St Mary’s Catholic College, Gateshead was proud to celebrate the achievements of its HSC graduates at a barbecue hosted by the school on the day of receiving their HSC results. The results reflect not only academic excellence, but also perseverance, passion and the strong partnerships between students and the dedicated staff. Each story highlights a unique journey shaped by hard work, support and a clear sense of purpose, as the now former students now prepare to take the next step in their learning beyond school.
See some of the student achievements below;
Oliver Beath the Diocese’s 2025 HSC Dux, achieving an exceptional ATAR of 98.1.
Oliver’s results reflect a consistent and disciplined approach to learning across all subjects. He challenged himself academically by completing Extension courses, including Mathematics Extension 1, where he achieved an outstanding result of 99.
Throughout the year, Oliver maintained a strong focus on preparation, completing extensive practice papers and applying a good work ethic to his studies. Despite his remarkable results, Oliver remains characteristically humble, crediting his success to sustained effort across the year and the support of his teachers and other students.
In 2026, Oliver will commence studies in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Newcastle, continuing his appetite for problem-solving.
James Bernasconi, who achieved an impressive 96 in Music. James credits his success to following his passion and choosing subjects he genuinely loved, noting that doing what interests you makes the hard work worthwhile. He also praised the strong support of his teachers, giving special thanks to Mrs McRae, whose guidance and encouragement helped him grow in confidence and skill.
Reflecting on his learning journey, James said his teachers consistently pushed him to “a good uncomfortable” — challenging him to stretch beyond his limits while still feeling supported.
James will take this passion for learning into the next chapter of his studies, commencing Advanced Psychology at the University of Newcastle in 2026.
Claire Rayner-Howson, who achieved an excellent 90.35 ATAR.
Claire attributes her success to consistent hard work throughout the year, particularly in English and Studies of Religion, where she focused on regular revision and practice. She made the most of past HSC papers, used flash cards to reinforce her learning, and even turned revision into a fun routine with the Gizmo quiz game during car trips.
Claire highlighted the importance of having amazing teachers and the strong relationships she built with staff, who supported and encouraged her every step of the way.
In 2026, Claire will take the next step in her educational journey, commencing Veterinary Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, as she works towards a future caring for animals and making a difference.
Kai Dodds achieved a strong 92.6 ATAR result. Kai said his success came from careful planning and persistence. He broke his study into manageable units, focused on regular practice questions, and challenged himself through Mathematics Extension in particular, building confidence and problem-solving skills along the way.
He also acknowledged the important role of his family and friends, whose encouragement and support helped keep him motivated throughout Senior school, but also back as far as his Primary School, St Paul’s Primary School.
In 2026, Kai will continue his learning journey, commencing Mechanical Engineering at the University of Newcastle, where he’s excited to apply his skills to the next challenge.
Joseph Brown, who achieved an impressive 91.2 ATAR mark. Joseph said he found his way through to Year 11 and Year 12 by committing to consistent hard work across the year. He developed effective study habits focused on writing clear notes, revising regularly and sticking with the process, even when things felt challenging. A lifelong love of Lego also helped spark his interest in problem-solving and design, which shaped his future pathway.
Joseph spoke highly of the support he received from staff, noting that learning to seek help was an important part of his success. He gave special thanks to Mr Hepworth, Mr Adams and Miss Grearly for their guidance and encouragement along the way.
In 2026, Joseph will take the next step in his learning journey, commencing Mechanical Engineering at the University of Newcastle.
