Life At Baulkham Hills High School

Curious to see what life at Baulkham Hills High School is like? In this article, a Baulkham Hills graduate shares their experience studying at Baulko to show you what it’s all about!

A day in the life of a Baulkham Hills student:

School times and periods

For most students at Baulko, school starts at 8:38 am and finishes at 3:06 pm.

You have 8 periods every day, except Wednesday which has 5 due to afternoon sport, which are approximately 40 minutes each.

However, these times may change if you are a senior student and/or depending on the subjects you choose.

For example, you may have morning classes which start at 7:45 am or afternoon classes which finish at 4:30 pm or if you have a free period (a period with no scheduled class) at the start of the day or the end of the day, you may be permitted to come to school later or leave early.

Recess and lunch

During recess and lunch, you can find students all over the school doing lots of different things such as sitting down and talking with friends, playing table tennis, handball, soccer or basketball, studying in the library or attending club meetings and activities.

Extracurricular activities are strongly encouraged by the staff at Baulkham Hills High School and they are even displayed on your reports.

There are many clubs specialising in different interests so there’s something for everyone! Make sure you listen out for their meeting schedules during assembly and roll call.

Assessments:

In Year 7-10, Baulkham Hills uses NESA’s common grade scale reporting. Students are given a grade from A-E based on their knowledge and skill level:

• A: Extensive knowledge and understanding, can readily apply knowledge and has high level of competence in skills
• B: Thorough knowledge and understanding, and high level of competence in skills
• C: Sound knowledge and understanding, and adequate level of competence in skills
• D: Basic knowledge and understanding of content, and has limited level of competence in skills
• E: Elementary knowledge and understanding in few areas of content, and limited competence in skills

For students in Year 11-12, Baulkham Hills uses NESA’s Preliminary Grade Scale.

This means that the students given a grade based on how their level of achievement against the standards set by the state.

Check out NESA’s links identifying the the achievement standards for:

• English grades
• Maths grades

Assessment periods:

Students at Baulkham Hills complete their exams in assessment blocks. This means that all of their exams are to be taken during the set date.

Here are the recorded assessment blocks for Year 7-10 students in 2021:

Here are the recorded assessment blocks for students in Years 11 and 12:

Years 7 & 8

After school, Year 7-8 students can expect to spend around 1-2 hours every day completing homework and working on assignments.

To get ahead in High School here are some resources you should check out:

• Ultimate Guide to Writing Perfect Study Notes
• Year 7 High School Survival Guide
• Year 8 High School Survival Guide

Year 9 & 10

Year 9-10 students can expect to spend around 2-3 hours every day completing schoolwork or even doing extra revision.

The hours you study may increase during exam blocks.

The main focus of these junior years is not the marks or ranks but figuring out the most productive study techniques that work for you. It is important to practice these skills early as they will greatly assist you in Year 11 and 12.

Here are some handy resources to help you ace your studies and get into the study routine:

• Year 9 High School Survival Guide
• Year 10 High School Survival Guide
• How to Create a Weekly Study Rhythm

Year 11 & 12

In Years 11 and 12 (and Year 11 accelerant students), the 1-2 weeks before an exam block is known as a Buffer Week. This means that any students are absent, must provide a medical certificate to explain the absence.

The hours of study greatly pick up in Year 11 and 12 and you can expect to spend around 4 hours studying each night. These hours may increase during assessment periods and you may choose to come early to school to fit in extra hours of study.

Unlike junior years, in senior years, you are less likely to get set homework from your teachers.

Instead, your learning is more self-directed, and it is up to you to figure out your weaknesses and seek help from your teachers.

However, make sure you don’t get too overwhelmed by all the work – many students at Baulko like to form groups and go to public libraries after school to study. This is a great way to get on top of your work but also have fun!

Extra-curriculars:

School is not just about academic achievements! At Baulkham Hills, there are lots of opportunities to get involves in clubs, activities, competitions and spots.

Here is an extensive list of what they offer: