Willoughby Girls High School crest

Academic Results

Achievements in recent years, particularly in the Higher School Certificate, have attested to the school's success in academic areas.

  • Outstanding Higher School Certificate (HSC) results, ranking WGHS among the top schools in the state
  • High percentages of students scoring 90 or more on the University Admission Index (UAI)
  • Over 70% of students gaining entry to university and between 20% and 30% to other tertiary institutions
  • Many students recognised on the HSC Merit List for attaining course placements in the state
  • Impressive standards on state literacy measures, leading to the Director-General's Award for Literacy Program
  • Extension classes throughout the years in English, Mathematics and Science
  • Excellent results in local, state and national competitions, with many opportunities for gifted and talented students.

 

2008 HSC Highlights

In 2008 there were 167 listings (distinguished achievers or credits) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS first in the state amongst comprehensive government schools and 56th in the state for all schools. Willoughby GHS was recognised in the state media for its high performance - "The clamour to enrol in successful public schools follows dramatic advances in academic achievement made by star performers from the government sector such as Willoughby Girls High". In Mathematics, 40 credits were attained and in English 24. Courses with credits included English Extension 2, English Extension 1, English Advanced, English Standard, English as a Second Language, Mathematics Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics, Mathematics General, Ancient History, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Chinese Background Speakers, Design & Technology, Drama, Economics, Food Technology, French Beginners, Geography, History Extension, Information Processes & Technology, Japanese Continuers, Japanese Extension, Legal Studies, Modern History, Music Extension, Personal Development/Health/Physical Education, Physics, Society & Culture, Textiles & Design, Visual Arts, Indonesian Background Speakers, Korean Background Speakers, Russian Background Speakers and Accounting. Nine students qualified for the prestigious top all-rounders list scoring 90 or more in all 10 HSC units. Four students were placed in the state - a 13th in English Standard, a 6th in Food Technology, a 2nd in Textiles & Design and a 1st in Indonesian Background Speakers. Around 30% of students gained a University Admission Index (UAI) of 90 or more. The highest UAI was 99.55.

2007 HSC Highlights

In 2007 there were 93 listings (distinguished achievers) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS equal first in the state amongst comprehensive government schools and within the top 60 schools in NSW. Willoughby GHS was cited in the state media as a "star performer ... which beat high-fee independents (private schools)". In Mathematics, 20 credits were attained and in English 11. Courses with credits included Mathematics Extension 1, English Advanced, Legal Studies, Modern History, Society & Culture, Biology, Food Technology, Mathematics, Visual Arts, Japanese Continuers, Chemistry, English Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 2, Physics, Textiles & Design, Ancient History, Mathematics General, History Extension, Personal Development/Health/Physical Education, Japanese Extension, Business Studies, Music 1, Hindi and Persian. Over 25% of students gained a University Admission Index (UAI) of 90 or more. The highest UAI was 99.5. One student qualified for the prestigious top all-rounders list scoring 90 or more in all 10 HSC units.

2006 HSC Highlights

In 2006 there were 91 listings (or credits) of 90 or more being scored across courses, ranking WGHS 4th amongst comprehensive government schools and within the top 100 schools in NSW (73rd ). Willoughby GHS was cited in the state media as a local government school “where students get stunning results”. In English and Mathematics, including the extension courses, 15 credits were attained for each subject area, totalling 30. Other courses with credits included Visual Arts, Business Studies, Economics, Legal Studies, Modern History, History Extension, Music, Chemistry, Biology, Ancient History, Chinese for background speakers, Hospitality, French beginners, Food Technology, Physics, Design & Technology, Geography, Information Processes & Technology, Personal Development/Health/PE, Society & Culture, Textiles & Design and Japanese continuers and beginners. Close to 25% of students gained a University Admission Index (UAI) of 90 or more. The highest UAI was 99.8. One student made the elite top all-rounders list scoring 90 or more in all 10 HSC units.

