Gloucester High School

Gloucester High School's central purpose is to develop a supportive learning environment that engages all students, teachers and community in the pursuit of learning excellence. The school is located in a picturesque setting overlooking the Gloucester River valley. Students utilise their local environment through a range of environmental education programs from the school farm's catchment management project to an annual triathlon that takes in the pristine waters of the Barrington River. This school supports student engagement through innovative teaching and learning programs and a network of welfare staff. The Positive Behaviour for Learning program teaches five core expectations: care, achievement, respect, effort and responsibility to all students. Our NAPLAN results in both literacy and numeracy highlighted strong growth from Year 7 to Year 9. Students at our school have achieved excellent HSC results. 26 students achieved ATAR results; 6 of these achieved a Band 6 in a course and 19 students achieved 34 Band 5 results. School-based traineeships and vocational education and training courses are incorporated into our Stage 5 and Stage 6 curricula, making our students ready for the workplace or further training. Other features of our school that support individual and group interests include: Individual Learning Plans that support students experiencing learning difficulties; Personalised Learning Pathways for our Aboriginal students; an extensive pastoral care program; state of the art information and communication technology; performing and creative arts; debating and public speaking; leadership programs such as the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award; and an active Student Representative Council. Our school boasts outstanding agriculture teaching resources, including a large school farm of 30 hectares that helps to support a very successful beef cattle herd. The school site has extensive sporting facilities that have helped to foster sporting excellence at the state and national levels. The school is a proud member of the Bucketts Way Community of Schools (Engaging the Learner K to 12), sharing common goals of literacy, numeracy, technology and social well-being. Our partner primary schools share teaching resources that facilitate smooth student transitions from Year 6 to 7. Students from this school are regularly selected as soloists in the regional music spectaculars. Gloucester High School plays an active role in its community through performances at community events such as ANZAC and Rememberance Days; Senior Week; Carols in the Park; Australia Day and service clubs such as Rotary; View Club, Quota and Lions as well as the local nursing home. Students are encouraged to participate in the Premiers Volunteer Program and develop strong interpersonal skills. Our school receives excellent support from its proactive Parents and Citizens Association. The school's motto is 'strive to excel'.