They were generally delighted with their achievements.

Lauren Davis, who found out she was Dux of Parkes High School at the presentation night on Monday, was happy with some of her scores and disappointed with others.

Lauren has early entry into Macquarie University for a double Law degree.

“I am waiting for the main round of offers, before I make up my mind,” she said.

“There is another law course I am interested in at ANU, which I might get into if I’m eligible with bonus points.

“I have a few weeks to think about what I will do.”

Lauren scored an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) of 91.85, Band 6 in Chemistry (90), Band 5s for  Legal Studies (88),  Maths (87), Advanced English (83), Physics (82) and Extension Maths.

A Band 6 is equivalent to a mark in a course that is above 90 while a band 5 is between 80 and 90.

Principal Sandra Carter said she is absolutely delighted with the solid HSC results achieved and the individual successes of the Parkes High students. 

“2014 Dux, Lauren Davis, scored a Band 6 in the highly academic Chemistry course; in fact no one in the class scored below Band 5!,” Mrs Carter said.

“Our results in English Extension 1 and 2 were Band 5 and above, and our students scored very similar results in Mathematics Extension 1. 

“These are academically very demanding courses and I thank our teachers for the time and effort they put into teaching and supporting our students throughout their high school years.”

Over 25 students have already achieved early entry to university which, Mrs Carter said, is testament to not only their academic ability but also their extra-curricular activities both within the school and within the  community. 

“We have also had exceptional results in the Vocational Education and Training courses of Construction and Metals and Engineering,” she said. 

“These courses help our students gain apprenticeships and traineeships in industry and give them a head start with further education courses in these specialised areas. 

“Our students have a diverse range of aspirational ambitions and we at Parkes High School develop an individual pathway to support each student achieve their personal goals.”

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Jayne Ware is very happy with her results. 

“My ATAR is 70.35, which is .35 more than I needed to get into the course I want,” she said.

Jayne is hoping to study a Bachelor of Education Early Childhood and Primary at Bathurst CSU.

She scored two Band 5s - Community and Family Studies (83), and PDHPE (80); two Band 4s - Advanced English (73) and Modern History (75); and two Band 3s - Biology (67) and Maths (67).

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Gavin Davis is not interested in taking a gap year, and is very excited to be going to the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Surry Hills next year, where he will study a Bachelor of Screen Arts.

“Ultimately I would like to be a filmmaker,” Gavin said. 

“I’m really looking forward to learning about and meeting people in the industry.” 

Gavin’s ATAR is 76.9 and with five bonus points, brings it up to 81.9.

He scored six Band 5s - Ancient History (80), Advanced English (82), Music (84), Art (84), Extension English 1 40/50, and Extension English 2 36/50; and one Band four - General Maths (78).

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Tiana Moon is very pleased with her results, and is off to the University of England next year to study Animal Science.

“I am interested in animal nutrition, conservation and things like that,” Tiana said.

Tiana scored an ATAR of 74.85 with three Band 5s - Maths (83), Biology (82), Earth and Environmental Science (81); two Band 4s - Chemistry (78), PD (77); and one Band 3 for English (67).

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Maddy Luck plans on taking a gap year to earn some money before taking up her early entry to Wollongong University to study International Relations.

“I want to travel the world, I love learning about other cultures. History is my favourite subject,” she said.

Maddy scored an ATAR of 73.6 with four Band 5s - Ancient History (82), Modern History (81), PD (83) and Extension English (70); three Band 4s Visual Arts (77), Advanced English (75) and General Maths (72).

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Lachlan George is hoping to get into either Wollongong or Newcastle University to study Civil or Mechanical Engineering. 

He said he is happy.

“I’d like to be in the engineering field, I’m pretty good at it because I enjoy it,” he said.

Lachlan scored an ATAR of 76.6 with three Band 5s - Engineering Studies (86), Maths (87), and Maths Extension 1 (36/50); one Band 4 - Physics (75); and two Band 3s - English Standard (69), and Ancient History (68).

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Zac Bayliss is delighted with his results but didn’t have to worry about getting into university as he is hoping to secure a building apprenticeship in Parkes soon.

“I have had a fair bit of experience already over the last couple of years with three local builders,” Zac said.

Zac scored and ATAR of 56.95 with two Band 5s - Wood Industrial Technology (82) and Construction (81); two Band 4s Senior Science (79) and General Maths 2 (74); and two Band 3s - PDHPE (68) and Standard English (62).

Principal of Red Bend Catholic College, Brother Michael Flanagn said the HSC class of 2014 achieved exceptional HSC results. 