2005 HSC Highlights

In 2005 there were 82 listings of 90 or more in a course, 13 for English and 24 for Mathematics. Courses where students scored 90 or more included Society & Culture, French Beginners, English Advanced, Visual Arts, Russian Background Speakers, General Mathematics, Mathematics, Music 1, Legal Studies, Modern History, Biology, Food Technology, Business Studies, Economics, Chinese Background Speakers, Textiles & Design, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Physics, Chemistry, Japanese Background Speakers and Japanese Continuers. Three students gained 90 or more in each of the courses they studied, earning them and the school a place in the prestigious Top All-Rounders List. A student was placed third in the state in Russian Background Speakers. The top UAI was 99.75 with approximately 23% of students receiving a UAI of 90 or above. WGHS was ranked in the top five comprehensive government schools in NSW by The Sydney Morning Herald.

2004 HSC Highlights

In 2004 there were 70 listings of 90 or more being scored across courses, including English and English extensions, Mathematics and Mathematics extensions, Legal Studies, Modern History, Music, Chemistry, Biology, Ancient History, Chinese for background speakers, Earth & Environmental Science, Business Services, Hospitality, French continuers and beginners, Food Technology, Drama, Business Studies, Visual Arts, Economics, Physics and Japanese continuers and extension. Two students were placed in the state with a fourth in Hospitality and a third in Business Services. WGHS was placed in the Sydney Morning Herald's top schools list. The highest UAI was 99.5. Two students made the elite top all-rounders list scoring 90 or more in all 10 HSC units.

2003 HSC Highlights

In 2003 there were 51 listings where students scored 90 or more in a course. Biology, Mathematics (including extension courses), English (including extension courses), Japanese continuers, Japanese extension, Ancient History, Visual Arts, Music, Design and Technology, Modern History, Earth & Environmental Science, Physics, Software Design & Development, Textiles & Design and Chinese for background speakers. The top UAI was 98.30, with about 20% of students gaining a UAI of 90 or more.

2002 HSC Highlights

In 2002 a total of 39 listings appeared on the Board of Studies Distinguished Achievers' List, encompassing Mathematics (including Extension courses), English, Drama, Visual Arts, Ancient History, Business Studies, PDHPE, Modern History, Physics, French beginners and Textiles & Design. Of the 35 courses studies, 23 had averages above the state. About 25% of students achieved a UAI of 90 or more.

2001 HSC Highlights

In 2001 a total of 32 listings occurred in the Board of Studies Distinguished Achievers’ List, acknowledging the twenty students who achieved 90 or more in an HSC course. Courses included Music, Business Studies, Advanced English, English Extension, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension I and 2, Mathematics General, Ancient History, History Extension, Visual Arts, Drama and Japanese Beginners. These listings represented almost 40% of the year group. Willoughby GHS was placed in The Daily Telegraph’s Top Schools List. Over 20% of students attained a UAI of 90 or more. The top UAI was 98.4.

2000 HSC Highlights

In 2000 fifteen girls were listed in the Board of Studies Merit List for scoring 90% or more in their courses of Mathematics, English, Japanese Z, Biology, Design & Technology, Chemistry and Business Studies. Three girls were placed third, fourth and seventh in the state in Japanese Z and Design & Technology. On a Sydney Morning Herald analysis Willoughby GHS was listed in the top 60 schools in the state on the basis of high results in eight key subjects. Approximately 20% of the year group received a University Admission Index of 90 or more. The top UAI was 98.7.

1999 HSC Highlights

In 1999 a Willoughby GHS student topped the state in 2 Unit French Z and another came eleventh in 2 Unit Computing Studies (General). In addition, nineteen students were listed in the Board of Studies Merit List in 2 Unit Related English, 3 and 4 Unit Mathematics, Mathematics in Society, Biology and General Studies. Twenty students achieved a UAI of 90 or more. The top UAI was 99.15.

1998 HSC Highlights

In 1998 WGHS was ranked in the top 13 schools, including selective and private, on the basis of having two or more students who scored over 90 for each of their eleven units. Over 30% of students gained a University Admission Index (UAI) of 90 or over and there were 23 listings in the Merit List of students who scored over 90% in their courses, including five in English and six in Mathematics. Students were placed in the first ten in the State in Physics (3rd), Japanese Z (8th), 2/3 unit Visual Arts (9th) and General English (10th). The top UAIs were 99.95.