [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]], [[Western Sydney]], [[New South Wales]]
| country = [[Australia]]
| country = Australia
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|45|23|S|150|42|23|E|type:edu_region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|45|23|S|150|42|23|E|type:edu_region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map =
|pushpin_map = Australia Sydney
| pushpin_image =
|pushpin_image =
| pushpin_mapsize =
|pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_alt =
|pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Sydney|greater metropolitan Sydney]]
| pushpin_label =
|pushpin_label =
| pushpin_label_position =
|pushpin_label_position = right
|module = {{Infobox mapframe
|module = {{Infobox mapframe
|stroke-colour = #C60C30
|stroke-colour = #C60C30
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|marker-colour = #1F2F57
|marker-colour = #1F2F57
|zoom = 13 }}
|zoom = 13 }}
| type = [[Selective school|Selective]], [[Public school (government funded)|public]], [[day school]]
| type = [[Public school (government funded)|Public]] [[Mixed-sex education|co-educational]] [[Selective school|academically selective]] [[Secondary education#Australia|secondary]] [[day school]]
| educational_authority = [[Department of Education (New South Wales)|New South Wales Department of Education]]
| educational_authority = [[Department of Education (New South Wales)|NSW Department of Education]]
| established = {{start date and age|1950}}
| established = {{start date and age|1950}}
| principal = Jaclyn Cush<ref>{{cite web |title=Penrith Selective High School: Our Staff |url=https://penrith-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/our-staff.html |website=NSW Department of Education |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>
| principal = Mark Long
| colours = Sky blue, grey, yellow, black, white, and royal blue<br/>{{color box|#87CEEB}}{{color box|#40404F}}{{color box|#FFDF00}}{{color box|#000000}}{{color box|#FFFFFF}}{{color box|#002366}}
| colours = Sky blue, grey, yellow, black, white, and royal blue<br/>{{color box|#87CEEB}}{{color box|#40404F}}{{color box|#FFDF00}}{{color box|#000000}}{{color box|#FFFFFF}}{{color box|#002366}}
| website = {{URL|https://penrith-h.schools.nsw.gov.au}}
| website = {{URL|https://penrith-h.schools.nsw.gov.au}}
| enrolment = 922<ref name=SchoolLocator>{{cite web |url=https://www.myschool.edu.au/school/41806 |title=Penrith High School |access-date=2019-05-21 |work=My School |publisher=ACARA}}</ref>
| enrolment = 922
| enrolment_as_of = 2018
| enrolment_as_of = 2018<ref name=SchoolLocator>{{cite web |url=https://www.myschool.edu.au/school/41806 |title=Penrith High School |accessdate=2019-05-21 |work=My School |publisher=ACARA}}</ref>
| campus_type = [[Suburban area|Suburban]]
| campus_type = [[Suburban area|Suburban]]
}}
}}


'''Penrith Selective High School''' ('''PSHS''') is a [[Education in Australia#Government schools|government]], [[Mixed-sex school|co-educational]], [[Selective school (New South Wales)|academically selective]], [[secondary school|secondary]] [[day school]] in [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. Established in 1950 and operated by the [[Department of Education (New South Wales)|New South Wales Department of Education]], the school caters for approximately 925 students from [[Year 7]] to [[Year 12]].<ref name=SchoolLocator/>
'''Penrith Selective High School''' ('''PSHS''') is a [[Public school (government funded)|public]] [[Mixed-sex education|co-educational]] [[Selective school|academically selective]] [[Secondary education#Australia|secondary]] [[day school]], located in [[Penrith, New South Wales|Penrith]], in [[Western Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia. Established in 1950 and operated by the [[Department of Education (New South Wales)|NSW Department of Education]], the school caters for approximately 925 students from [[Year 7]] to [[Year 12]].<ref name=SchoolLocator/>


