FIRST LOOK: How Qld schools performed in Yr 12 ATAR

The Year 12 ATAR results of some of Queensland’s biggest schools can be exclusively revealed with the top-performing school having an astonishing number of students scoring 90+.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School has emerged as the state’s top performing Year 12 school with an incredible 85 per cent of its cohort achieving an ATAR of 90 or above.

The ATAR results of some of Queensland’s largest schools can be exclusively revealed to officially celebrate the Class of 2023.

Nearly 28,000 Year 12 students today received an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank with 34 outstanding students achieving the highest possible band of 99.95.

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School and Brisbane Grammar School followed in the top performing rankings with 84 per cent and 65 per cent above 90 respectively.

At the GPS elite Anglican Church Grammar School 14 per cent of the Year 12 cohort attained an ATAR of 99 and above.

*This table relies on schools to provide The Courier Mail with their results. More schools will be added as they are supplied

The results are yet another milestone for the tens of thousands of students who now eagerly await the first round of university offers.

More than 500 students from 150 schools also achieved a perfect score of 100 out of 100 in at least one general or general extension subject.

However for the fourth year running, the state government will keep individual Year 12 results secret instead only providing a small snapshot of the data.
Despite this, The Courier-Mail can reveal and celebrate some of the state’s top performers.

See below for our rolling coverage of results.

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School achieved a median ATAR of 94.5 which included a perfect score of 99.95 from Isla Williams.

Year 12 graduates Sanuli Ranatunga, Lucy Bristow, principal Toni Riordan, Shreya Jayaram, and Isla Williams from St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School. Picture: John Gass.

Principal Toni Riordan said the cohort had shown incredible academic growth and had upheld the school’s longstanding tradition of educational excellence.

“We are so proud of each individual student who graduated this year,” Ms Riordan said.

“As a non-selective school, one that welcomes students of all abilities, these achievements clearly demonstrate the exceptional calibre of our nurturing environment and inspiring professionals who build learning relationships, creating and fostering educational excellence.”

Ms Williams was one of 34 students to achieve the top ATAR. She hopes to study Medicine.

“I was super excited and relieved (to see my results on Friday), I think it will take a little while to settle in, and maybe I’ll feel a little sad that my schooling has finished,” she said.

Sanuli Ranatunga finished with a 99.5 ATAR and will pursue either Medicine or Engineering.

“Of course there were a few hiccups on the journey, it’s hard to go smooth sailing all the way, but overall it was a good experience and I think I managed my study fairly well,” she said.

Lucy Bristow was “really nervous” before seeing her 98.85.

“The thing I will remember the most will be how in Year 12 we all came together to support each other and run various events like fundraising – I’ll miss that community atmosphere.”

Shreya Jayaram found mixing her Year 12 studies with sport and music “kept her going” to end up with a 99.85.

“It was stressful – a lot of late nights, assignments, but with your friends beside you in the same boat and motivating you, it made it all better.”

Brisbane Grammar School

Brisbane Grammar School graduates David Sun and Isaac Robinson. Photo: John Gass.

Class of 2023 graduate Isaac Robinson had a “scary experience” logging onto the QTAC portal for his ATAR, but he was happy in the end. He is on track to study Humanities and Law and has been awarded a UQ Ramsay Scholarship.

“I think it (Year 12) went smoother than I expected. Most of my best experiences came through sport actually, but I’ll definitely miss the friends I’ve connected with,” he said.

David Sun is also set to secure a place at UQ studying Medicine.

“I think it was actually quite smooth this year. In previous years I put pressure on myself, but when it came to this year’s ATAR exams, I was feeling less stressed,” he said.

“The biggest thing I will miss is the sheer amount of people I can call friends and the sense of school community in general. Plus particularly handball at lunchtime.”

Headmaster Anthony Micallef commended the Class of 2023, saying a pursuit of excellence across all areas contributed to the strong results.

