Gloucester High School's central purpose is to develop a supportive learning environment that engages all students, teachers and community in the pursuit of learning excellence. The school is located in a picturesque setting overlooking the Gloucester River valley. Students utilise their local environment through a range of environmental education programs from the school farm's catchment management project to an annual triathlon that takes in the pristine waters of the Barrington River. This school supports student engagement through innovative teaching and learning programs and a network of welfare staff. The Positive Behaviour for Learning program teaches five core expectations: care, achievement, respect, effort and responsibility to all students. We have developed a proud tradition of academic excellence. Our 2010 NAPLAN results in both literacy and numeracy highlighted strong growth from Year 7 to Year 9 well above the state average. Students at our school have achieved excellent HSC results in the areas of PD/Health/PE, Science, Music and Technology, in particular. School-based traineeships and vocational education and training courses are incorporated into our Stage 5 and Stage 6 curricula, making our students ready for the workplace or further training. Other features of our school that support individual and group interests include: Individual Learning Plans that support students experiencing learning difficulties; an extensive pastoral care program; school chaplaincy; state of the art information and communication technology; performing and creative arts; debating and public speaking; leadership programs such as the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award; and an active Student Representative Council. Our school boasts outstanding agriculture teaching resources, including a large school farm of 30 hectares that helps to support a very successful beef cattle herd. The school site has extensive sporting facilities that have helped to foster sporting excellence at the state and national levels. The school..