The Forest High School, founded in 1961, has a strong reputation for an ethos and tradition that recognises the individuality of the learner and fosters the expectations of respect, responsibility and personal best. The Forest offers a broad curriculum choice with the addition of special Middle School programs, which enrich the learning opportunities of all students. The school has an outstanding reputation for the quality of the work produced by students in music and the performing and visual arts.
The Forest provides strong pastoral care programs underpinned by a framework: Positive Behaviour Engaging Learners (PBEL). PBEL provides proactive school-wide systems of support for defining, teaching and supporting appropriate student behaviours. PBEL helps teachers deliver the highest quality learning programs to improve student academic and behavioural learning outcomes. The school’s community is enriched by a student population from diverse social and cultural backgrounds including a substantial number of international students. The Forest High School is linked by public transport to Sydney’s central business district, the North Shore, Chatswood, Manly and the Northern Beaches.
Facilities: The school is served by five computer laboratories with extensive internet access, a Connected Classroom with video conferencing facilities, interactive white-boards and multimedia; CAD; three music rooms; seven science laboratories; three language rooms; nine design and technology rooms; a drama room; a performing arts centre; two specialist art rooms; a photography darkroom; a digital audio recording suite; 40,000 item multimedia and print resource library; a full-size, well-equipped gymnasium and a large assembly hall with full performance facilities. In addition, The Forest High has extensive tree-lined grounds with a wide range of sporting facilities. Warringah Aquatic Centre and the NSW Institute of Sport are readily accessible.
Electives Years 9 and 10: Commerce, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, Engineering, Fitness Leader, Food Technology, French, Graphics Technology, Information and Software Technology, Industrial Timber Technology, Japanese, Metalwork, Music, Visual Art.
Electives Years 11 and 12: English (Advanced, ESL, Standard, Extension 1 and 2 and Fundamentals) Mathematics, Mathematics General, Mathematics Extension, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, PD/Health/PE, Ancient History, Modern History, History Extension, Business Studies, Economics, Legal Studies, Society and Culture, Information Processes and Technology, Software Design and Development, Industrial Wood Technology, Drama, Music 1 and Music 2, Photography, Visual Art, VET Entertainment, French Beginners, Japanese Beginners, Japanese Continuers, Design and Technology, Food Technology, Industrial Technology Wood, Textiles and Design, VET Hospitality. Joint schools TAFE courses are also available.
Sport: Soccer, touch football, netball, basketball, softball, volleyball and recreational sports, including sailing and indoor rock climbing.
Extracurricular activities: Choral ensembles, concert band, stage band, rock bands, concerts, competitions, and community performances, the annual musical spectacular and “unplugged” concerts, the school’s prestigious annual art show and drama festivals, school spectacular, class performances and scripted play performances.
Welfare and personal development: Pastoral care is managed through strong teams including welfare, learning support and ESL. Student leadership through an active Student Representative Council is an important element of school life. The High Resolves Global Leadership Program was implemented in 2010. Effective peer support, peer mediation, work experience, individual and group welfare programs are also in operation.
Special features: The school has a strong focus on the development of student leadership in the context of global citizenship and social justice as well as high academic achievement, creative and performing arts and sporting excellence. An extensive curriculum is offered in Creative and Performing arts, Music, Modern Languages, the Humanities and Science and Technology. Enrichment programs for Years 7 and 8 and community support through a strong community of schools and parental involvement through the P & C are key features of the school.