Two BGS students achieved the top rank of 99.95, while three others received an ATAR of 99.90.

“Their outstanding ATAR results speak to their hard work and commitment this year, but also to the culture of excellence fostered over many years at BGS,” he said.

“We endeavour to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all Brisbane Grammar School students enabling them to develop a sense of belonging and maximise their potential.”

Sunshine Coast Grammar School

Sunshine Coast Grammar School principal Anna Owen

The Class of 2023 at the Forest Glen-based school officially claimed its best-ever results with about 11 per cent of the cohort attaining an ATAR of 99 or above.

Principal Anna Owen said the results were some of the best across Queensland.

Ms Owen attributed the academic excellence to the “expertise and unwavering support” of grammar’s staff.

“The commitment and engagement to learning exhibited by our students is evident in Sunshine Coast Grammar’s continuing exceptional record of academic excellence,” Ms Owen said.

“As an academically non-selective school, these impressive results underscore the high-quality teaching at Sunshine Coast Grammar School and the positive learning culture among our students.”

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Vicki Chuang, Lillian Blanshard and Josephine Richards Brisbane Girls Grammar Friday December 15, 2023. Picture, John Gass

An astonishing 85 per cent of the Year 12 cohort finished with an ATAR of 90 or above.

Principal Jacinda Euler Welsh said the entire cohort should feel immense pride in the academic results.

“The young women of Year 12 set an impressive example in all that they accomplished and in how they contributed to the life of their School and the community beyond,” she said.

“Our students have such a strong connection to their teachers who are both expert and caring they respect and admire them greatly.

“Having had half of their senior years during the times of Covid, they have been adaptable, embraced challenge and should feel ready for their next adventure.”

Graduating trio Lillian Blanshard, Josephine Richards and Vicki Chuang said enduring the Covid years had brought the group closer together and prepared them for Year 12.

Ms Blanshard said she was content with her ATAR score, but did not wish to disclose it.

“Year 12 was a stressful year, but super rewarding, so many enjoyable milestones,” she said.

“We had such a supportive cohort and it’s good to see it pay off.

“Covid was challenging at the time but ultimately it brought us closer. We faced that in the younger years and I think it made it easier for Year 12.”

Anglican Church Grammar School

14 per cent of the Churchie cohort achieved an ATAR of 99 plus, headmaster Dr Alan Campbell confirmed.

He said one student achieved the perfect ATAR.

Churchie headmaster Dr Alan Campbell.

“We congratulate our QCE students on achieving impressive results and acknowledge our outstanding staff and parents for their expertise, support and encouragement,” Dr Campbell said.

“Along with our IB students, who will receive their results in January, and our VET students, we commend the Class of 2023 for their dedication to the pursuit of academic excellence as part of their education at Churchie.”

Matthew Flinders Anglican College

An incredible 16 Flinders students achieved an ATAR of above 99 including Agnethe Kjaer with a perfect score.

Retiring principal Stuart Meade said it was the school’s best result since the ATARs began in 2020.

“One of the key aspects of the positive culture at Flinders is the relationships that are forged between students and staff over an extended period of time,” Mr Meade said.

“It may be in the classroom, on the sports fields, the stage or in their pastoral homeroom; the mutual respect that is developed assists the students in their journey through the college.”

St Joseph’s Nudgee College

Outgoing principal Peter Fullagar said Nudgee’s entire senior cohort could be commended for their academic output this year.

Mr Fullagar said 98 per cent of the students had attained their QCE.

“I am delighted that this cohort has continued to build on our strong academic performance, achieving the highest results since ATAR calculations began in 2020,” Mr Fullagar said.

We would like to acknowledge the significant achievements of the six students who received an ATAR of 99 or higher, and a further nine students who received an ATAR of 98 or higher.“

Nudgee’s dux Patrick Kennedy achieved an ATAR of 99.6.

St Joseph's Nudgee College Principal Peter Fullagar Picture Supplied