Principal's Message
As the Principal of Katoomba High School, I welcome you to our website and hope that you will enjoy the information offered. Katoomba High School is a comprehensive secondary school on the traditional lands of the Gundungurra and Dahrug people and we passionately serve the diverse community of the Upper Blue Mountains. We exist to inspire students to explore their potential and are committed to developing a culture of high expectations, high support and high challenge; values that nourish the development of creative, confident, accomplished young people.
Our school emphasises a holistic approach to education, and our breadth of curriculum, leadership, community partnerships and wellbeing programs prepare students for the opportunities and challenges beyond the classroom. Be Kind is a whole school initiative focussed on kindness and respect, linked to our annual WomenKind, MenKind, ParentKind and StudentKind events.
We are dedicated to enhancing outcomes for all students through a relentless focus on quality teaching and learning practices that increase student engagement, personalise learning experiences, and encourage the pursuit of personal and academic excellence. Our students consistently achieve strong academic results, as evidenced by our HSC outcomes, and excel in the creative and performing arts and on the sporting field. We also run an extensive outdoor education program which allows students to complete the Duke of Edinburgh qualification.
Katoomba High School is proud of our beautiful grounds and resources, including our new multipurpose facility 'Yanguu'; our Aboriginal bush space ‘Birriban’; ‘Binyang’, our purpose build inclusive education facility; a grow tunnel producing fresh food in partnership with Farm It Forward; a commercial kitchen; modern science labs; and a dedicated senior study space. These resources provide our students with the tools they need to thrive.
The Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) plays a vital role in the Katoomba High School community. This dedicated group works tirelessly to support teachers in delivering quality learning experiences in the classroom. Their outstanding loyalty and advocacy for public education have contributed to the confidence of the local community in our school.
I am so proud to have the opportunity to serve as Principal of this wonderful school, in this kind and engaged community.
Tess Devine
Principal