North Sydney Boys has now topped the HSC school rankings two years in a row, and the students are looking to complete the hat-trick. Alex Driscoll goes behind the scenes as Year 12 trial exams loom closer
BY ALEX DRISCOLL
As an outsider to the world of selective schools, certain stereotypes abound in my mind about what it is like. Images of hot-housed, baggy-eyed, exceptionally talented yet dangerously overworked teenagers come to mind.
And while these pressure cooker environments can create outstanding results, North Sydney Boys’ High School (NSB) principal Brian Fergusson believes that excellence can be achieved in other ways.
“We’re keen for the community to break down the barriers of perceptions of a school like ours,” the principal tells North Shore Living. “We want our students to know you’re more than just a mark. You cannot be defined by a mark or a rank.”
For two years in a row now, NSB has managed to overcome friendly rivals James Ruse Selective High School in the Sydney Morning Herald’s yearly HSC rankings, taking out first position. While it may seem like no surprise that a selective school places first, it is important to note that for more than two decades, James Ruse had the number one rank in a chokehold, with North Sydney Boys dancing around the top 5, but never managing to break their rival’s monopoly. But now, they have the chance for a trifecta.
Whilst this would be a considerable achievement, for Mr Fergusson, it has never been the end goal. “It wasn’t my goal personally. I’ve communicated very clearly to the parents because they’ve obviously asked me similar questions, and I communicated that we will always aspire for the best of our students, and if they get the recognition that’s fantastic, but we will always recognise them anyway.”
Speaking to Brian Fergusson, its clear he is a principal that is in awe of the talent his students possess. Recalling how he recently witnessed a student who could solve a Rubiks Cube with his eyes closed, or how the Year 12s had recently asked to stay back after school to run an integral equation competition, his goal has been to help channel the clear talent and dedication of the students into a variety of avenues, allowing them to thrive as wholistic young men.
And this is playing out beyond academics. NSB is a rising force in the school sports scene, with its basketball team developing a formidable reputation locally. The boys relay team also recently broke a state swimming record. Academically, this has seen the fantastic results consistently achieved in subjects like maths and science expand into English.
School captain Marcus taking part in the World’s Greatest Shave
As a matter of fact, NSB is now the top ranked school in NSW for English. “English is very much something that they can aspire to do very, very well in,” head of English Loveday Sharpington-Recny explained. “Before the school came first, we were already seeing an upward trajectory in our English results, and I think that now has fed through the whole culture of the school. From Year 7, every student at this school knows they can achieve highly in English, whether or not they have a natural affinity for it.”
Walking around the library, Ms Sharpington-Recny is delighted to hear students discussing an upcoming English presentation, taking the opportunity to highlight how much of this change has also been driven by her pupils.
“In the classroom, this looks like students supporting each other, sharing notes, high ranked students giving up their time to help those that are struggling,” she explains.
This student-driven approach was abundantly clear when speaking with the students themselves. On my behind-the-scenes tour, I meet Year 9 students Kabir Kukreti and Michael Lee, both exemplary demonstrations of this fact.
Robotics is one of the many extracurricular activities on offer at the school
“Apart from our school values, which have been instilled in us since Year 7, it looks like us helping each other out, you know?” Kabir explains. “It could (also) be hopping on a group chat to discuss the work.”
Michael adds: “People are always willing to help out their fellow peers, like helping them through tough times personally.”
Present as well is school captain Marcus Cho and vice-captain Ethan Huang, who elaborate on the use of technology to enhance their studies. This can come in the form of group chats, but also the use of platforms such as Discord, an online chatroom app that allows real-time discussion between the boys. Speaking later with Ms Sharpington-Recny, she is keen to point out these chatrooms are something created without teacher encouragement.
All four boys are also heavily involved in extracurricular activities, from history club, lunchtime movie clubs and musical theatre. “We’re all working together more, rather than just sitting around at our desks and studying all day,” Ethan said. “It really helps us get together as a grade, especially in the later years.”
Kabir elaborates on this, saying: “Everyone has that all- rounder mentality. We are not just studying for hours on end. There is more to this school than just stress.”
School captain Marcus embodies this image of the all-rounder. Aside from being a student leader and excelling academically, the young man is also involved in multiple music ensembles and bands, is a keen volleyball player and recently buzzed his hair as part of the World’s Greatest Shave.
“We want our students to know they’re more than just a mark.”
Principal Brian Fergusson
“While I do agree that having intense study sessions is something that a lot of us do, it’s more important to us that since Year 7, we develop all aspects of ourselves as individuals, not just for high school, but for after high school as well,” Marcus states. “The aim is to produce young men of excellence, and North Sydney Boys is the kind of environment for that.”
A wellbeing program, another key part of the school ethos
Minh-Tam Dinh (left) was part of the Year 12 class of 2024 that pulled off the HSC first place rank
Though the efforts of previous cohorts is inspiring, the class of 2025 understand the only thing they can control is their own personal performance. “Other schools in the top 10 are their own bodies, so we can only really focus on helping each other,” Marcus explains.
This focus on what they can control, however, is seemingly paying dividends. The drive the students have to help one another, and the staff’s focus on fostering that spirit is North Sydney Boy’s secret weapon, and possibly the key to creating a new era of HSC dominance.
Reflecting on this, Principal Fergusson highlights that all the young men in his school have what it takes to achieve greatness, and all the staff really need to do is aim them in the right direction.
“They love coming to school. This is their arena,” the principal espouses. “This is their arena where they shine, and I think we just do whatever we can to support them.”