Welcome to the Hunter Sports High School website.
Hunter Sports High School (HSHS) is a partially selective public high school with approximately 950 students. As a member of the Waiyarang Community of Schools, we welcome students from local schools including Windale, Wiripaang and Mt Hutton Public Schools. The school also enrolls students from around the Hunter and Central Coast region to participate in our selective Sports Academy programs. 22% of students are from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background who bring rich cultural experiences to our community.
The school has a close partnership with the local Minimbah Aboriginal Educational Group who supports the school to deliver strong inclusive whole school programs in Aboriginal culture. Hunter Sports High School has seven dedicated Support Unit classes within our GEM (Growing Educational Mindsets) Academy for students with special needs. We have a Family Occupation and Education Index (FOEI) of 120 with 44% of students in the lowest socioeconomic status quartile. The school's world-class Big Picture Academy, for students from Years 8-12, offers an alternative learning model that sees students engage in their education and take responsibility for their learning by identifying and exploring their personal interests and passions. This design of learning has been expanded to include a number of new pathway options for students. Hunter Sports High School prides itself on the diverse curriculum options for students and its academy structure that wraps curriculum around general capabilities.
The Academy structure at Hunter Sports High School places students at the centre of their own learning where they have agency and connection to a community of learners. This structure aligns with the school motto of 'Personalising Pathways' for all students. An Academy has its own purpose and is supported by a teacher advisor. The advisor facilitates, guides, mentors and supports the learning of students in their advisory group.
The Sports Academy provides elite coaching to talented athletes as well as a supportive and flexible academic framework that enables these students to reach both their academic and sporting potential. We have 21 internal (teachers) and 31 external coaches delivering high quality sports programs in 13 sports which consistently produce regional, state, Australian and international representatives. Teams and individual athletes uphold Hunter Sports High School's proud sporting tradition, producing outstanding results across many sports at regional, state, national and international levels. As a member of the NSW Sports High Schools Association, partnerships with state and national sporting bodies provide students with recognised development pathways to elite level sport. Our partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee has identified HSHS as an official Olympic Pathway School, recognising the elite level of the school’s sports and strength and conditioning programs. The staff are dedicated to improving and enriching student outcomes and have a strong commitment to providing quality teaching and learning for students. The broad syllabus covers traditional subjects as well as a range of electives and Vocational Education Training (VET) courses, with the aim to provide a learning pathway to meet the personal needs of each individual student.
Our dedicated staff are committed to improving and enriching student outcomes and providing quality teaching and learning for our students. With a broad syllabus covering traditional subjects, as well as a range of electives and Vocational Education Training (VET) courses, we aim to provide a learning pathway to meet the individual needs of each student.
At Hunter Sports High School, we celebrate the diversity of our students, their abilities, and their backgrounds. We have a strong and supportive wellbeing system in place and are proud of our active community partnerships and the many supporters who provide input and expertise for our sports programs and student groups. Our talented and experienced staff, along with our committed student leaders, contribute to making our school community a place where students feel valued and inspired to do their best.
I encourage you to explore our website to learn more about the exciting opportunities and supportive community that await you at Hunter Sports High School. Together, we can inspire, empower, and achieve excellence.
Rachel Byrne - Principal
