Local public schools executive director Meghanne Wellard commended all New England North West public school students on completing their Higher School Certificate in a year that has brought a unique set of challenges.

Ms Wellard said many students were already enjoying the fruits of their labour as they embark on apprenticeships, traineeships or other employment while others have been assured of an early entry place at university.

"There are certainly plenty of reasons to celebrate," Ms Wellard said.

"Parents and teachers can certainly share their pride as they look back on 13 years of schooling and how the students have been rewarded for their efforts.

"These results are sealing students' personal goals and should confidently take them to the next step of further study or employment."

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Ms Wellard said the release of HSC merit lists today by the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA - which administers the HSC) has brought a whole new dimension to celebrations.

"There have been some exceptional results and everyone who has been recognised on a NESA achievement rankings list deserves special congratulations," Ms Wellard said.

"I am particularly delighted with the spread of schools across the New England North West that have been noted for their achievements.

"It really highlights how our New England North West public schools focus on individual students to achieve their best across the full spectrum of abilities and aspirations."

Ms Wellard congratulated two students in particular who ranked as Top Achievers (students in the top places in each course (provided their result is also in the top band).

Imogen McDonald from Inverell High School who came seventh in Community and Family Studies, and Liam Rodgers from Farrer Memorial Agricultural High who came second in Industrial Technology.

Ms Wellard also commended the 15 New England North West public schools where students earned a top band to make them a Distinguished Achiever ( students who have received a top band result in one or more course).

Ranging from some of the smallest to the largest secondary schools, they were: Armidale Secondary College, Ashford Central, Coonabarabran High, Farrer Memorial Agricultural High, Glen Innes High, Gunnedah High, Inverell High, Macintyre High, Narrabri High, Oxley High, Peel High, Tamworth High, Tenterfield High, Warialda High and Wee Waa High.

The principal, executive, staff and community of Armidale Secondary College congratulated its HSC cohort of 2020 on their final results.

"This was a difficult year for all candidates, but the students have achieved outstanding results with the support of the HSC Hub and our wonderful teaching and support staff," said principal Carolyn Lasker

"In the 44 courses that were offered at the school, 99 candidates were eligible to receive an HSC. Of these, 74% scored a Band 5 or higher, and 17% scored a Band 6.

Ms Lasker said that this year's results reflected effective study practices and sustained effort.

"Our students should feel very proud of their achievements," Ms Lasker said.

"There were a number of students who have challenged themselves and achieved brilliant results."

Armidale Secondary College HSC distinguished achievers were: Hugh Botha (Music), Margaret Conroy (German Beginners), Eden Davies (Drama, Mathematics Standard 2 and Music 1), Niamh Evans (PD/H/PE), Lucinda Fulloon (Business Studies, Industrial Technology, Mathematics Advanced, Society & Culture), Alonso Geesink-Anton(Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics Ext 1, Mathematics Ext 2), Georgia Gream (PD/H/PE), Juliet Knuckey (Visual Arts), Marley Lynch (Music 1, French Beginners), Bailey Pattison (Industrial Technology, Mathematics Advanced, Construction), Ella Pringle (Drama), Mehansa Methna Ratnayake (Mathematics Ext 1), Mark Robinson (Industrial Technology), Lily Scales (Music 1), Tumi Thorsteinsson (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics Ext 1, PD/H/PE), Alexander Williams (PD/H/PE, French Beginners)

Mark Robinson's Industrial Technology major work was selected for Shape 2020. Shape is an exhibition of outstanding Major Projects developed by HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students.

Eden Davis individual performance has been selected for inclusion in OnSTAGE, a selection of performances and individual projects from Higher School Certificate Drama students.

Noah Standen-Roberts and Juliet Knuckey have had their major art works selected for Art Express. Noah's work (Art Gallery of New South Wales) and Juliet's (New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM and Tamworth Regional Art Gallery))

The release of the ATARs today will also provide a university pathway for many students Ms Lasker said.

"A number of students will take a gap year before entering into university to pursue further study," she said.

"Many students have also excelled in vocational courses and have completed their schooling with a dual qualification.

"Our school-based trainees and apprentices will have the jump on other school-leavers as many have already taken up apprenticeships as a result of studying a vocational course at school."

Ms Laser said 40 percent of Armidale Secondary College HSC candidates achieved a Vocational Education and Training (VET) Qualifications while 8 completed School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs).

The Express spoke with three of the school's top performers, all of whom had internationally born parents working at the University of New England. All three also studied for a minimum of five hours a day in the lead up to the HSC, and sometimes for as much as 12 hours. None of them intend to have a gap year and they will all launch themselves into tertiary study next year.

Alonso Geesink-Anton has lived in Armidale since he was five-years-old and he intends to return to Netherlands next year to study Computer Science at university. However he will return to Australia one day as his sister is studying medicine here. His ATAR score is 98.6 and his advice to someone preparing to sit the HSC is to make sure you build in free time.

"Still do stuff with your friends don't just study 24/7 because it is not sustainable," he said.

"I'd also always take a short break after two hours - I'd never study for longer than that without a break."

