Catholic schools across Western Sydney celebrate HSC success

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) is celebrating another outstanding year of Higher School Certificate (HSC) results as students from 22 secondary schools receive their results.

Notably, four students received HSC First in Course honours for topping the state in their subject.

• Mankirat Kaur | Santa Sophia Catholic College, Gables | English Standard
• Nicholas McKewen | Gilroy Catholic College Castle Hill | Mathematics Standard 1
• Emily Gonzalez | Catherine McAuley Westmead | Studies of Religion I
• Nishika Talusani | Caroline Chisholm College Glenmore Park | PDHPE

Across the Diocese, several clear strengths emerged within CSPD schools, including 20 NSW All Rounders who achieved the highest possible band in 10 or more units from Catherine McAuley Westmead; Cerdon College Merrylands; Nagle College Blacktown; Parramatta Marist Westmead; Delany College Granville; St Patrick’s Marist College Dundas; St Paul’s Catholic College Greystanes; Caroline Chisholm College Glenmore Park; Gilroy Catholic College Castle Hill and St Andrew’s College Marayong.

15 schools have had an increase in the percentage of Band 6 results from 2024 to 2025 and a number of schools have had notable improvements across multiple performance indicators and strongest performance.

Parramatta Marist achieved 29.3% Band 6 results, maintaining its position as a top performer in CSPD, ranking 44th in the State - the highest-ranked Catholic systemic school.

Delany College Granville has shown more than 600% increase in the Band 6 distinguished achievement rate up from 2024. This is the school’s strongest performance in ten years.

Cerdon College improved its ranking by 30 places to rank within the top 150 schools with 57 students achieving Band 6 in at least 1 subject.

Gilroy Catholic College Castle Hill also improved their ranking by 35 places with 53 students achieving Band 6 in at least 1 subject.

Nagle College, Blacktown also showed significant improvement in their results and ranking, increasing 42 places and their strongest results since 2020.

In Vocational Education and Training (VET) examinations, Business Services continued to perform well with 18 Band 6 achievers and 16 Band 6 achievers in Hospitality.

There was also an increase in the percentage of students in the top two bands in the following subject areas: Business Studies, English Advanced, Society and Culture, Visual Arts, Music 1, Mathematics Standard 1, Legal Studies, Hospitality (Food and Beverage) and Biology.

Chief Executive Officer Jack de Groot congratulated the Class of 2025.

“I congratulate the Class of 2025 on their outstanding achievements in the HSC,” said Jack.

We continue to see strong growth across key learning areas aligning strongly with CSPD’s strategic priorities to improve student learning outcomes and foster excellence in teaching.

“These achievements highlight the hard work, dedication and passion of our teachers and reinforce the difference education makes to the lives of our students in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.”