School defies size with award

Hedland Senior High School walked proudly among about 30 other WA public schools at a function for high performing schools in Perth last month.

The school was presented an award for its outstanding achievement in vocational education and training subjects in 2012.

Principal John Burke said being in the company of some of the State’s largest metropolitan high schools was a credit to the school community in Hedland.

“It was great to see the fantastic work being done by public schools across the State, and to stand in that group is something we should be proud of,” he said.

“It was also a great opportunity to talk to other really experienced principals who have done great things over a long period of time in their schools, and hearing about what they are doing now.

“We were the only school from the North West and one of few country senior high schools — we were pretty unusual there for our size and context.”

Mr Burke said the school was still deciding where in its nearly complete administration block the award would be put on display.