Penrith Selective High School has consistently performed among the top schools in the [[Higher School Certificate (New South Wales)|Higher School Certificate]] (HSC).<ref>{{cite news |last1=McGowan |first1=Michael |last2=Evershed |first2=Nick |title='Warped and elitist': are Australia’s selective schools failing the fairness test? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/20/warped-and-elitist-are-australias-selective-schools-failing-the-fairness-test |accessdate=31 March 2019 |work=The Guardian |location=Australia }}</ref> The classes of 2010, 2017, and 2018 share the school's highest ranking at 27th in [[New South Wales]], based on [[Higher School Certificate (New South Wales)|Higher School Certificate]] results.<ref>{{cite web |title=2018 High School Rankings Top 150 Schools in NSW |url=https://www.matrix.edu.au/beginners-guide-to-high-school-rankings/2018-school-rankings/ |website=Matrix Education |accessdate=21 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, over 90 students received an [[Australian Tertiary Admission Rank]] (ATAR) of over 90 and the [[median]] ATAR was 91.95.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/index.php?p=Our%20School |title=Principal's Message - Penrith High School |publisher=Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |date= |accessdate=2019-04-09}}</ref>
Penrith Selective High School has consistently performed among the top schools in the [[Higher School Certificate (New South Wales)|Higher School Certificate]] (HSC).<ref>{{cite news |last1=McGowan |first1=Michael |last2=Evershed |first2=Nick |title='Warped and elitist': are Australia's selective schools failing the fairness test? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/20/warped-and-elitist-are-australias-selective-schools-failing-the-fairness-test |access-date=31 March 2019 |work=The Guardian |location=Australia }}</ref> The classes of 2010, 2017, and 2018 share the school's highest ranking at 27th in New South Wales, based on HSC results.<ref>{{cite web |title=2018 High School Rankings Top 150 Schools in NSW |url=https://www.matrix.edu.au/beginners-guide-to-high-school-rankings/2018-school-rankings/ |website=Matrix Education |access-date=21 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref> In 2018, over 90 students received an [[Australian Tertiary Admission Rank]] (ATAR) of over 90 and the [[median]] ATAR was 91.95.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/index.php?p=Our%20School |title=Principal's Message - Penrith High School |publisher=Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref> The school also ranks well nationally, consistently placing amongst the top 15 to 20 schools in Australia based on results of the National Assessment Program ([[NAPLAN]]), a series of nationally administered tests aimed at measuring student's ability in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Top Secondary Schools - 2021 |url=https://bettereducation.com.au/school/secondary/national/au_top_secondary_schools.aspx |website=Better Education.com.au |publisher=Better Education |access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Penrith Selective High School was first opened in the 1930s as an intermediate school on the land adjacent to its current location (now Penrith Public School). During that time, Penrith Selective High School current location was occupied by a mansion known as ''The Towers''. During the 1940s, the mansion and the land was sold to the [[Department of Education and Communities (New South Wales)|Department of Education]], who demolished the mansion and built Penrith High School, which was officially established in 1950.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall and Co |title=The Towers - Building from 1880s - Demolished 1940. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12157958 |publisher=State Library of New South Wales |accessdate=31 March 2019}}</ref> The school became academically selective in 1989.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tower Alumni - Edition One - Term 1 2018 |work=Penrith Selective High School |date=2018}}</ref>
Penrith Selective High School was first opened in the 1930s as an intermediate school on the land adjacent to its current location (now Penrith Public School). The school's location was then occupied by a mansion known as ''The Towers''. During the 1940s, the mansion and the land was sold to the Department of Education, who demolished the mansion and built Penrith High School, which was officially established in 1950.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall and Co |title=The Towers - Building from 1880s - Demolished 1940. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12157958 |publisher=State Library of New South Wales |access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref> The school became academically selective in 1989.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tower Alumni - Edition One - Term 1 2018 |work=Penrith Selective High School |date=2018}}</ref>


Two of the original foundations of the mansion have been preserved and remain in the school grounds. Additionally, the original plaque commemorating the opening of Penrith Intermediate School has been transferred into the present school grounds, where it currently resides in the school's archives. In commemoration of ''The Towers'' mansion, the in-school debating and public speaking competitions go by the same name.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Penrith High School |title=The Towers |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34746958 |website=National Library of Australia |publisher=Libraries Australia |accessdate=31 March 2019}}</ref>
Two of the original foundations of the mansion have been preserved and remain in the school grounds. Additionally, the original plaque commemorating the opening of Penrith Intermediate School has been transferred into the present school grounds, where it currently resides in the school's archives. In commemoration of ''The Towers'' mansion, the annual school magazine goes by the same name.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Penrith High School |title=The Towers |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34746958 |website=National Library of Australia |publisher=Libraries Australia |access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref>


