Blaxland High, established in 1977, continues to develop its facilities in the new millennium. The school effectively manages its considerable human and material resources to equip its students with the skills and values needed to meet the challenges of a modern society. As a result, the school enjoys an excellent reputation for student behaviour and academic, cultural and sporting achievement in the wider community.
Facilities: Specialist rooms for design and technology courses, multi-purpose centre/gymnasium, three computer rooms, drama room, sporting fields, basketball and netball courts, modern library, independent learning centre, senior study facility. All learning spaces are networked with the library and independent learning centre.
Electives Years 7 to 10: Computing Studies, Languages, Visual Arts, Ceramics, Drama, Dance, Music, Electronics, Technical Drawing, Food Technology, Design and Technology (Wood, Metal, Leadlight), Textiles & Design, Film & Video, Parenting, Law and Business, Sports Science.
Electives Years 11 and 12: These operate on a flexible extended timetable structure that caters for a variety of senior pathways. The school offers many HSC subjects including Drama, Music, Photography, Visual Arts, Ceramics, English (Standard, Advanced, Extension Course 1 and Extension Course 2), Ancient History, Business Studies, Geography, Legal Studies, Modern History, Society and Culture, Work Studies, Italian for Beginners, General Mathematics, Mathematics (2 Unit, Extension 1 and Extension 2), PD/Health/PE, Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Senior Science, Earth and Environmental Science, Design and Technology, Food Technology, VET Construction, Information Processes and Technology, Industrial Technology, Tourism and Hospitality, Software Design Development, Engineering Studies, Engineering Science, Community and Family Studies, VET Retail Operations, Economics, VET Business Services and Administration, Industrial Technology, Graphics, Exploring Early Childhood. Students have the further option of pursuing JSST subjects.
Sport: The school is particularly strong in sport and offers all codes of competitive sport from touch football to table tennis. Cycling and fencing are among the leisure options also offered.
Extracurricular activities: Regular drama activities, school musicals, excursions, choir, orchestra, art exhibitions, strong debating teams, regular displays of student work.
Welfare and personal development: There is a strong welfare/support network consisting of a head teacher (welfare) who oversees school-developed welfare programs and student management programs, a careers adviser, a support teacher, school counsellors, and Year advisers. The team assists students to achieve their personal best. Senior camps, a mentor system, reading recovery, writer’s night, extension programs for gifted and talented students, including a six-day writers’ festival, a series of creative arts workshops, and many other opportunities exist for students to be challenged both inside and outside the classroom. The student council and the school council are just two examples of groups that encourage student and community participation. Students at Blaxland High are strong supporters of many charities, including World Vision and the Children’s Cancer Fund. There is an active inter-school Christian Fellowship at Blaxland High, supported by local churches.