Ashfield is distinctive in several ways: Year 7 and 8 are taught in learning teams and teachers meet weekly to plan for the learning success of students in their team; collaborative teacher learning is a priority; the Senior School features an extended day and a flexible timetable so that students can access many options in planning for HSC success and future employment and training

Once again our HSC students performed exceptionally well in the Higher School Certificate examinations. It was a pleasure for the principal to attend the International Students Academic Recognition Awards for All Round Excellence in the 2008 Higher School Certificate.

The school continues to have increased enrolments. In May 2010 there were 721 students enrolled in the school across Years 7 to 12. The total was made up of 124 students in Year 7; 130 students in Year 8; 111 students in Year 9; 116 students in Year 10; 132 students in Year 11 and 108 in Year 12.

Enrolments included over 65 international students, mainly from China and Korea. International students are now an established part of the school's rich cultural diversity.

There are currently over 28 ethno–linguistic groups represented at the school. 49% of students who enrol at Ashfield Boys High come from backgrounds where English is their second language.

Our School has a clear sense of purpose.

Sound educational principles and philosophy govern practice within the school.

Our purpose is to be a learning school in which:

The focus is on students and their continuing learning.

Teachers, students and parents work together to ensure greater learning.

Teachers are encouraged to be continuing learners.

The school as an organization learns its way forward to ensure student success.

In this learning school:

Students will –

Have belief in, take responsibility for and exercise greater control over their learning

Collaborate with teachers in the learning process

Understand and experience a variety of learning styles and contexts

Engage in rigorous scholarship

Become good problem solvers, communicators and decision makers

Be competent in group processes

Demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways

Reflect on and evaluate their learning.

Teachers will –

Initiate, structure and develop co-operative learning environments

Be flexible with the learning process

Reward student achievement

Believe in student desire to learn and succeed

Allow students to learn in a variety of ways

Negotiate learning with students

Use relevant, clearly understood assessment strategies

Evaluate and reflect on their teaching practices

Our learning community features –

Students knowing what they are learning and how and why they will be assessed

More flexible, negotiated student-centred learning

More interactive, collaborative practice between students and teachers

Regular evaluation of teaching and learning by both students and teachers

Parents knowing and understanding the learning, assessing and reporting practices used

Continued collaboration with industry and the wider community in the achievement of our educational objectives