A selective girls high school, established in 1914, North Sydney Girls High has a high academic profile because of outstanding HSC results. Although this is the core business of the school, full participation in the life of the school is expected so that each student can develop socially, creatively and responsibly, and take her place as a leader in society.
Facilities: Assembly hall, gymnasium, netball and tennis courts, specialist spaces including computer rooms, kiosks, library with internet, new language lab and music studio.
Electives Years 7 to 10: French, German, Japanese, Latin, Design and Technology, Asian Social Studies, Chinese (Mandarin), Commerce, Computing Studies, History, Geography, Food Technology, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Dance, Textiles and Design.
Electives Years 11 and 12: English, Ancient and Modern History, Legal Studies, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Geography, Society and Culture, French, German, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Drama, Music, Food Technology, Visual Arts, Textiles and Design, 1-Unit Photography, Computer Software Development and Design, Information Processes and Technology, PD/Health/PE. All extension courses are available where applicable.
Sport: In addition to a wide range of sports including hockey, netball, tennis, swimming, lawn bowls, and athletics, there are extracurricular sports run by the P&C, which include cricket, touch football, water polo, rowing, sailing and snow sports.
Extracurricular activities: Include debating, public speaking, Mock Trial, Schools in Parliament, chess club, video club and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. The school is well known for the exceptional quality of its music performances, with more than 200 students involved in public performances. In 2003, the school was awarded the Director General’s Award for Excellence for this program. There is a concert band, a wind orchestra, a recorder ensemble, an orchestra, flute choirs, a woodwind ensemble, a choir, and various vocal groups and orchestral and jazz ensembles. There is a full production of a musical each year with North Sydney Boys High and the school holds an annual creative arts exhibition, and performance nights for drama, dance and music. Overseas tours for languages and music are also a feature. The wind orchestra has toured the USA on two occasions as well as Europe and China.
Welfare and personal development: Counsellor, peer support, student Years advisers, careers adviser, work experience, E-Team, leadership opportunities through the SRC and prefects. Wearing school uniform is compulsory.
Special features: There is an emphasis on community service as is evidenced by supporting numerous initiatives at home and abroad as well as a Charities Day. Initiative, leadership and full participation in the life of the school are encouraged and are a characteristic of the student body.
Famous ex-students: Ruth Cracknell, Nicole Kidman, Dr Anne McDonald, Professor Anne Sefton, Professor Yvonne Wills, Catherine Martin, Susan Lyons, Vivian Schenker, Dr Jessica Milner-Davis, Margaret Throsby, Samantha Lang, Sandra Levy.