2024 H SC Achievements Highlights &
‘I
learned how to be independent and take charge of my education. PLC Sydney has taught me how to form my own opinions, whilst acknowledging those of others, it has taught me how to communicate my feelings and thoughts by myself and has encouraged my love for learning.’
Chantel Sargiss, Year 12 2024
On behalf of the Council, Staff, and Community of PLC Sydney, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our 2024 Year 12 students on their outstanding achievements in the NSW Higher School Certificate and Cambridge A-level examinations.
The 2024 cohort has been truly impressive. This year has been a testament to their hard work, perseverance, and unwavering commitment, all of which are reflected in their excellent results.
I take great pride in celebrating both the many students who have earned individual accolades and the collective spirit of diligence and determination that defined this group. Beyond their academic accomplishments, I recall their vibrant initiatives, collaborative energy, and the deep sense of connection they brought to the College community. Their legacy will be remembered.
To each of our students, we applaud your achievements and wish you every success as you embark on the next chapter of your journey.
I also extend my sincere thanks to our staff for their exceptional teaching, guidance, and unwavering support of the 2024 cohort.
It is with immense pride and joy that I share this year’s HSC and Cambridge A-level results, along with some inspiring stories and reflections from our students.
Dr Paul Burgis Principal
2024 ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
64%
PLC Sydney students were in the top 20% of the State
3%
PLC Sydney students were in the top 0.5% of the State
40%
PLC Sydney students were in the top 10% of the State
99.9
Top ATAR (Two students)
16
All-rounder Achievers List
Students who scored over 90% in every subject
29 NOMINATIONS
3 Selected For student showcases and exhibitions
7 %
PLC Sydney students (10 students) were in the top 1% of the State*
43.11/50
PLC Sydney School Mean Average mark was 86.22 out of 100
7
Top Achievers List
Students who earned top 10 places in individual subjects
35th IN STATE
PLC Sydney ranking in SMH ranking
*Julia Fang who was also in this Year 12 cohort, completed her Cambridge ‘A’ levels in 2024. She scored A*, A*, A*, which is the equivalent of a top 1% placing (an ATAR over 99).
AUSTRALIAN TERTIARY ADMISSIONS RANK*
Congratulations to the following girls who achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 99 or more in the Higher School Certificate.
Nominated for possible inclusion for the HSC Showcase OnSTAGE: Pine Gap: Maddy McArthur, Mikayla Byrne, Charlotte Edwards, Chelsea Ryan and Jemimah Blair.
TOP ACHIEVERS IN COURSE
Natalie Epstein Italian Extension
Anastasia Prokhorov Biology
Christina Panos Italian Extension
4th 5 th 6 th 9 th
Wilhelmina Jay Italian Continuers
Natalie Epstein Italian Continuers
Alyssa Buda Biology
Jasmine Chee Earth and Environmental Science
UNIVERSITY RECOGNITION GAINED FOR EXCELLENCE IN CO-CURRICULAR PURSUITS
With a holistic approach to education, PLC Sydney encourages active participation and engagement in both academic studies and co-curricular activities.
All our students are challenged to strive for excellence and inspired to achieve their personal best. We believe strongly in personal integrity and social responsibility while supporting each girl as she develops the skills, knowledge and values required for her to make a meaningful contribution to her community and lead a happy and fulfilled life.
Many of our 2024 cohort did this through their varied co-curricular pursuits, from achieving the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, to gaining a Diploma of Communications with ASCA (Australia Speech Communication Association).
These achievements are recognised by universities in the form of Adjustment Factors that, although not included in the official HSC statistics above, do contribute to the excellent university placements that you will read about at the end of this booklet.
PREMIER’S ALL ROUND ACHIEVERS
Sixteen (16) students were recognised on the All Rounders List (achieving more than 90% in all their courses ie the highest band possible in at least 10 units)
Katarina Ahmed
Alyssa Buda
Natasha Chuan
Natalie Epstein
students recognised
Ella Figliuzzi
Mia Fildissis
Isabelle Ho Shon
Zara Howard-Jones
Sarah McPhail
Christina Panos
Contessa Pavlis
Alice Playford-Aggs
EXCELLENCE IN HSC
Anastasia Prokhorov
Claire Van
Chloe Walker
Carolyn Wang
Proportion of Students in the Top Two Bands by Subject
100%
Chinese in Context, French Continuers, Latin Continuers, Music 1 Extension Courses: Chinese Extension, English Extension 2, French Extension, Italian Extension, Japanese Extension, Latin Extension, Mathematics Extension 2, Music Extension, and Science Extension
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
IN TOP 2 BANDS WITH A MARK OF 80% OR HIGHER
COMPARED TO THE STATE AVERAGE
*Represents a very small cohort
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS
A number of PLC Sydney students were selected for recognition as part of the HSC showcase events. To be nominated for any of these events is an outstanding achievement as it acknowledges their major works and performances as ‘best in the State’.
