Established in 1996 Cecil Hills High School stands proudly in south-western Sydney. It’s a government-funded co-educational school. Cecil Hills High School serves around 1450 students. A remarkable 85% of its students come from non-English speaking backgrounds. This school boasts an integrated support unit. It caters to students with varying disabilities including autism.
Cecil Hills High School has a rich history. Three principals have led the school since its opening. John McGregor served from 1996 to 2004. Sean Bowen followed from 2004 to 2015. The current principal is Mark Sutton. The school began with just 121 Year 7 students. Now it’s a thriving community. Its first Year 12 cohort graduated in 2001. Three teachers have been at Cecil Hills High School since the beginning. They’ve witnessed its incredible growth.
The school celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016. It was a huge event. A time capsule was opened. A teachers versus former students soccer match took place. The Performance Space was renamed The McGregor Centre. The spring fair was a highlight. Thousands of community members attended. There was music food rides and even a petting zoo. A gala dinner doubled as a reunion. Past students parents and teachers came together.
Cecil Hills High School is renowned for its sports program. It has a large gymnasium. The gym is used for basketball indoor soccer and dodgeball. There are outdoor courts for basketball volleyball and netball. There is also a softball diamond. The school hosts annual swimming and athletics carnivals. Students compete against other schools at zone level.
The school offers many extra-curricular activities. Debating and public speaking are popular. Students participate in house challenges. There’s a Junior and Senior debating team. In 2014 the Year 9 team reached the regional level. There are clubs for various interests. The chess club is one example. A St John Cadets program teaches leadership and first aid.
Cecil Hills High School has a house system. Students are sorted into four houses based on their surname. Houses earn points through academic sporting and extra-curricular achievements. Each year students are nominated as house captains and vice-captains. The house system fosters friendly competition. The four houses are named after significant Australians. They are Chisolm Crocs Goolagong Goannas Hollows Hawks and Whitlam Sharks.
The school is located near the proposed Western Sydney International Airport. This will create new opportunities. The airport will offer employment and training links for students. The school anticipates substantial enrolment growth. There are plans to expand capacity to 2000 students. New Year 8 innovation electives based on C.E.C.I.L. skills were introduced in 2018. Cecil Hills High School is a testament to educational excellence and community spirit. It’s a place of learning growth and achievement.