==Enrolment==
==Enrolment==
The students of Penrith Selective High School come from an area extending from the [[City of Blue Mountains|Blue Mountains]] to [[North Sydney, New South Wales|North Sydney]], from the [[City of Hawkesbury|Hawkesbury]] District to [[Luddenham, New South Wales|Luddenham]]. The school has seen significant intake from the [[City of Blacktown]].
The students of Penrith Selective High School come from an area extending from the [[City of Blue Mountains|Blue Mountains]] to [[North Sydney, New South Wales|North Sydney]], from the [[City of Hawkesbury|Hawkesbury]] District to [[Luddenham, New South Wales|Luddenham]]. The school has seen significant intake from the [[City of Blacktown]].{{cn|date=June 2024}}

===Year 7===
All Year 7 enrolments are managed by the High Performing Students Unit (formerly, the Selective Schools Unit) of the NSW Department of Education. In October each year, application forms for the selective high schools test are available from government primary schools and from the Selective Schools Unit for Year 6 students and are due to be returned in November of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/index.php?p=Enrolment%20Information |title=Year 7 Enrolment - Penrith High School |publisher=Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |date=2014-03-13 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref>

===Years 8-12===

Applications for entry into Years 8-12 are managed by the school, in line with High Performing Students Unit guidelines. Only a small number of places are available each year since vacancies only occur when a current student leaves the school. Application packages become available from the school's website or the Selective Schools Unit in Term 2 (June) each year and are returned to the school, along with supporting documentation, by the end of July. The deadline date for application each year is determined by the Selective Schools Unit. The selection committee arranges the applications in order of academic merit based upon the evidence submitted. The committee considers material that provides evidence of high academic achievement and participation in extracurricular activities. Residential status requirements and family placement claims follow the Year 7 entry criteria. Students must be either Australia citizens or permanent residents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/index.php?p=Year%208-12%20Enrolment |title=Year 8-12 Enrolment - Penrith High School |publisher=Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |date= |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref>


==Facilities==
==Facilities==


The school has a gymnasium, a field with multi-sport goal posts (soccer and rugby, although contact sport is strictly prohibited), a smaller field with portable hockey goal posts, and two basketball courts. In addition, the school has five computer labs, a large space for performing arts, and a school hall which is part of the original structure of Penrith Selective High School, built in the early 1950s. The hall can accommodate approximately 450 seated guests, usually used for official school functions, performing arts exhibitions, and information evenings. The Penrith Selective High School Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) operates a school canteen, from which all proceeds go towards improving the educational experience of PSHS students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/index.php?p=Facilities |title=Facilities - Penrith High School |publisher=Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |date= |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref>
The school has a gymnasium, a field with multi-sport goal posts (soccer and rugby, although contact sport is strictly prohibited), a smaller field with portable hockey goal posts, and two basketball courts. It also has five computer labs, an extensive two-storey library, a large space for creative and performing arts, numerous classrooms with equipment and materials dedicated to specific faculties, and a school hall which is part of the original school structure, built in the early 1950s. The hall can accommodate approximately 450 seated guests, usually used for official school functions, performing arts exhibitions, and information evenings. The Penrith Selective High School Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) operates a school canteen, from which all proceeds go towards improving the educational experience of PSHS students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/index.php?p=Facilities |title=Facilities - Penrith High School |publisher=Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |access-date=2014-04-09}}</ref>

==Curriculum==
The courses available for study at Penrith Selective High School depends on the year level of the student in question:

===Years 7 and 8===
All subjects in Year 7 and 8 are mandatory, however in Year 8 students are given the option of whether to study Italian or Japanese for the [[Languages Other Than English]] (LOTE) course. As of 2018, Year 7 students no longer study LOTE, but still select a language in Year 8:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* English
* Mathematics
* Science
* History (one semester)
* Geography (one semester)
* Technology and Applied Studies (TAS) (Woodwork, Metalwork, Textiles, and Food Technology in Year 7 and Engineering, Coding, Textiles, and Food Technology in Year 8)
* Music
* Visual Arts
* Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
* [[Languages Other Than English|LOTE]] (Italian or Japanese in Year 8)
{{div col end}}

===Years 9 and 10===
Before beginning Year 9, students are given the opportunity to choose three 200-hour elective courses which they will study over Year 9 and 10.

