South Australia is set to introduce an alternative to the ranking system ATAR for school leavers next year that will capture their skills, abilities and attributes beyond academic achievement.

Learner profiles will help universities, TAFE, industry and employers form a more holistic view of a student’s capabilities, not just their grades. With powerful correlations between wealth and ATAR scores, learner profiles are seen as an important equity measure that could boost tertiary participation and employment rates among school leavers.