OP Scores Gold Coast: How public schools beat state’s most prestigious

Two Gold Coast public schools have unexpectedly topped state OP results but one prestigious principal has revealed why he’s happy the system is being replaced.

TWO Gold Coast public schools topped state OP results but one prestigious principal - questioning low participation rates at some sites - is happy the system is being replaced.

Benowa State High School and Tamborine Mountain State High outranked more than 500 other high schools across the state for 2019 Year 12 results based on the percentage of participating students to get an OP 1 to 5.

The two schools beat some of the region’s most prestigious private institutions, the results released today by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) show.

Benowa State High School principal Mark Rickard with school captains Matthew Coombes and Jemma Davey. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Gosling

But analysis shows public school participation in OP testing was significantly more selective with 29 per cent of Gold Coast state school seniors assessed under the program, compared to 66 per cent of private school students.

In the past 10 years, OP participation rates on the Gold Coast dropped from 53 per cent to 46 per cent with a steeper drop overall in public schools to 29 per cent.

Somerset College Headmaster Craig Bassingthwaite said his school, ranked in the State’s top 50, had 83 per cent of seniors participate in the program.

The participation rate was among the highest on the Gold Coast only topped by A B Paterson College with a rate of 84 per cent.

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“We are very proud of our results given we have one of the highest percentage rates in the state for participation in the OP system,” Mr Bassingthwaite said.

“Those who are OP ineligible mostly do the IB Diploma which is academically rigorous.

“It’s clear the OP system needs replacing when so many schools have 80 to 90 per cent of their students opt out and become ineligible. It makes for some statistically questionable reports.”

The 2019 student cohort will be the last class of Queensland students to receive an OP score, with the state moving to the new Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranks from this year – in line with other states.

Mr Bassingthwaite said academic results were just one of the measures the school drives to deliver.

“Our students have had some wonderful outcomes but they will be the first to say they aren’t defined by their results.”

At Benowa State High, the highest ranking OP school in the state, nearly three quarters of the 11 students who participated in the university-grading system received an OP between one to five. Of Benowa’s 175 seniors in 2019, six per cent took part to receive an Overall Position (OP) score, the lowest participation rate on the Gold Coast.

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All Saints Year 12's celebrated the final QCS test ever. Teachers including principal Patrick Wallas (pictured) dressed up and surprised the students with a confetti canon and rock music at the end of the exam last year. Pic Tim Marsden

Just over double as many of the school’s senior students (23) opted out of the OP system and instead chose to partake in the International Baccalaureate, an alternate, internationally recognised university grading system.

Benowa Principal Mark Rickard said the school worked with each student to identify the best curriculum program.

At Tamborine Mountain State High, 16 of the 29 students (55.2 per cent) who sat the test obtained an OP scored between one and five. It was followed by All Saints Anglican with a 40.3 of OP students in the top bracket and Southport State High with a 38.5 per cent.

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Somerset College graduate Kevin Song was awarded a distinguished academic achievement award at the QCAA awards over the weekend, with Headmaster Craig Bassingthwaighte.

At Tamborine, just under a third of the 97 year 12 students in 2019, took part in the OP System.

Southport State High senior school principal Benjamin Weeks said the school was equally proud of their graduates with OP results and those who achieved 350 Vocational Education Training qualifications in a variety of fields.

This includes 60 students who graduated with a diploma-level qualification.

“We have built a culture of high expectations and our students all work incredibly hard to do the very best they can, to ensure that they meet their individual goals,” Mr Weeks said.

“All of our students are monitored and tracked extensively to ensure they are on the right pathway and receiving individualised and tailored support.

Schools with fewer than 10 students to receive an OP were not included in this analysis.