Congratulations to the St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove Class of 2025 on your outstanding academic achievements across both the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.

The College placed 103rd in the state in The Sydney Morning Herald HSC rankings, securing a top 150 result and reinforcing the strength of St Ursula’s dual-credential pathway, which enables students to pursue excellence through either the HSC or IB.

This success was underpinned by an exceptional 170 Distinguished Achievers, the third highest total in Sydney Catholic Schools, and continues a remarkable trend, with the College averaging 175 Distinguished Achievers per year since 2020. The cohort also included two All Rounders and three Top Achievers, highlighting the breadth and depth of achievement across the College’s senior pathways.

As a school that proudly offers both the HSC and IB, St Ursula’s College recognises the importance of celebrating student success through measures that reflect both programs.

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) provides a consistent and equitable indicator of achievement, converting results from both the HSC and IB onto a common scale for university entry and ensuring the accomplishments of all graduates are recognised.

In 2025, St Ursula’s students across both pathways achieved an impressive average ATAR of 80, with 40 per cent of students scoring above 85, reflecting sustained academic excellence and strong post-school opportunities.

St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove Principal Vivienne Awad congratulated the Class of 2025 on their dedication, resilience and commitment.

“The Class of 2025 achieved remarkable results, reflecting their perseverance and pursuit of excellence across both the HSC and IB pathways. Highlights include Stephanie Paino, our HSC Dux, achieving an ATAR of 99.25, and Yara Taouk, Dux of the IB cohort, achieving an ATAR equivalent of 95.5,” Ms Awad said.

She also acknowledged outstanding subject results across the cohort.

“Theodora Liangas, a Year 11 Accelerated student, placed third in the state for Mathematics Advanced, Nikoletta Kalabalikis achieved second place in Modern Greek Beginners, and Stephanie Paino placed 10th in Studies of Religion I. Six students were also nominated for HSC Showcases, including Lavinia Cacouratos, who was selected for Musicology.”

Reflecting on the broader success of the cohort, Ms Awad said the results were a testament to the strength of St Ursula’s learning community.

“These results reflect the dedication of our students, the expertise of our teachers, and the unwavering support of our families. By offering two rigorous academic pathways, we ensure every learner is empowered to thrive,” she said.

“What impressed me most about the Class of 2025 was how their theme of ‘Together We Rise’ was lived out in a collaborative and cohesive approach to study. Students supported one another, and this collective effort is evident in the strength and consistency of the results.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2025 – you embody Ursuline learners who are creative, collaborative, courageous, curious and committed to being your very best.

HSC Dux Stephanie Paino reflected on the shared effort behind the results, saying:

“All the hard work has been rewarding, not just for myself but for everyone. We have a great and supportive community.”

SUCCESS ACROSS THE SYSTEM

Sydney Catholic Schools is celebrating an outstanding year of achievement with the Class of 2025 delivering some of the strongest HSC results in the system’s history.

Nearly 4,500 SCS students completed HSC exams this year, collectively achieving 2,875 Distinguished Achievers listings, 43 Top Achievers, 53 All Rounders. Five schools ranked among the top 100 high schools in NSW in The Sydney Morning Herald HSC rankings, with 17 schools in the top 150.

Sydney Catholic Schools again enjoyed incredible success across the Creative and Performing Arts and Vocational Education and Training (VET), with students receiving a record 321 nominations across HSC Showcases, and 1,989 nationally recognised VET Certificate II and III qualifications.