NSW Minister for Education and Training, John Della Bosca, has congratulated more than 66,000 students who are today learning their 2007 Higher School Certificate results.

“The ‘new’ Higher School Certificate has kept its promise to the people of NSW,” Mr Della Bosca said.

“Six years after we introduced significant changes to the credential, we are seeing continuous improvement and a new record number of high achievers on the Board of Studies merit lists.

“The NSW Government promised to increase rigour and improve reporting of individual student achievements.

“Results this year prove that our reforms have hit the mark.

“The changes to the HSC curriculum, examinations and reporting are now well established and despite being challenged with a more rigorous program of study and assessment, our students' results continue to improve.

“This year, we have a record number of 1035 ‘all-rounders’, students who have achieved a mark of 90 or more in at least 10 units.

“While the all-rounders are an elite group — about 1.5% of the total candidature — the much larger distinguished achievers’ group has also seen a record year.

“This year, there are 14,607 distinguished achievers who gained a mark of 90 or higher in at least one subject — up from 14,010 in 2006 and 11,848 back in 2002,” he said.

Mr Della Bosca said the Board of Studies had informed him that the 2007 results overall represented a solid performance.

“The NSW HSC is fulfilling its promise to the people of this State to bring rigour and challenge back to secondary education,” he said.

“And it’s great to see our young people rise to meet that challenge in record-breaking numbers.”

“This is the 40th year of the HSC and I’m very glad that some of the first graduates from 1967 have joined us today for the release of results,” Mr Della Bosca said.

“I know those former students have enjoyed varied and interesting careers and remember this time of their lives with affection.

“They’re also joined by students from 2007 who have a world of possibilities ahead of them,” he said.

Mr Della Bosca said that different kinds of records were also being set this year in the Board’s delivery of HSC results.

“Last year there were 50,000 HSC results issued by 1.00pm via internet, SMS and telephone — this year the same number had been issued by 9.00am,” he said.

“We’re also seeing the first of the iPod generation coming through in the results this year.

“The Board has recorded students using iPods, Palm Pilots and even Playstations with internet access to view their results this morning,” he said.