A Swan Song for Extension 2 English

Last Friday, Skyla Cochran, Kristy Ng, Hanna Wong and Vihaan Balani submitted their Extension 2 English Major Works to NESA. This significant milestone marks the completion of the first HSC subject for 2026 and brings to a close many months of dedicated research, drafting, reflection and revision.

Extension 2 English has long occupied a unique place within the HSC as one of the most academically rigorous and creatively rewarding courses available to senior students. Rather than preparing for a final examination, students undertake a sustained twelve-month process of independent research and composition, culminating in the creation of a Major Work that reflects both intellectual curiosity and artistic ambition. We have a strong history of success in Extension 2 English here at AISHK, with many students achieving the coveted E4 result over the years.

This year's final submission day was particularly bittersweet, as Skyla, Kristy, Hanna and Vihaan represent the final group of students to complete Extension 2 English in its current form. From 2027 onwards, significant course reforms will introduce a shorter Major Work alongside a formal examination. As such, the Class of 2026 becomes the last generation of students to experience the course as it has existed for the past 25 years: a rare opportunity within the HSC for sustained creative immersion, intellectual risk-taking and the cultivation of an authentic writer's voice. It is also a subject that holds special significance for me personally, as it was both a course I completed as a student and the first HSC course I had the privilege of teaching.

One of the joys of Extension 2 English is that no two Major Works are ever the same. While the final AISHK 2026 submissions are remarkably different in both form and focus, they are united by a willingness to engage with deeply personal questions and experiences, and to transform those ideas into thoughtful, authentic pieces of writing.

Skyla's 정; There is no translation explores cultural hybridity through the relationship between a Korean-Australian daughter and her traditional Korean mother. Set on Jeju Island, the work is underpinned by the Korean concept of jeong, a form of emotional connection that resists direct translation into English. Particularly notable is Skyla's evocative use of setting, with both Jeju Island and the surrounding ocean becoming powerful symbols of distance, memory and reconciliation as the protagonist navigates the complexities of her cultural identity.

Kristy's The Earth Keeps Turning is a poignant piece of autofiction set during Hong Kong's Hungry Ghost Festival. Combining prose and epistolary elements, the work follows a father confronting terminal illness while reflecting on the choices that have defined his life. Richly informed by Hong Kong's cultural landscape, the work explores what it means to live meaningfully and authentically, ultimately suggesting that even in the shadow of mortality there remains the possibility for connection, reconciliation and hope.

Hanna's A Life, Otherwise is an ambitious piece of counterfactual short fiction that explores how identity is shaped by circumstance, relationships and the decisions made at pivotal moments. Inspired by the life of her grandfather, Chūnshēng, the work traces three significant periods of his life through the perspectives of three women who knew and loved him. By denying its protagonist narrative privilege and instead constructing his character through memory and interpretation, the work offers a nuanced meditation on choice, legacy and the countless lives we might otherwise have lived.

Vihaan's Something Like Love is a deeply reflective work of Creative Nonfiction that examines the complexities of the father-son relationship through the lens of generational inheritance. Drawing on personal experience, the work confronts difficult emotional terrain with honesty and vulnerability as it explores how traditional expectations of masculinity shape expressions of love across generations. The banyan tree emerges as a powerful recurring motif, symbolising both the weight of cultural inheritance and Vihaan's growing capacity to reconcile his complex relationship with family, tradition and identity.

As always, the completion of a high-level HSC subject is only possible through the support of many people working behind the scenes. My sincere thanks go to Mr Peter Phillips and Miss Isabella Russo for their assistance with assessments, feedback and countless conversations throughout the year.

Finally, congratulations to Vihaan, Skyla, Kristy and Hanna. Completing an Extension 2 English Major Work is a remarkable achievement that demands persistence, courage and an extraordinary commitment to the craft of writing. Over the past year they have challenged one another's thinking, celebrated one another's successes and offered support when the process became difficult. Extension 2 English can sometimes feel like a solitary pursuit, but this cohort consistently demonstrated that great writing is often fostered through collaboration, generosity and shared passion. I am incredibly proud of what they have achieved.

More than anything, I hope this experience marks the beginning rather than the end of their journey as writers. They have produced a fitting swan song for one of the HSC's most distinctive and rewarding subjects. May they continue to read deeply, write boldly and tell the stories that matter to them.

Miss Jo Craig, Head of English & Extension 2 English Teacher