More than 67,000 HSC students learn the results of years of hard work today

Norfolk Island HSC student Flynn McCowan received the highest marks in NSW for the automotive examination. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)

Flynn McCowan had to overcome some “tricky” obstacles to top the NSW HSC in the automotive examination.

A descendant of the original Bounty mutineer Pitcairn Islanders, he had to fly from his home on Norfolk Island to the mainland six times for TAFE classes during Year 11 and 12.

Flynn, who attended Norfolk Island Central School, was among the 128 students from 114 schools who attended a ceremony at Western Sydney University yesterday for students who came first in their HSC courses.

“It’s just tricky from Norfolk because everything is so isolated and there’s a lot of challenges. There was a lot of hurdles to overcome,” he said.

Deputy Premier and NSW Education Minister Prue Car said the students who topped their courses came from “four corners” of the state.

“I am particularly proud as minister for education that almost half of the students have come from NSW public schools,” she said.

Students celebrating HSC results

More than 67,000 NSW HSC students are celebrating the culmination of years of hard work with the release of their results today.

Students began receiving text messages with their results about 6am.

About a quarter (18,516) of the 67,234 students were distinguished achievers who received the highest possible mark of 90 to 100, a band six, in one or more subjects.

As in 2022, more band six results (55 per cent) were awarded to girls than boys.

More band six results (59 per cent) went to students in private schools than public schools, an almost identical result to 2022.

About 1,400 students were all-rounders who achieved the highest possible band in 10 or more units of HSC subjects.

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Kiana Levy was ecstatic to hear she had topped HSC drama and was honoured to be among the many HSC students from public schools to top their courses.

The Turramurra High School student said her teacher was instrumental in ensuring she got to study drama at HSC level.

“My drama class almost didn’t happen because we only had six of us in our original class. Our drama teacher fought tooth and nail to keep our drama class alive,” she said.

Analysis of the band six distinguished achievers results showed that more were awarded in co-educational schools (59 per cent) than single-sex schools (41 per cent).

However, the 41 per cent top marks in single-sex schools outstrips the 18 per cent of NSW students who attend single sex schools, suggesting that students in those schools are performing better than their co-educated counterparts.

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Private boys school Newington college recently caused controversy when it announced that the school would enrol girls from 2026.

More of the top-scoring private schools in the catholic and independent sectors are single-sex, which could have skewed the results towards single-sex schools.

Kiana said she had always attended co-educational schools and appreciated learning alongside people of different genders.

“It means that in a lot of public settings I’ve been in, like interviews and things, I know how to communicate with everyone and I think that is a big strength,” she said.

She intends to study law with a focus on human rights or immigration law.

Flynn will move to Brisbane to finish his certificate three automotive course but will be sad to leave his island home.

“I’ve lived there my whole life. It’s going to be very hard to let go of my family, friends, and everything I love doing,” he said.