Celebrating the Class of 2025
Today we are celebrating the Class of 2025 on their exceptional Higher School Certificate results.
"We are proud of the efforts of this cohort, whose achievements are a testament to their determination, ambition and resilience," said Principal, Linda Douglas. "We thank their parents and families whose partnership and encouragement have been instrumental in ensuring these young women flourish. We also acknowledge the expertise and guidance provided by our staff throughout their Wenona journey, and express gratitude to our extended community for their unwavering support.
The School’s highest ATAR of 99.8 was achieved by Jessica Ellis, who also came first in NSW in Visual Arts, third in Modern History, was selected for ARTEXPRESS and nominated for the Young Writers showcase.
In total, six students achieved an ATAR above 99:
- Annabella Bartlett - 99.6
Jessica was interviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald about her achievements, saying she chose Visual Art to ensure she “stayed creative” during her HSC year. Jessica is currently in the interview stage of Oxford University admissions, hoping to study History and Politics.
Her Visual Arts Body of Work, Becoming, captures an appreciation for the fleeting, unfiltered moments of girlhood. "I explored the thrill of reinvention, the way we might try on different versions of ourselves like vintage jackets; swapping identities as if they were accessories," she explained.
Meanwhile, Audrey Metcalfe achieved First in Course in Dance. Her Major Performance work, Theory of Reality, was an “exploration of the relentless cycle of overthinking,” and portrayed an individual “consumed by erratic thought surrounding the complex realities of the world”.
Audrey plans to study Occupational Therapy and paid tribute to both Wenona educators and her Dance cohort: “the teachers went above and beyond … and my class was close knit. We all supported each other. I owe a large amount of my success to them."
Other Highlights:
Wenona achieved a remarkable 13 places on the Top Achievers List, which acknowledges students who attain state placings.
1st Visual Arts - Jessica Ellis
1st Dance - Audrey Metcalfe
3rd Modern History - Jessica Ellis
3rd Spanish Continuers - Bianca Stanmore
5th Ancient History - Annabella Bartlett
5th English Advanced - Tess Parker
6th English Extension 1 - Annabella Bartlett
6th Design and Technology - Zara Yee
8th Design and Technology - Megan Vinalon
10th Design and Technology - Evelyn Miller
10th Design and Technology - Lily Paff
12th Legal Studies - Naomi Subbaraman
16th Business Studies - Isobel Alderson
Included among them is Bianca Stanmore, who came third in Spanish Continuers, developing her vocabulary through a "formula" of studying past Band 6 responses and calling her grandparents in Chile for advice. "Studying Spanish for the HSC strengthened my connection to my family and heritage," she said.
Annabella Bartlett came fifth in Ancient History and sixth in English Extension 1. “I love ancient history as it allows me to build critical thinking and explore fascinating stories, encouraging me to travel and see the world,” she said. “Next year I will study Law, either with a Ramsay Scholarship at the University of Queensland or Sydney University, where I will build on my love of history.”
Tess Parker came fifth in English Advanced and appreciated the chance to engage deeply with texts and ideas while developing her analytical and writing skills. "The Merchant of Venice, An Artist of the Floating World and John Dunne's poetry all challenged me to think critically about perspectives, values and human experiences," she said.
Naomi Subbaraman came 12th in Legal studies after combing through huge booklets of past papers supplied by her teacher and using a whiteboard to recall important cases. “I loved Legal Studies because we were able to learn laws through the investigation of current cases, which made it so much more fascinating.”
Eleven students were named on the All-round Achievers list, demonstrating excellence across at least 10 units of study:
Annabella Bartlett
Katerina Brennan
Emily Davison
Jessica Ellis
Jemima George
Adriana Katsoudas
Scarlett Kraft
Phoebe Oswald
Juliet Poole
Amelie Potts
Kiara Sloan
A record 55 students were nominated for NESA Showcases across English Extension 2, Visual Arts, Design and Technology, Textiles and Design, Dance and Drama.
Seven were selected for NESA Showcases, including Hannah Israel, who will perform at the Dance showcase CALLBACK. Her composition Translucent Layers, explored the body across the skin, muscles, bones and soul. Her major performance Cosmos, depicted space travel and the expansion and beauty of outer space, while her core performance Wildflower, focused on dance technique.
Hannah has been accepted into the Sydney Dance Company’s full-time course and will also study Architecture at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS).
"Of course, a single grade, mark, or score never fully defines success. These are young women who have brought energy to every endeavour, from the sporting field to the stage and from community service to student leadership. It is their personal qualities including perseverance, compassion and integrity that we will always admire. As the Class of 2025 graduate from Wenona, we thank them for their impressive contributon to our School and look forward to seeing the positive difference they will continue to make in the world," Ms Douglas said.
View the 2025 HSC results online