====Mandatory courses====

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* English
* Mathematics
* Science
* History
* Geography
* Careers (Year 10 only)
* Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
{{div col end}}

====Elective courses====
Students choose any three of the following courses:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Information and Software Technology
* Engineering
* Food Technology
* Graphics Technology
* Italian
* Japanese
* Drama
* Music
* Visual Arts
* Physical Activity and Sport Studies (PASS)
* Elective History
* Commerce
* International Studies
{{div col end}}

===Years 11 and 12===
Course selection for the senior years is much more complex than in Years 9 and 10. The only mandatory course to be studied in the senior years is English (Advanced).

Students in Year 11 are required to study at least 12 units while Year 12 are required to study at least 10 units. Since English (Advanced) comprises two units and is mandatory for all students, Year 12 students are required to study at least eight units worth of courses.

==Extra-curricular==

Penrith Selective High School students have the opportunity to participate in a range of extracurricular activities in a number of interest areas including:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/index.php?p=Student%20Involvement |title=Band - Penrith High School |publisher=Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |date= |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Amnesty International
* Art Club
* Band
* Breakfast Club (operated by Penrith Selective High School students at Penrith Public School)
* Chess Club
* Choir
* Coding Club (various)
* Competitive Sport
* Debating
* Duke of Edinburgh's Award
* Hakusan Student Exchange
* Junior Representative Council (JRC)
* Mathematics Enrichment (AMT - Euler, Guass, Noether)
* Mock Trial
* Model United Nations (MUN)
* Peer Tutoring (for Mathematics and Italian)
* Penrith in Performance (MADD - Music/Art/Drama/Dance in 2018)
* Philosophy Club
* Photography Club
* Politics Club
* Public Speaking
* Rowing (from 2019)
* Social Justice Club
* String Ensemble
* Student Leadership (Captaincy, Prefects and House Captaincy)
* Student Representative Council (SRC)
* Titration Club
* Variety Night
{{div col end}}

===Student leadership===

The main leadership positions offered to students in Penrith Selective High School are those of School Captains, School Vice-Captains, and Student Representative Council (SRC) President. Student leaders begin their term of office in Term 3 of any given year, finishing a year later at the end of Term 2. Additional leadership positions available to students at Penrith Selective High School include: School Prefects (13 boys, 13 girls) (reconstituted in 2017 after being on hiatus since 1983), House Captains (1 boy, 1 girl for each of the four houses from Year 11), House Vice-Captains (1 boy, 1 girl for each of the four houses from Year 10), SRC Representatives (2 boys, 2 girls from each year group and an executive of 4 is selected by this group), JRC Representatives (2 boys, 2 girls from each class in Year 7), Faculty Student Leaders, Club Leaders, Peer Support Leaders<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/index.php?p=Student%20Leadership |title=Student Leadership - Penrith High School |publisher=Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au |date= |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref>

==House system==

At the beginning of Year 7, all Penrith Selective High School students are placed in one of the following four houses, sorted by last name:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! House !! Colour
|-
| Blaxland (Bees) || {{color box|#FFFF00}}
|-
| Lawson (Lions) || {{color box|#FF0000}}
|-
| Mitchell (Magic) || {{color box|#0033CC}}
|-
| Wentworth (Wolves) || {{color box|#00CC00}}
|}

Every year three sporting carnivals (Swimming, Athletics, and Cross Country) where students compete to earn house points. The winner of each carnival and of the overall house championship is announced each year.

==Staff==
As of 2018, the current staff at Penrith High School include the following:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/our-school/staff |title=Staff - Penrith High School |publisher=www.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/our-school/staff |date= |accessdate=2017-02-07}}</ref>


==HSC cheating scandal==
===Senior Executive===


In September 2015, Penrith High School drew controversy after it was discovered that some students had obtained the login information of a teacher and potentially tried to have their marks digitally altered for their HSC,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paterson |first1=Ian |title=Penrith High HSC students under investigation over Department of Education computer system hack |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/penrith-high-hsc-students-under-investigation-over-department-of-education-computer-system-hack/news-story/94a21b046b46ca749d4e82d130e87a04 |access-date=17 March 2020 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=September 11, 2015}}</ref> with the school captain being among those involved. This was followed by an investigation from the Department of Education, though its conclusions are unknown.{{cn|date=June 2024}}
* Principal - Mr. Mark Long
* Deputy Principal - Mr. Brian Ferguson
* Deputy Principal - Ms. Jaclyn Cush (relieving for Mrs. Tracey Cunningham)
<!--
===Head Teachers===


==Notable people==
* CAPA - Mr. Anthony Vassallo (Relieving)
* English - Mr. Steve Lidster (Relieving)
* Co-Curricular Programs- Ms. Antoinette Pipio
* Educational Achievement - Ms. Rebecca Ross
* History - Mr. Clark Stone
* Mathematics - Mrs. Sue Briggs
* PDHPE & Languages - Ms. Jodie Borg (Relieving)
* Science - Ms. Trang Lam
* Social Sciences - Mr. Joel MacRae
* Teaching and Learning - Ms. Bertha Coope
* Technology and Applied Studies - Mr. Graeme Mell
-->
==Rebranding==
When John Elton became principal of the school in 2011, he began to make changes to improve the school's image as a selective high school. These changes included changing the school's name to "Penrith Academically Selective High School". The name was used widely throughout the staff body in an attempt to boost the reputation of the school. The use of "Academically Selective" gained a notable critical reception from the student body as being highly pretentious. The new name called for attempts to change the school emblem. The school name was shortened to Penrith Selective High School in 2016.


*[[Linda Burney]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurian |first1=Nimi |title=Taking the long road |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/Taking-the-long-road/article14488607.ece |access-date=1 June 2019 |work=The Hindu |date=14 July 2016 |language=en-IN}}</ref> – former Member of the [[New South Wales Parliament]] for [[Electoral district of Canterbury|Canterbury]], and current Member of the [[Australian Parliament]] for [[Division of Barton|Barton]]
==Notable alumni==
*[[Joyce Fardell]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Librarian's gift to pupils was literature |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/librarians-gift-to-pupils-was-literature-20071027-gdrg0j.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 October 2007 |language=en}}</ref> – former teacher librarian
{{alumni|date=May 2019}}
*[[Linda Burney]] - former Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Canterbury, and current Federal Member for Barton
*[[Tony Lauer]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|APM}} – former [[Commissioner]] of the [[New South Wales Police]]
*[[Grigor Taylor]] – actor, ''[[Matlock Police]]'', ''[[Silent Number (TV series)|Silent Number]]'' and ''[[Glenview High]]''
*[[Kevin Crameri]] - former mayor of [[City of Penrith|Penrith]]
*[[Ray Watson (judge)|Ray Watson]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} – judge who reformed family law to create no-fault divorce
*[[Joyce Fardell]] - former teacher librarian
*[[Penelope Wensley]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AC}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Penelope: our home town hero |url=https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/penelope-our-home-town-hero/27245/ |work=Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> – former [[Governor of Queensland]]
*[[Tony Lauer]] - former [[Commissioner]] of the [[New South Wales Police]]
*[[Grigor Taylor]] - actor, ''[[Matlock Police]]'', ''[[Silent Number]]'' and ''[[Glenview High]]''
*[[Richard Wilson (Australian actor)|Richard Wilson]] – actor, ''[[The Proposition (2005 film)|The Proposition]]'' and ''[[Clubland (2007 film)|Clubland]]''
*[[Gary McGinnis]] – Scottish former Football player, [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic FC]], [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]]
*[[Ray Watson (judge)|Ray Watson]] - Judge who reformed family law to create no-fault divorce.
*[[Penelope Wensley]] - former governor of Queensland
*[[Richard Wilson (Australian actor)|Richard Wilson]] - actor, ''[[The Proposition (2005 film)|The Proposition]]'' and ''[[Clubland (2007 film)|Clubland]]''


==See also==
==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|Sydney|Schools}}}}
{{Portal|New South Wales|Schools}}
*[[List of Government schools in New South Wales]]
* [[List of government schools in New South Wales]]
*[[List of selective high schools in New South Wales]]
* [[List of selective high schools in New South Wales]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://penrith-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Penrith Selective High School website]
* [https://penrith-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Penrith Selective High School website]
* [http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/summaryschool.php?selectOption=8163 NSW Department of Education and Communities: Penrith High School]
* [http://bettereducation.com.au/Results/Hsc.aspx]


{{NSW Selective Schools}}
{{NSW Selective Schools|state=autocollapse}}
{{High Schools in Western Sydney|state=autocollapse}}
{{Public high schools in Sydney|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Public high schools in Sydney]]
[[Category:Public high schools in Sydney]]
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[[Category:1950 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Penrith, New South Wales]]
[[Category:Penrith, New South Wales]]
[[Category:Selective schools in Australia]]
[[Category:Selective schools in New South Wales]]

