Students on a high

By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE’S VCE students are putting themselves in the spotlight after achieving higher scores than ever before.
Five of Cranbourne Secondary College’s 107 year 12 students received ENTER scores in the 90s, six in the 80s and 17 in the 70s.
Principal Yvonne Watts said the bar had definitely been raised this year.
Dux of the school Darcey Johnstone achieved a score of 97.3 and the next highest was 96.6.
“It is our best result in 10 years,” Ms Watts said.
“This year’s students had such an incredible work ethic and commitment. It showed that you don’t have to be the most gifted person to do well.”
Ms Watts said there was also a combination of fantastic support from Monash University in Berwick with its new HECS-free scholarship, and the school’s teachers.
“We have such dedicated teachers who are absolutely committed in what they do,” she said.
Lyndhurst Secondary College’s year 12s also blew teachers away with the highest ENTERs in the mid-90s – a huge improvement on previous years.
Principal Steve Phillips said staff were very happy with the top end of results but were even more impressed by the lower end, and how many students had managed to pass who may not have expected to.
Mr Phillips said a new tutorial system might have been part of the better results.
“We also try to get across to the students that it is not all about ENTER scores,” he said.
“There are now a lot more options for them and they are taking up those options which is really pleasing.”
Of the 96 students in year 12 at the school, a number of those opted for the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) program rather than VCE.
“The kids who are doing VCE are there because they want to be and because of the range of alternative options less students are leaving school now,” Mr Phillips said.
Hillcrest Christian College principal Daniel Pampuch was very proud of his 26 year 12 students, nearly half of whom achieved an ENTER of 67 or higher.
He said he was most impressed that there were fewer students in the bottom group of scores than in any other year.
“The main thing for us is making sure students get to where they want to go and get their first or second preference at university,” he said.
Mr Pampuch said with such a small group of students, there was much more intimacy at the Clyde North school.
Hampton Park Secondary College assistant principal Alison Towner said the school was very pleased with the year 12 students’ results.
She congratulated all the students, who she said had done exceptionally well.
St Peter’s College in Cranbourne refused to comment.