Our international students earn Cum Laude honours

Each year, at the end of Semester 1, the Principal presents the Cum Laude Awards in front of the whole school. In 2026 it was once again a proud morning for our international community, with award winners in every year level from Year 7 to Year 12.

Cum Laude is Latin for "with praise." The awards recognise students who achieved excellent results in every subject across the whole semester — not a single good test, but steady, disciplined work over many months.

The three levels of honour

There are three levels, and each is earned against a published standard, on the advice of the Dean of Studies:

• Summa Cum Laude ("with highest praise") — the highest academic award of the semester. In Years 11 and 12 it means an average result of 90% or above across every assessed subject.
• Magna Cum Laude ("with high praise") — an average of 80% or above in the senior years.
• Cum Laude ("with praise") — an average of 75% or above.

In Years 7 to 10 the same three levels are measured by Grade Point Average, with no subject result below a B−. Many recipients also earned the Pro Diligentia Award — "for diligence" — given to students whose teachers rated their learning habits commendable or excellent in every class.

Earned in a second language

What makes these results remarkable is that our international students earned them while studying every subject in English — for most, a second or third language. Award winners this semester come from ten nationalities across Asia, Europe and the Pacific.

Many began their journey in our High School Preparation program, building the academic English and study skills that senior subjects demand. Their names now join the College's honour tradition — each award is embroidered on the student's blazer pocket, a mark they carry for the rest of their time at the College.

The people behind the results

Results like these are never earned alone. We thank our homestay parents, who give students a safe and caring home far from their own, and the Extended Day Program team, whose supervised evening study builds the habits these awards recognise.

To every Summa, Magna and Cum Laude recipient — and to the families cheering from overseas — congratulations. Your discipline, ambition and courage inspire the whole College.