Illawarra is a designated sports high school and offers targeted sports programs in 11 sports. Situated in extensive grounds on the shores of Lake Illawarra, it was established in 1958 and aims to develop the full potential of each student within a framework of traditional values and a caring environment.
Facilities: A new facility gym completed in 2007 includes a two-court basketball/netball/volleyball stadium with weights and physio rooms. There are also professionally developed playing fields, an oval, an assembly hall, a darkroom, five computer rooms, an electronics laboratory and an independent learning centre. The library includes up-to-date computer research facilities. The school has been extensively “greened” and has all-weather tennis courts on-site.
Electives Years 7 to 10: The Junior School is organised into modules 7 to 8 (Years of experience) and 9 to 10 (Years of choice). Electives offered in the Years of choice are Technics, Woods Metal, Food Technology, Visual Arts, Music, French, German, Japanese, Computing Studies, Commerce, Drama, Textiles, Electronics, Human Movement, Sports Science and Media Studies.
Electives Years 11 and 12: The senior curriculum has been developed to provide a number of pathways including ATAR-HSC (Academic) courses and a series of non-ATAR pathways. TVET courses are available and vocational courses in Metals Engineering, Hospitality, Office Skills, Construction and Sports Coaching can be taken.
The range of subjects includes accreditation for advanced standing at TAFE. Academic subjects include the full range of English, Mathematics, Science, HSIE, Visual Arts, PD/Health/PE, and Design and Technology. NSW Board-endorsed courses include Human Movement, Visual Design, Jewellery, Photography, Marine Studies and Computer Applications.
Sport: Competition sport is usually conducted in the winter term and students have an opportunity to be part of state-wide competitions. There is a wide variety of recreational sports including surfing, indoor rock climbing, touch football, indoor soccer, indoor cricket, tennis, boxing, dance, yoga, fishing, bowls, sailing and roller-skating. Targeted sports programs are offered to students on a selective basis in the sports of baseball, basketball, cricket, golf, hockey, netball, rugby league, soccer, swimming, tennis and track and field. Trials are held in July each year. Students are coached by specialist members of NSW sports associations.
Extracurricular activities: Band, computing, mathematics and science competitions, visual and technological displays, expo, music, public speaking, debating, drama.
Welfare and personal development: A caring atmosphere has been developed over many years. The welfare program incorporates a student council, two school counsellors, a buddy system for seniors, Year advisers, a careers adviser and a peer support program. Study skills are included in the curriculum. The school has also developed an independent learning centre for both accelerated and assisted learning.
Special features: A mixture of timetabled training and excellent coaching that blends sports theory and practise have seen teams reach the State Finals Series in basketball, netball, rugby union and tennis. The school’s teams lead in regional rugby, basketball, baseball, tennis, netball, junior rugby league, junior hockey, junior soccer, athletics, water polo, and track and field. Numerous students have gained NSW representation, while even more have been selected for South Coast representation.