SHAPE
For exemplary work in HSC Design and Technology and Textile and Design.
Congratulations to our two nominees for SHAPE Design and Technology: Chantel Sargiss and Chloe Sargiss.
Congratulations to our five nominees for SHAPE Textiles and Design: Macy Bushby, Jacinta Luca Donato, Alice Playford-Aggs, Stella Pasin, Alessandra Sydun-West.
OnSTAGE
For exemplary performance in HSC Drama.
Four Individual Drama Performance Nominations:
Isabelle Le Map - The Glass Menagerie Madeleine McArthur- Prima Facie Charlotte Edwards - Stage Mum Mikayla Byrne - Testimony
One Group Performance Nomination: Pine Gap, created and performed by Madeleine McArthur, Mikayla Byrne, Charlotte Edwards, Chelsea Ryan and Jemimah Blair.
Four Individual Project Nominations: Zoe Kopczyk - Costume Design Stories in the Dark
Ruby Perrott - Costume Design Tartuffe
Ella Simmonds - Set Design Tartuffe
Lulu Bentley - Video Drama PEST
One Individual Project Selected: Congratulations to Zoe Kopczyk whose Individual Project (Costume Design Stories in the Dark) was selected for HSC Showcase OnSTAGE.
GOLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARDS
The Gold Award is the most demanding of all levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme and is made up of five components: Service, Physical, Skill, Adventurous Journey and Residential Project. It is a mark of great dedication that Year 12 students can balance the requirements of the Gold Award with their studies. In 2024, 17 Year 12 students achieved this impressive award. Congratulations go to:
Freya Edvardse
Charlotte Edwards
Sarah McPhail
Tsambika Galanos
Sophia Gaukrodger
Annabel Hartman
Wilhelmina Jay
Kate Kim
Aileen Kim
Alexandra Kralj
Madeleine Loeffler
Ilyssa Papadopoulos
Anastasia Prokhorov
Chantel Sargiss
Chloe Sargiss
Madison Soh
Amelia Stylianou
Zoe Kopczyk’s costume design
Nominated for SHAPE Textiles and Design: Stella Pasin
Nominated for SHAPE Textiles and Design: Macy Bushby
Nominated for SHAPE Textiles and Design: Jacinta Luca- Donato
Nominated for SHAPE Textiles and Design: Alice Playford-Aggs
Nominated for SHAPE Textiles and Design: Alessandra Sydun-West
ARTEXPRESS
For exemplary work in HSC Visual Arts.
PLC Sydney wishes to congratulate all seven students who were nominated for ARTEXPRESS.
Lola Birley
Printmaking Mantis Manifesto: EAT, PREY, OBEY
Ariella Humphreys
Photomedia Under the Same Sky
Emelie Johansson
Painting Gasping for Air
Hui Qi (Vicky) Lei
Painting Shutdown Until Further Notice
Sarah McPhail
Painting Slowburn of Simulacrum; Ornamentation and Divinity
Mabel Mei
Painting Confluence of Dual Cultures
Emma Ni
Drawing Collecting and Cataloguing: A Seedpod Anthology
From 8660 students who submitted Bodies of Works for the 2023 HSC Visual Arts Examination, only a small percentage of students were nominated for ARTEXPRESS. PLC Sydney is very proud of their achievement.
Congratulations to Hui Qi (Vicky) Lei and Sarah McPhail who were selected for inclusion in ARTEXPRESS.
