Scotch College doesn’t measure student success the traditional way.
When the Year 12 ATAR results were released in 2023, teachers at the college were thrilled to see that 43 percent of their students achieved a score over 90. But that was just the icing on the cake. More importantly, the graduating cohort was entering the world as well-rounded, good humans who were ready to handle anything that came their way. That’s how Scotch measures success.
“What was really important about the quality of our results was that we have a diverse community of kids and each had an opportunity to shine. We like to say that we meet students where they’re at, regardless of their passions or strengths,” says Scotch College Principal Trent Driver.
A holistic education
The end results mean nothing if students are unhappy or burnt out by the time they graduate. Instead, Scotch’s leadership group is determined to provide students with a comprehensive education, including supporting their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. “What wellbeing means is that someone has a sophisticated understanding of themselves and others. When you understand yourself, you understand the difference between pressure, nerves and anxiety. We aim to provide students with the tools to recognise those feelings and take note of when they don’t feel normal — and how to respond to those pressures in different ways,” says Mr Driver.
An empowered next generation
As Scotch students head out into the world, they’re doing it standing on their own two feet. “Our vision is to empower students to change their world, not the world. For each of our 1,100 students, this could look really different,” says Scotch’s Deputy Principal Emma Grave. Throughout their education, students are nurtured but challenged — giving them some insight into the future ahead of them. “We’re preparing young people for an uncertain future. What uni looks like now is different from even a year ago, with the advancement of AI. We want them to leave here with good critical thinking skills, the capacity to understand bias and to draw conclusions about the integrity of information they work with,” says Mr Driver. “We work to give them the tools to make good decisions and hold their own as the frameworks change around them”.
Hello world
Big dreams, little dreams and everything in between — it’s all supported at Scotch! “We not only help students to open the doors to do what they want, but also to do the things that they haven’t even thought about yet,” says Mr Driver. In 2023, over 30 students walked away with their Certificate 2 and 3 qualifications in chosen VET courses. It’s this kind of advanced preparation that gives students access to their steps beyond school, whether it be university or other pathways, that they’re really excited about. “Something we’re really proud of is the diversity of our students: we have some who aspire to do medicine and some that aspire to work on their family farm, and everyone in between. It’s wonderful for us to celebrate academic results in a really diverse way,” says Mr Driver.
There’s something reassuring about knowing that as the younger generation stands up and faces the world, they’re not just doing it with brains — they’re doing it with a nurtured and supported heart and soul, too.
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