Mehansa Methna Ratnayake is from Sri Lanka and she first attended school in Adelaide before going back to Sri Lanka until Year 9 when she moved to Armidale with her parents.

Miss Ratnayake achieved an ATAR score of 95.95 and says she wants to study pharmaceutical medicine at the UNE next year.

"I didn't expect to get this high score and although I tried hard I really didn't expect this," she said.

"I would just say to anyone preparing for the HSC to go with your instincts, but I did pick mathematics extension two because I liked it, and that probably helped my score."

Tumi Thorsteinsson was born in Armidale but his father is from Iceland. He scored an ATAR of 96.05 and says the most important thing is to study what you enjoy. Luckily for Tumi he enjoyed most subjects.

"I got early entry into ANU to study a Bachelor of Biotechnology and I'd recommend to choose subjects that you enjoy," he said.

"That definitely made a big difference for me. Even the subjects I didn't think I was going very well in I still got a good mark because I enjoyed the subject."

The principal of O'Connor Catholic College said she was extremely proud of her Year 12 students.

"Not only for their outstanding results, but also how they grew during a challenging year," Ms Regina Menz said.

"They have truly shown they are strong and resilient.

"A big thank you to all the staff for all their work in helping our students achieve their learning goals."

High achieving O'Connor students were: Bethanie Rice ATAR 96.00 - Dux of the College - Band 6 Maths Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Studies of Religion 2 Band 5 Chemistry and Physics; Ruth Toakley ATAR 95.70 Band 6 Modern History and Studies of Religion 2 Band 5 English Advanced, Maths Advanced and Physics; Liam Smith ATAR 94.35 Band 6 Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2; Henry Schultz Band 6 Maths Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2; Samuel Bible ATAR 90.10 Band 6 Business Studies, Legal Studies and Studies of Religion 2; Olive Tutt ATAR 90.10 Band 6 French Beginners, Mathematics Advanced; Chloe Brown Band 6 Hospitality (Kitchen Operations and Cookery); Ellen Hawthorne Band 6 Textiles and Design; Emily Meehan Band 6 Textiles and Design and Major Work selected for TexStyle Exhibition 2020; Bethany Rohde Band 6 Agriculture; Charles Serow Band 6 Construction; Kieran Wicks Band 6 Mathematics Extension 2.

NEGS Year 12 students have achieved wonderful results this year, with some excellent individual performances and against the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Maggie Halliday, from Walcha, achieved outstanding results across all of her subjects, including a Band 6 in two of her subjects with a 93% for Mathematics Advanced and a 90% for PDHPE. She also achieved 83% for Physics, 86% for Advanced English, an E3 (78%) for Mathematics Extension 1 and a Band 5 for Chemistry 84%.

Maggie's ATAR is 93.35 and she plans to attend the University of Sydney next year to study biomedical engineering. This is a terrific result for a very diligent student.

Charlotte Stone, from Armidale, also achieved outstanding results, including a Band 6 in both Music 1 (91%) and Visual Arts (90%). Her other results were at a Band 5 level or equivalent in English Extension 1 and 2, Advanced English and Ancient History.

This is a consistent performance from a student who undertook a demanding academic schedule.

A significant number of our courses achieved stellar results.

All Music 1 students received a Band 6, the students all studying Voice. Two thirds of our Visual Arts students received a Band 6. In Agriculture, 60% of our students received a Band 5 or 6, with their marks 7% above the state average. 50% of our PDHPE students received a Band 5 or above.

Both the entire Ancient History and Design and Technology classes received a Band 5 and their marks were significantly above the state mean. All Biology, Drama, Physics, Textiles and Design, and Advanced English students received a Band 4 or above.

Across the NEGS Year 12 cohort, students studied 25 subjects for the HSC, with Band 6 results achieved in five of them: Agriculture, Mathematics Advanced, PDHPE, Music 1 and Visual Arts. Thirty-eight students sat for the HSC, with eight Band 6s awarded to our students and sixty one Band 5/E3s.

Across all of the results, 34% were a Band 5 or Band 6, and 77% were Band 4 or above. 82% of the students gained a majority of Band 4s or above. In all, 68% of students achieved a Band 5 or above in one or more subjects.

Students on the 2020 HSC Distinguished Achievers list are Priscilla Clonan, Maggie Halliday, Katie Hancock, Alexandra Rose, Annabelle Simpson, and Charlotte Stone.

Six students from PLC Armidale have attained a Band 6 result in one or more courses.

Jessica Li and Isabelle Taylor were recognised on the NSW Distinguished Achievers for three or more Band 6 results achieved across the completion of the HSC.

Thurkka Jeyakumar was recognised on the NSW "All-round Achievers list" which records students who achieved a result in the highest band possible (Band 6 or Band E4) in 10 or more units of courses in their current pattern of study.

Other high achieving students at the school were Lily Graham, Olivia Hoppe, Mae Yee (2019) and Helen Zhou.

"Recording high bands of achievement is one measure of success and we are thrilled for the girls whose effort and application has yielded these results," Principal Nicola Taylor said.

"However, the academic growth of each student, the ability to persevere through adversity and finish well are measures of lasting achievement.

"Students supported in seeking to access courses of choice at universities or colleges of choice are also indicators of success," she said.