New system on way as OP stars take bow
FAR North schools have already started preparing for Queensland’s new tertiary education admission system as the class of 2017 deals with the excitement and disappointment of this year’s Overall Position results.
More than 26,800 students, part of the biggest class of Queensland high school graduates, received a Tertiary Entrance Statement showing their Overall Position (OP) – 557 more than last year.
The new senior assessment and tertiary entrance system which will result in all students receiving an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank will begin in Queensland with students entering Year 11 in 2019.
The new system will use school-based assessment and external assessment to give students a rank.
At the weekend Trinity Anglican School principal Paul Sjogren was elated with the school’s “best results ever”.
The White Rock secondary school received six OP 1 and seven OP 2 results from 63 OP-eligible students.
“This is my first year here but I think it compares very favourably to past years and is, in fact, some of our best results ever,” Mr Sjogren said.
“We have a terrific group of Year 12 students, and the atmosphere is one of support and encouragement to achieve their best.
“Altogether it’s been a real community effort to get these results and I’m really looking forward to hearing what these kids will do.”
Mr Sjogren said work was already under way to prepare for the changes in syllabus which will start year after next.
“There will be more emphasis on external assessment, but we’ve always spent time with our students preparing them for all types of assessment.
“The new ATAR systems shouldn’t impact.”
TAS student Lucy Long was “pretty excited” to find out she had been awarded an OP 8.
The result should ensure she gets a spot in a business management course at either a Cairns or Brisbane university.
“I was pretty nervous the week before and it didn’t really feel real until I got the number,” she said.
“I’m not sure what I want to do with my career, so I’ll study business because that’s what I enjoyed this year. I hope to start uni next year.”
St Andrew’s Catholic College principal Lee MacMaster said he was proud of the have too much success of all the school’s Year 12 graduates.
“Setting goals, studying hard and keeping a balance in your life during the final senior years of schooling provides enormous rewards now and into the future,” he said.
“These important foundation skills will benefit students long into their future.
“I extend my congratulations to all Year 12 students across Queensland who have worked hard to make a difference in their life.”
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