OP results: Southeast Brisbane most improved schools 2018

Schools across Brisbane have recorded massive improvements in OP scores over the past decade, with several standout performers on the southside.

Michael Penklis and Mac Herring pose at Anglican Church Grammar School in East Brisbane on Friday, February 15, 2019. The boys received high scores in their OP results. (AAP Image/Claudia Baxter)

SCHOOLS across Brisbane have recorded huge improvements in OP school rankings over the past decade, with several standout performers on the southside.

The Southern Star has compared data from 2008 with the most recent Year 12 Outcomes Report, released in full this week by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Among the biggest improvers with regards to OP1-5 school rankings were several major secondary state schools in Brisbane’s southeast suburbs, including Mount Gravatt State High School, Clairvaux MacKillop College in Upper Mt Gravatt.

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TSS PHOTO: Brisbane Christian College Year 12 students in 2018.

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Other schools to have improved include Iona College, Cannon Hill Anglican College, Cavendish Road State High School and Anglican Church Grammar School.

A number of southside schools with fewer than 100 OP students in 2018 also improved including Calamvale Community College, Wynnum State High School, Brisbane School of Distance Education, Brisbane Bayside State College, Brisbane Christian College, San Sisto College and Citipointe Christian College.

Cannon Hill Anglican College principal Mr Gary O’Brien.

Mt Gravatt State High School principal Ross Robertson over the past 10 years there had been “a sustained focus on improvement and high standards around academic performance, behaviour and effort at the school”.

“There has been really strong work done around celebrating and recognising students who have had academic success,” he said.

“There has also been work done on providing students with opportunities to grow in their individual strengths — culture, community, sport and academic performance.

Mr Robertson said this had “helped students feel committed to the school” and helped them find their “place in the school” which contributed to personal growth.

Mt Gravatt State High School Year 12 students in 2018.

He said there was a strong focus on “disruption free” learning, as well as more intense monitoring of the progress of students.

“The fact that these standards have been set, the future does look very bright for Mt Gravatt SHS in terms of student performance,” Mr Robertson said.

Mr Robertson credited his “united team of teachers” for setting and maintaining high academic standards.

He said there had also been work done around supporting students’ wellbeing.

“Students have that sense of ownership and belonging across the school,” he said.

“We have created a strong reputation in the community.”

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Mt Gravatt SHS has 1185 students enrolled this year and next year numbers are predicted to hit 1300.

“We are going to continue to grow,” he said.

Four Mt Gravatt SHS students achieved the top result of OP 1, Aidan Demmers, Rebecca Gong, Jayden Webster and Lauren Ockendon.

Clairvaux MacKillop College principal Brian Eastaughffe said the academic improvements were a direct result of the hard work undertaken by students and staff.

“There has been a renewed focus on learning and teaching during this period of time,” he said.

“The office of Brisbane Catholic Education initiated an Excellent Learning and Teaching Strategy which gave direction to our colleges and schools to assist in the improvement of student learning outcomes through the use of data. The appropriate implementation of these strategies has been a focal point.”

Clairvaux MacKillop College Year 12 students Cooper Leslie and Zara Hassard.

Mr Eastaughffe said: “While the students have embraced their responsibilities as learners, the staff members have shown their dedication and commitment to the relevant and appropriate pedagogical practices for the benefit of student learning outcomes.

“Importantly, we realise that we need to be prudent in continuing to provide improved practices in the learning and teaching environment so that teachers and students continue to work with each other.”