Selected for ARTEXPRESS: Hui Qi (Vicky) Lei - Shutdown Until Further Notice
Selected for ARTEXPRESS: Sarah McPhail - Slowburn of Simulacrum; Ornamentation and Divinity
Nominated for ARTEXPRESS: Emelie Johansson - Gasping for Air
Nominated for ARTEXPRESS: Mabel Mei - Confluence of Dual Cultures
for ARTEXPRESS:
Nominated for ARTEXPRESS: Emma Ni - Collecting and Cataloguing: A Seedpod Anthology
Nominated for ARTEXPRESS:
*These images are a selection of the girls’ Body of Work
Nominated
Ariella Humphreys- Under the Same Sky
Lola Birley - Mantis Manifesto: EAT, PREY, OBEY
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
PLC Sydney congratulates our five Year 12 students who represented Australia in their respective curricular, co-curricular and sporting areas.
Ellie Cole SPORT - DIVING
Ellie is PLC Sydney’s first homegrown Olympian. She began her diving career with the PLC Sydney Diving Program in Year 6 with great success. Despite facing a setback with a stress fracture of her back in 2021, Ellie won multiple national and international titles in 2023-24 allowing her to secure a place in the Australian Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the Olympics, Ellie’s determination shone as she reached the finals, finishing 7th in the world.
Alexandra (Sasha) Prokhorov ORATORY - PUBLIC SPEAKING
Sasha was a 2023 National Finalist and was selected for the 2024 Australian team. At the 2024 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Canberra, Sasha ranked 5th among Australians and 44th globally in Impromptu Speaking, gaining a ranking of 70th overall.
Carolyn Wang ACADEMIC - SCIENCE
Carolyn is a Science Olympian. She was selected for the Australian Earth Sciences Olympiad Team and represented Australia at the 2024 International Earth Science Olympiad in Beijing, where she earned three medals: Bronze in the Individual Test, Gold in the Earth Systems Project, and Bronze in the International Team Field Investigation.
Alessandra Sydun-West SPORTS - BIATHLON
Following Alessandra’s success in Biathlon at the 2023 Youth Junior World Championships and other international competitions, she was selected to compete at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games held in South Korea. Alessandra competed in three events with her teammates and performed well against a highly competitive field.
Abbey Wilson SPORTS - SNOWBOARD
After a stellar 2023 season, Abbey was selected to compete for Australia at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in South Korea. She placed 4th overall individually and came home with a Bronze medal in the Team event. Abbey now has her sights set on the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
REFLECTIONS
KATARINA AHMED
Humanities Captain
If you could offer advice or a tip to someone about to do their final year, what would it be?
I would say that progress is not linear and that, paradoxically, in order to improve you must “regress” at times. I say this because throughout this year, the times when I have not achieved as highly as I would desire have been the most informative experiences for me. They highlighted areas to improve on whilst forcing me to persevere. I learnt that these experiences can contribute to success if you choose to bounce back from them in a constructive manner.
AURELIA BERGIN
Music Captain
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at PLC Sydney?
Apart from learning how to learn and study class content, the most valuable lesson I learned while being at PLC Sydney is the importance of taking every opportunity you can to join in, participate, and meet new people.
JEMIMAH BLAIR
Discipleship Captain
What is your fondest memory of your time at PLC Sydney?
The accommodating nature of the PLC Sydney Fuel community. When I came to PLC Sydney in the middle of Year 10, I was very scared about making friends, and the girls in the Fuel community really opened their arms to me and made me feel as though I belonged. This sense of inclusivity was also evident during the 2024 Fuel Leadership Conference, where girls from Years 10 to 12 came together as one big group, seeing each other as family rather than as older or younger students.
ALYSSA BROWN
School Community Prefect
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at PLC Sydney?
PLC Sydney taught me to never quit anything even though I knew the chances of winning weren’t very high. If it was a question I really couldn’t get and I felt like giving up, I would stay on it for hours until I got it. They taught me to be patient with learning.
ELLIE COLE
Olympian
Diving Captain
International Blazer Recipient - Sport
How important was it for you to balance your academic focus with other activities?
Extremely important. As an elite athlete, maintaining a balance between my academics and sports, as well as making room for family, friends, and myself, was and still is super important. Sometimes this can be challenging, and the balance does not always stay equal, so understanding where your priorities lie at certain periods in your life is so important. I came to acknowledge through my time at PLC Sydney that your attention to certain aspects of your life shifts constantly with new demands and personal needs. At the end of the day, it’s only you who has control over what you focus on.
“True success does not come in the form of an impressive mark or the highest rank. Rather, it comes through one’s ability to make small but consistent efforts to improve.”
