A quiet confidence has set in over St Paul’s International College as the HSC gets under way in the Highlands.

Seeing itself as one of the premier colleges of the southern region, St Paul’s staff point to the recent results of the 32 HSC students to show where such confidence rests.

Student Henry Wei, who sat for the four unit mathematics exam on Monday, recently came back from the National Mathematics Competition ranked in the top 0.3 per cent of Australia.

Not only was Wei able to prime himself for the present test environment, he came away from the competition with a prize in hand.

Wei’s performance was by no means an exception the rule, it has been the rule with no exception for the students of St Paul’s.

Student Captain Anthony Hargreaves, who also has started the HSC, has come back to the exams sitting in the top one per cent of New South Wales in the Australian Business Studies Competition.

St Paul’s principal, John Bulters, pointed out that most students will gain great results in this years’ HSC.

“On average 97 per cent of students go on to University at Australia’s top institutions.

“Those that don’t go on to University generally pursue other specialised courses,” Mr Bulters said.

Mr Bulters saw that much the success of the college was due a variety of factors.

“We offer an academic education rather then the broader skills of Vocational Education and Training courses that many schools offer.

“By teaching a more traditional curriculum we provide the students with greater focus,” Mr Bulters explained.

This focus by staff has been complemented by the students.

“The students motivate each other to make for a conducive environment throughout the school, not just for the HSC,” Mr Bulters said.

Year 11 student Scott Gregory is another success story, coming in the top one per cent of the state in the Australian computing studies competition.

Added to this success was Lauren Snowden being able to represent St Paul’s in Quota Student of the Year 2001.