“The Red Bend Catholic College community is extremely proud of its students,” he said.

Sixteen students have been recognised as Distinguished Achievers as they achieved 36 Band 6s across 17 separate courses. 

Kate Sandford (a boarder from Louth received) a Top Achiever commendation for an outstanding result in Primary Industries, where she was placed 3rd in the state. 

Fifty three students achieved Band 5s across 29 courses. 

In total, the class received 135 Band 5s which is equivalent to a mark between 80 and 90. 

The College Dux for 2014 is Pakes girl Yvette Quinn with an ATAR of 96.8. 

Other top ATARs include Illie Hewitt (94.6), Tamra Heinzel (93.45), Meg Rice (91.15), Larissa Pearsall (91.15) and Vince Umbers (91.70). 

Brother Michael said the students’ results are a reflection of their conscientious attitude and enthusiastic approach across all subject areas. 

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Parkes students figured prominently in the top scores at Red Bend.

Declan Martin is ecstatic with his results and will go to Sydney University.

“I am going to do an Arts degree for three years and then a Dip Ed,” he said.

“At this point I want to teach High School English and History.”

Declan scored an ATAR of 85.25 with five Band 5s - English (81), Legal Studies (89), General Maths (87), Modern History (85), Religion (43/50); and one Band 4 PDHPE (79).

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Lucy McGrath is really happy with her results and is off to CSU Orange next year to study a Bachelor of Pharmacy.

“They are a lot higher than I expected,” she said.

Lucy scored an ATAR of 76.75 with one Band 6 - General Maths (91); one Band 5 - Ancient History (82); and four Band 4s - Advanced English (74), Chemistry (72), Religion (39/50), and Biology (77).

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A ‘very excited’ and ‘very happy’ Meg Rice is looking forward to starting a double degree - Bachelor of Agriculture and Bachelor of Law at the University of New England next year.

Meg scored an ATAR of 91.95 with three Band 6s - Agriculture (90), General Maths 2 (90), PDHPE (91); and three Band 5s - Biology (80), Advanced English (85), and Religon (44/50).

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Illie Hewitt has gained early entry into Sydney University to study Medical Science which is a pathway to Medicine, as she ultimately wants to be a doctor.

“I am very happy,” she said. “I had to get 80 for early entry, so I was really happy to get anything over that.”

Illie scored an ATAR of 94.6 with three Band 6s - PE (95), Maths (93), Religion (45/50); and three Band 5s - English (88), Chemistry (84) and Extension Maths (38/50).

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Mireille Marks has early entry into Wollongong University where she will study a Bachelor of Commerce Majoring in Human Resources.

“I am very, very happy - I thought they were very generous with my results!” she said.

Mireille scored an ATAR of 86 with one Band 6 - Religion (91); and four Band 5s PDHPE (86), Advanced English (85), Modern History (85), Drama (80).

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Mila Joubert has secured a cadetship with Crowe and Horwath Business Advisors and Accountants of Forbes, where she will work and study a Bachelor of Accounting.

“I am very happy about it, I can study and work and get paid,” she said.

Mila scored an ATAR of 85 with five Band 5s - Maths (83), Advanced English (86), Legal Studies (88), Business Studies (86) and Religous Studies 2 unit (86).

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Dux of Red Bend Yvette Quinn has already moved to Sydney.

She hopes to be accepted into the University of Sydney to study a Bachelor of Law.

Yvette scored an ATAR of 96.8 with four Band 6s - English Extension 2 (46/50), Legal Studies (94), PE (95) and Religion (46/50); and four Band 5s - Advanced English (89), English Extension 1 (43/50) and Maths (89).

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Ben Somers is really happy with his results and looking forward to studying Communications at CSU Bathurst.

Ben scored an ATAR of 83.65 with five Band 5s - Business (86), Religion (43/50), English (82), Food Technology (87) and PDHPE (87); and one Band four - General Maths (76).

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Vince Umbers plans to study Music Science at either Sydney University or the University of NSW.

Vince scored an ATAR of 91.70 with two Band 6s - PE (91) and Religion (46/50); and four Band 5s - English (89), Music 2 (89), Modern History (87), and Maths (84).

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Toby Nash has received an offer from the University of Wollongong to study Civil Engineering.

“I am really happy and will take that up, but I’m still deciding if I’ll defer and take a gap year,” he said.

Toby scored and ATAR of 73.65 with four Band 5s - English (83), Legal Studies (82), PE (82), Religion (82); one Band four - Maths (70); and one Band 3 - Physics (65).