Ruby Zammit
ISABELLA EDWARDS
If you could offer advice or a tip to someone about to do their final year, what would it be?
The most important tip is that organisation is key, so start early! It is never too late to start, but it really does make your life easier the sooner you start.
ANGELINA FOLEY
Senior Prefect
If you could offer advice or a tip to someone about their final year, what would it be?
To focus on yourself and your goals. Worrying about what marks another student is getting or how much study they are doing is counterproductive. Everyone has different ambitions, and focusing on yourself is the best way to achieve them.
SOPHIA GAUKRODGER
What contributed to your final year and/or HSC success?
Have a balance between studying and the other things you enjoy doing, such as sports, music, art, etc. Doing those things helps you to put the HSC into perspective as well as make your time more productive when you study.
ALEXANDRA KRALJ
School Community Prefect
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at PLC Sydney?
The most valuable lesson I learned at PLC Sydney was to view the people around you as team members, not competition. Whilst at PLC Sydney, watching the girls in my year group put out a helping hand to one another no matter what it was and created a family-like atmosphere where everyone felt valued. I learnt that when everyone works together, we achieve much greater results than if we try to compete with one another.
SARAH MCPHAIL School Captain
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at PLC Sydney?
To look beyond the surface of people and the world around you. I’ve learnt to explore my curiosity in the world, as well as exhibit compassion, learning that you don’t always know what is happening in other people’s lives.
ANASTASIA PROKHOROV
Public Speaking Captain
If you could offer advice or a tip to someone about to do their final year, what would it be?
Find strategies that work for you in terms of managing your time. Start doing past papers early and clarify everything with your teachers. Also make the most of the final year activities because they give you something to look forward to.
CAROLYN WANG
International Blazer Recipient
What contributed to your final year and/or HSC success?
Cultivating a love of learning. Year 12 requires a lot of hard work for each subject, so it’s important that you’re doing things you enjoy. Your love for a subject is a great motivator to get things done and can inspire you to push yourself to achieve.
“PLC Sydney offers a range of opportunities in an array of areas, however, the most valuable lesson I have learned is the importance of humility, service and being the best and truest version of yourself.”
Charlotte Edwards
ABBEY WILSON
Wilkie House Captain International Blazer Recipient
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at PLC Sydney?
When starting something new, don’t be afraid to throw everything you have at it because you never might know what you’ll get back in return.
ZOE KOPCZYK
Publications Captain
Individual Project selected for inclusion in OnSTAGE
How important was it for you to balance your academic focus with other activities?
I believe it is extremely important to have a balance of personal life and school life. I found myself getting burnt out so quickly the longer I focused on my studies. Even when I wasn’t studying, I still found myself stressing, unable to settle. The only way to get through a day would be the little reprieve at the end of it where I could do what I wanted. Extracurriculars also allowed for a stressfree environment, as I knew I had no obligation to do any work.
CHLOE WALKER
Senior Prefect
If you could offer advice or a tip to someone about to do their final year, what would it be?
Try your hardest and take failures in your stride. There will always be a mark you are not happy with but you must take that and learn from it.
STELLA KOULOS
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at PLC
Sydney?
One of the most valuable lessons I learned at PLC Sydney was to not allow short-term goals and marks to define me, and to instead look at the bigger picture; life is a marathon, not a sprint.
CHLOE SARGISS
Community Prefect
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at PLC Sydney?
Communication is key, regardless of whether it is with your friends or teachers, being able to speak freely and voice our opinions through SRC meetings for example, is a crucial element of being able to thrive academically and benefit the most from the teachers who support us.
LEA ELAND
If you could offer advice or a tip to someone about to do their final year, what would it be?
It’s okay not to be motivated every day. We all have ‘off days’ and it’s important to recognise this, take a break and come back stronger than ever tomorrow!
CLARA IRVING
Boarders Prefect
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at PLC Sydney?
The most valuable lesson I learned at PLC Sydney came from my head of boarding. It was to have my cup full and overflowing, meaning to always be positive. This has also helped me to see the good in others and always look out for people, especially my fellow boarders.
MIA FILDISSIS
What contributed to your final year/and or HSC success?
Being organised by maintaining an efficient study schedule and setting goals for myself both personally and academically. Furthermore, balancing extracurriculars and studies allowed me to deviate to my ‘happy place’ at times of need and assist with keeping a healthy mind.
