Dorrigo High School

Dorrigo is a beautiful rural town located on the eastern edge of the spectacular New England plateau. The high school is a vibrant part of the community and draws from the township itself, surrounding farmlands and small villages such as Dundurrabin, Hernani and Ebor. Dorrigo High School has a proud tradition of high achievement across all aspects of the school. We strive to gain outstanding results in external examinations and national competitions, we produce excellent performances in cultural activities such as public speaking, debating, drama, music and art and many students have reached regional and national level in sport. These achievements are due, in no small way, to the dedication and commitment of the teaching and support staff who often go beyond the call of duty to ensure that our students are receiving the very best of opportunities. Being part of a small rural community has advantages in terms of education. Our class sizes are generally smaller than most schools, particularly in the senior school. This enables us to have a much closer association with our students and allows us to utilise teaching/learning experiences that are better suited to the needs and individual differences of our students. Our compressed curriculum in Stage 6 is an innovative and highly effective structure which enhances students' course options and pathways to a HSC. We are fortunate to have very good technology resources. These can be used to access information from around the world and are utilised to enhance learning experiences in the classroom. Teachers actively engage in professional learning to ensure that 21st Century learning is embraced. We are a public school and proud that we are not selective in our acceptance of students nor in our provision of quality education to assist all students to reach their potential. Our welfare system is based on mutual respect and a structure that is clear, well communicated and fair. We endeavour to develop close links with parents and the community to ensure a co-operative atmosphere.  We act professionally and promote the positive aspects of our school in the community. Our success depends heavily on the staff working together as a team. We provide the students with a consistent basis from which to operate. School Plan As part of the DEC's new approach to school excellence, a streamlined and strategic approach to planning, reporting and self-assessment has been implemented at all DEC schools. Our 2015-1017 school plan school plan provides the foundation for building school excellence and high performance. Our plan's implementation is monitored regularly (internally) and forms the basis of reporting back to the system and to the community. It is published on the school website and is refined annually based on evidence. The school plan identifies three strategic directions: Strategic Direction One: Staff lead a lighthouse school with an expert teaching team Strategic Direction Two: Staff lead a culture that actively promotes student learning Strategic Direction Three: Staff lead a school community where honest and open communication is modelled, valued and respected Our school plan also detail the purpose, people and processes, and products and practices for each strategic direction.