Latest revision as of 19:17, 25 October 2024

Penrith Selective High School
Location
Map
Penrith, Western Sydney, New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates33°45′23″S 150°42′23″E / 33.75639°S 150.70639°E / -33.75639; 150.70639
Information
Former names
  • Penrith High School (1950–2011)
  • Penrith Academically Selective High School (2011–2016)
TypePublic co-educational academically selective secondary day school
MottoLatin: Altiora Peto
(Striving for the highest)
Established1950; 75 years ago (1950)
Educational authorityNSW Department of Education
PrincipalJaclyn Cush[1]
Enrolment922[2] (2018)
Campus typeSuburban
Colour(s)Sky blue, grey, yellow, black, white, and royal blue
      
Websitepenrith-h.schools.nsw.gov.au
Map

Penrith Selective High School (PSHS) is a public co-educational academically selective secondary day school, located in Penrith, in Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1950 and operated by the NSW Department of Education, the school caters for approximately 925 students from Year 7 to Year 12.[2]

Penrith Selective High School has consistently performed among the top schools in the Higher School Certificate (HSC).[3] The classes of 2010, 2017, and 2018 share the school's highest ranking at 27th in New South Wales, based on HSC results.[4] In 2018, over 90 students received an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of over 90 and the median ATAR was 91.95.[5] The school also ranks well nationally, consistently placing amongst the top 15 to 20 schools in Australia based on results of the National Assessment Program (NAPLAN), a series of nationally administered tests aimed at measuring student's ability in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.[6]

History

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Penrith Selective High School was first opened in the 1930s as an intermediate school on the land adjacent to its current location (now Penrith Public School). The school's location was then occupied by a mansion known as The Towers. During the 1940s, the mansion and the land was sold to the Department of Education, who demolished the mansion and built Penrith High School, which was officially established in 1950.[7] The school became academically selective in 1989.[8]

Two of the original foundations of the mansion have been preserved and remain in the school grounds. Additionally, the original plaque commemorating the opening of Penrith Intermediate School has been transferred into the present school grounds, where it currently resides in the school's archives. In commemoration of The Towers mansion, the annual school magazine goes by the same name.[9]

Enrolment

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The students of Penrith Selective High School come from an area extending from the Blue Mountains to North Sydney, from the Hawkesbury District to Luddenham. The school has seen significant intake from the City of Blacktown.[citation needed]

Facilities

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The school has a gymnasium, a field with multi-sport goal posts (soccer and rugby, although contact sport is strictly prohibited), a smaller field with portable hockey goal posts, and two basketball courts. It also has five computer labs, an extensive two-storey library, a large space for creative and performing arts, numerous classrooms with equipment and materials dedicated to specific faculties, and a school hall which is part of the original school structure, built in the early 1950s. The hall can accommodate approximately 450 seated guests, usually used for official school functions, performing arts exhibitions, and information evenings. The Penrith Selective High School Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) operates a school canteen, from which all proceeds go towards improving the educational experience of PSHS students.[10]

HSC cheating scandal

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In September 2015, Penrith High School drew controversy after it was discovered that some students had obtained the login information of a teacher and potentially tried to have their marks digitally altered for their HSC,[11] with the school captain being among those involved. This was followed by an investigation from the Department of Education, though its conclusions are unknown.[citation needed]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Penrith Selective High School: Our Staff". NSW Department of Education. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Penrith High School". My School. ACARA. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  3. ^ McGowan, Michael; Evershed, Nick. "'Warped and elitist': are Australia's selective schools failing the fairness test?". The Guardian. Australia. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  4. ^ "2018 High School Rankings Top 150 Schools in NSW". Matrix Education. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Principal's Message - Penrith High School". Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Australian Top Secondary Schools - 2021". Better Education.com.au. Better Education. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  7. ^ Hall and Co. "The Towers - Building from 1880s - Demolished 1940". State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Tower Alumni - Edition One - Term 1 2018". Penrith Selective High School. 2018.
  9. ^ Penrith High School. "The Towers". National Library of Australia. Libraries Australia. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Facilities - Penrith High School". Web3.penrith-h.schools.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  11. ^ Paterson, Ian (11 September 2015). "Penrith High HSC students under investigation over Department of Education computer system hack". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  12. ^ Kurian, Nimi (14 July 2016). "Taking the long road". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Librarian's gift to pupils was literature". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 October 2007.
  14. ^ "Penelope: our home town hero". Chronicle.
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