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The Forest High School

The Forest High School

Respect, Responsibility, Personal Best

Telephone02 9451 5111

Emailtheforest-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

About our school

The Forest High School is a local co-educational comprehensive high school which empowers its students to achieve personal excellence.

The school has a warm, supportive and welcoming environment which maximises student confidence and self-esteem enabling them to make positive decisions about themselves.

The teacher-student relationship is unique in its positive, mutually supportive nature promoting utmost co-operation and respect. We aim to develop well-rounded confident students who strive for and attain their full potential in all endeavours: intellectual, cultural, technical, sporting and social. Our goal is to combine high academic success with a well developed social conscience and a breadth of thought whereby our technology experts have an understanding of the joy and beauty of the arts, our scientists have the courage to argue their truth and our future decision makers have the breadth of vision to consider the consequences of their actions.

Message from the Principal

Welcome to The Forest High School and thank you for your interest in the school.  I believe our appeal as a school is enhanced by our strong sense of community, the values we teach and our commitment to realising the potential of our students.  Before you explore our website and learn about our programs and our passion for excellence, may I also invite you to visit the school on one of our annual Open Nights or at Meet the Principal, which occurs each term.  We want to provide as much information as possible to assist you in making a considered decision about your child's future.

Nathan Lawler, Principal

Vision Statement

TFHS is an inclusive 21st Century community excited by learning. We empower all students and the school community to be lifelong learners and leaders.  We creatively seek and promote real world opportunities to inspire global citizenship.

The Forest High School found in 1961, has a strong ethos and tradition that recognises the individuality of the learner and fosters the expectations of respect, responsibility and personal best.  The Forest offers a broad curriculum choice with an excellent reputation for success in Higher School Certificate Examinations.  Highly professional teachers understand the intellectual, emotional, physical and social development of our learners.

Gifted and Talented classes for Years 7-10, an academic enrichment program for Year 7, the High Resolves program for Years 8-10 and three classes for students with autism enhance the learning opportunities of all students.  The school is recognised within the community for the quality of the work produced by students in sport, music and the performing and visual arts.  The band program in particular has been held in high esteem for many years, students enjoying annual band tours and numerous public performances.

The Forest provides strong pastoral care programs underpinned by a framework: Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL).  PBL provide proactive school-wide systems of support for defining, teaching and supporting appropriate student behaviours.  PBL helps teachers deliver the highest quality learning programs to improve student academic and behavioural learning outcomes.

A student population from diverse social and cultural backgrounds including international students enriches the school's community.

The Forest has a strong sister school relationship with Chiba Keiai High School in Yotsukaido City, Japan. An atmosphere of tolerance and acceptance is highly valued amongst all at The Forest High School creating a harmonious learning environment.

The Forest plays a key role in two communities of schools, the North Sydney EC and the Warringah Community of Schools. The North Sydney EC includes: Chatswood High School, Marsden High School, North Sydney Boys High School, Riverside Girls High School and Ryde Secondary College. Teachers across this community of schools network to share resources, professional learning and expertise. Warringah Community of Schools is composed of 14 schools, 11 primary schools, three of which are partner primary schools to The Forest: Allambie Heights Public School, Frenchs Forest Public School and Wakehurst Public School and three high schools including: The Forest High School, Davidson High School and Killarney Heights Public School. The Forest High School also works closely and collegially with Beacon Hill and Balgowlah North Public Schools, which are also partner primary schools. As with the North Sydney EC, Warringah Community of Schools network across schools to share resources, professional learning and expertise to enhance the learning of all students K to 12 in the community.

The Forest High School is conveniently linked by public transport to Sydney's central business district, the North Shore, Chatswood, Manly and the Northern Beaches.

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