10 March 2020
We do well to remind ourselves, as so many parents and staff of Year 12 know, that the results represent very real and personal challenges that students, staff and parents contend with through the final year of secondary school. The achievements at the end of the year are hard-won and consequently held in high regard by us all.
2019’s achievements were again terrific. There were many individual and collective results worth celebrating and lauding. For some students the final push to a SACE or IB completion was a triumph, while for others it was the incredibly high ATAR score that opened a much-cherished university choice for them. All should be acknowledged and treasured.
Each year teachers carefully scrutinise their class achievements. They consider the historical trends and predicted grades, and the relationship between those and the actual results. They inform themselves of strengths and weaknesses and refine their teaching accordingly. This process offers a sense of confidence for them. But, like all human endeavours, the variables that constitute a final grade can be as mysterious as they are predictable.
We like to report the complete picture of results to our community, as much as we are able, and after the first and second round of university offers if possible. This provides a well-informed and realistic appraisal for you. While many fixate on ATAR scores, it is in fact destinations—where students go from here—that excites us. There are so many interesting and exciting courses, programs and opportunities that students access after Pembroke. Not all require high ATARs and it is delightful to see the spread of interests considered by our students.
In what follows you will see that student results in both the SACE and IB were excellent. One SACE student achieved a perfect score and a Governor’s Commendation. When converted to an ATAR score the median IB score was 93, which remains a strong achievement from a cohort of 73 students. Two IB students achieved a perfect score of 45, and another two students 44. The Dux and Proxime students for IB and SACE were recognised at the Commencement of Year Ceremony, along with the Ross Family Medallist and all the sub-school leaders for 2020, as a fitting acknowledgement from the School.
Pembroke girls’ and boys’ results compare favourably to all single-sex and co-educational environments, and when one considers the relative size of the cohorts across schools Pembroke results are very favourable. In total our 2019 Year 12 enrolment was 241 students.
Pembroke is an outstanding academic institution. Our own and comparative measures show this. Maintaining a healthy attitude to Year 12 by not narrowing our thinking to results alone helps us to be so. We choose to focus on individual best efforts and achievements, and I offer my congratulations to all Year 12 students for their commitment and hard work last year. Equally I acknowledge the experienced and dedicated teaching staff and very supportive parents who have a significant impact on all student success.
You should enjoy reading about the individual and collective achievements of our Year 12, 2019.
Luke Thomson
Principal