This co-educational high school was opened in 1974. The school aims for a partnership of staff, students and parents pursuing academic and personal achievement. The school has a long history of academic, sporting and musical excellence at all levels. Following a tradition of achievement, the school has most recently won four of the five Australian College of Educators Macarthur Awards in 2004, and in 2005 won the Director General’s School Achievement Award for its highly successful Boy’s Own Program.
Facilities: Multi-purpose hall, indoor basketball court, cricket nets, fitness laboratory, fully-equipped computer rooms, fully resourced library with internet access, drama studio, dark-room, ceramics work room, automotive and mechanical project block, Aboriginal resource centre. The state-of-the-art activity centre next to the school is also available for gymnastics, swimming and other sporting activities.
Electives Years 9 and 10: Commerce, Computing Studies, Drama, Food Technology, Geography, History, Human Movement, Music, Technics (Wood), Metal, Power Mechanics, Technical Drawing (Textiles and Design), Visual Arts. A third interest elective includes one-semester courses in Creative Textiles, Desktop Publishing, Exploring Early Childhood, Food for Life, Great Crimes and Disasters of the 20th Century, Industrial Arts, Just Ceramics, Just Painting, Just Photography, Landscaping, Language for Travellers, Leisure and Recreation, and Travel and Tourism.
Electives Years 11 and 12: A small number of Content Endorsed Courses (CEC) is offered, including Ceramics, Photography and Visual Design. The school has a high emphasis on VET courses and offers Building and Construction, Hospitality, Business Services, Retail Operations and Metals and Engineering. Students are also encouraged to complete university pathways courses through UWS (Macarthur and Milperra) for Business Management, Sports Science, and Studies of Law and Teaching.
Extracurricular activities: Computing, video, debating, public speaking, Tournament of Minds, Mock Trial, drama and dance. The school has an extensive Boy’s Own Program and an outdoor education program, including canyoning treks each year.
Welfare and personal development: The school is part of the Priority Schools Funding Program and has implemented a community tutor program where parents work in the classroom with teachers, to assist individual students. An intensive literacy program is in place for Years 7 and 8 to improve their literacy levels. There is an SRC, as well as a strong and supportive welfare team, which consists of 12 Year advisers and a head teacher. The child-protection policy and drug-and-alcohol policy work to maintain the school’s focus on personal development. An intensive program of individual counselling at subject selection time ensures that all students make wise and informed decisions that will best help them in their career pathways. After-hours coaching and tutorials are available for all senior students.
Special features: Airds High School is a designated Federal Government Boys Education Lighthouse School (BELS). The school has instituted landmark programs in community involvement, Aboriginal education and multi-cultural activities. An extensive Aboriginal education program ensures all Aboriginal students are able to achieve their personal best while encouraging them to celebrate their Aboriginality
Famous ex-students: Nick Ahearn (Olympic walker), Corey Richards (state cricket), Sharon Bird (Federal MP).