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ACADEMIC
SPRINGFIELD 2020 ACADEMIC RESULTS CR AIG SCHMIDT
principal st peters springfield
I
t was the beginning of a new era in 2020 with the graduating class being the first to graduate under the revised Queensland Certificate of Education system and the new Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) processes which incorporates state-wide, externally-set, subject-based assessments at the conclusion of Year 12. External assessments contributed as much as 50% of marks towards final subject results. The Queensland Core Skills (QCS) test and the Overall Position (OP) were relegated to history and new rhythms of learning, study and assessment were established. Unlike the OPs, which were calculated by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), student ATAR results are calculated by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) and subject to new privacy regulations which means that schools have not had the ready access to results that we have had in the past. Of our 2020 graduates, almost 80% proceeded directly on to university with over 46% of those going to University of Queensland, 27% to Queensland University of Technology, 15% to Griffith University, 8% to University of Southern Queensland and 4% to Southern Cross University. University-bound 2020 graduates are studying in a diverse range of fields reflecting the interests and passions of our young people and including Agribusiness, Arts, Behavioural Science, Biomedicine, Business, Commerce, Design, Education, Engineering, Film & Screen Production, Health Science, Intelligent Digital Technologies, Information Technology, Law, Medicine, Paramedicine, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Psychology, Social Work and Veterinary Technology. Under the new system, 25-50% of Year 12 subject results are not finalised until after the students have completed their schooling. As such, at St Peters Springfield, the presenting of Dux, Proxime Accessit and Subject Awards for Year 12 students were held over until February 2021.
Plus Ultra | June 2021
We congratulate the 2020 Dux of Year 12, Hope Wilson (pictured far right with her family), who received an ATAR of 99.50, well above the 98.85 threshold for an OP1 equivalent and 2020 Proxime Accessit, Abbey Lay (pictured left on opposite page with teaching staff) for their outstanding academic achievements. Hope also received a special commendation from the QCAA for having achieved an ‘A’ in six or more subjects, received the Springfield City Group Excellence in Learning Award and Subject Awards for Chemistry, Legal Studies, Mathematical Methods, Physics and Specialist Mathematics. Assisted by a full university scholarship, Hope is now studying in the field of medicine. Abbey received the University of Southern Queensland Year 12 Excellence Award and the Subject Award for English and is now undertaking a Bachelor of Pharmacy. At least 26% of our graduates’ ATARs were within the equivalent of the ‘old’ OP 1-5 range and at least 56% of ATARs were in the equivalent range of OP1-10. The 2020 school year was challenging given the intrusion of COVID-19 which had implications for teaching, learning and assessment. Our staff and students did remarkably well to adapt to the uncertainty and to the demands that were placed on them throughout the year. I commend them and thank them. Year 12 students had much to deal with during their final and summative year of schooling which carries enough weight in a normal year, let alone in a year such as 2020. There has been much learnt that students will take with them that is not reflected in their academic outcomes but is reflected in their capabilities and preparedness for the vicissitudes of life. The year that was 2020 certainly underscored that we live in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. Yet, amidst this reality, we can take comfort that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and that He promises that He always walks with us, no matter what we face.
