Henry Kendall High School is one of the largest comprehensive high schools in the Hunter/Central Coast Region. It has a student enrolment of approximately 1330 students (including 55 students in the Special Education Centre), with 94 full-time teaching staff and 19 administrative support staff and is located near the CBD of Gosford City. It has proud academic, sporting, cultural and student welfare traditions.

The school's mission statement is: "Developing confident, responsible citizens who strive for excellence."

The school has a strong focus on continuing to improve the quality of teaching and learning in all classrooms across the school and this has been reflected in the themes of school development days in recent years. There has been particular emphasis on exploring contemporary educational theory and practice and applying it to the classroom. The Quality Teaching Framework has been embedded in teaching programs and assessment tasks. This emphasis on quality teaching and learning is reflected in the school's strategic plan which targets literacy, numeracy and underachieving students.

Students have access to a broad and inclusive curriculum as well as a fully staffed Student Independent Learning Centre that supports the school's Gifted and Talented program.

Students successfully compete in a wide range of Combined High Schools team and individual sports as well as zone, regional and state carnivals in swimming, cross-country, triathlon and athletics.

Co-curricular activities include participation in inter-school debating competitions and intra-school public speaking and debating competitions; Mock Trial; Lions Youth of the Year; Interact; four school dances/year; a strong Students' Representative Council; the Duke of Edinburgh scheme; Performing Arts Night and the Central Coast Dance Festival.

The school has new buildings providing modern learning facilities for Industrial Technology, Food Technology, Hospitality, Multi Media Studies, Photography and Visual Arts.

An integral part of the school is the Special Education Centre. The unit has been acknowledged for its "best practice" in teaching and support through initiatives such as the weekly Coffee Shop and the 'Seed to Table' project which allows students to see the full cycle of growing, preparing and cooking produce.

The performing arts talents of students are also proudly showcased at the annual Performing Arts night held in September. This is a celebration of the diverse talents of our students and the evening is very popular with staff, students and parents.

The school has identified areas where further improvement can be made. All staff members, with the support of parents, are working towards creating a learning environment where our mission of "developing confident, responsible students who strive for excellence" can be consistently achieved.

Mr Daved Peckham