Pendle Hill High School is a comprehensive, co-educational high school with over 300 students located in Wentworthville, a suburb in the west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The school enjoys a prominent position in extensive, elevated and park-like grounds, with views east to Sydney and west to the Blue Mountains. Established in 1965, the school has a long tradition of academic, cultural and sporting achievements especially in rugby league.
School Profile:
The school is set in a residential area that is slowly undergoing renewal with increasing medium density development, particularly around Pendle Hill Railway Station and Wentworthville Railway Station. The school is located close to Pendle Hill Railway Station.
There is increasing student cultural diversity with 40% of students coming from non-English speaking backgrounds. The school has a current teaching staffing establishment of over 30, many of whom have been teaching at the school for 10 years or more. Specialist staffing positions include Vocational Education Coordinator, Librarian, Learning Support & Welfare Team, School Counsellor, Teachers Aides and Aboriginal support staff. The executive consists of the Principal, Deputy Principal and Head Teachers. The teaching staff is supported by administrative staff, general and farm assistants and a cleaning staff of 3.
Community Involvement:
The community takes pride in, and ownership of, the school. Active participation occurs through the Parents and Citizens Association, volunteer parents in the School Canteen and participation of parents in Recognition Assemblies.
School Grounds and Facilities:
The school, being over 40 years old, has been reasonably well maintained. The Multi-Purpose Centre and grounds are used for Recogntion Assemblies and community sporting activities and are also widely used by many community groups. The school has recently refurbished and re-equipped 3 Computer Labs and 2 Science Labs. The school has also recently installed an elevator and built ramps in various locations around the school to enable disabled students to freely move around the school. The library has a computer lab and it is linked to the other computers in the school. Every computer is linked to the internet. The school has 6 Science Laboratories, 8 Technological and Applied Science Rooms, 3 Visual Arts rooms, Photography Lab, a Music and Performing Arts Room, a School Fitness Centre and a Mathematics Task Centre. The Multi Purpose Centre is fully utilised and sporting facilities include gymnastics equipment, netball, tennis and basketball courts and 2 ovals.
Notable Former Students:
Notable former students include the champion Olympic cyclist Bradley McGee and author John Larkin.