Cumberland High School is a co-educational comprehensive high school set on attractive grounds with excellent facilities and nationally and internationally recognised teaching staff.
Cumberland High School’s Year 12 students consistently achieve high results in the HSC, with 18 students receiving UAIs of over 90 in 2009, and 1 in 5 students receiving a UAI above 90 in 2007.
Principal Terry Wilson attributes these results to excellent teaching, hard working students and the advantages of many resources with small class sizes.
Over the last two years, Cumberland High School has spent more than $2 million on education resources and capital works. Cumberland High School has brand new basketball and soft-fall sporting facilities along with a rain water tanks program, interactive online classroom, drama performance space and air-conditioning throughout every room in the school.
Cumberland High School is also home to the NSW State Marching Band which is made up of more 120 students from state high schools across NSW who travel to the school to rehearse each month.
The school reflects community aspirations for student transition to tertiary and further education, academic and sporting success and leadership.
A rigorous student academic scholarship program, supported by local businesses, emphasises strong community links and involvement. For 2008 more than 55 international students had enrolled.
Facilities: Modern facilities include a library, computer rooms, technology areas, sporting fields, tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, gymnasium, auditorium, drama and performance space, interactive digital classroom, new science labs, new gymnasium, wireless network.
Electives Years 7 to 10: Information and Software Technology, Commerce, Drama, Food Technology, French, Japanese, German, Music, Graphics Technology, Industrial Technology Timber and Metal, Textiles and Design, Visual Arts.
Electives Years 11 and 12: Ancient History, Modern History, Business Studies, Chemistry, Mathematics 2 Unit, 3 Unit, 4 Unit, General Mathematics 2 Unit, Food Technology, Community and Family Studies, PD/Health/PE, French, Geography, Industrial Technology, Japanese, Legal Studies, Music, Physics, Senior Science, Society and Culture, Textiles and Design, Visual Arts, Spanish, Biology, Economics, Drama, Software Design and Development, Information Processes and Technology, Design and Technology. The senior school caters for industry-accredited courses, Pathways, VET courses and traditional HSC patterns of study.
Sport: Competitive — rugby, soccer, hockey, cricket, netball, basketball, volleyball, water polo. Recreational — tennis, squash, tenpin bowling, weight training, ice-skating, swimming, soccer.
Extracurricular activities: Ensembles Program (nine ensembles including concert band, jazz band, stage band, rock band, percussion ensemble, string ensemble), debating, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, public speaking, Streamwatch, Cyclomechs, private music tuition.
Welfare and personal development: Cumberland students participate in a student council, prefect system and peer support program, and have access to a student welfare support team. They develop self-discipline and respect for others in a positive, caring environment. Work experience is offered to students in Year 10, and careers education and study/life skills are incorporated in the general curriculum.
Famous ex-students: Ray Price (football), Caroline Lumley (Miss Australia), Jeni Klugman (Rhodes Scholar).