Melbourne High School principal says its not all about marks

Melbourne High School’s new principal says the pandemic should be a wake-up call about students’ welfare — and believes life is about much more than VCE results.

Melbourne High School principal Tony Mordini with year 10 students Mark, Jake, Ravine and Kunal. Picture: Mark Stewart

The new principal of one of Melbourne’s best and most influential schools says the wellbeing of students is as important as their VCE marks.

Melbourne High School principal Dr Tony Mordini said the past year, grappling with a pandemic and keeping students engaged, should have been a wake-up call for everyone.

“If 2020 is not a wake up call to what can happen to the most able and equipped. The recovery is quite difficult for some people,” he said.

“It is not just about whether you are the best in your field but you may need to have some other resources that are more than marks.”

Dr Mordini has replaced longtime principal Jeremy Ludowyke to head the select entry South Yarra government school which takes the cream of students at year 9.

Dr Mordini comes from one of the state’s biggest government schools in Mount Ridley P-12 College, in Craigieburn. For the past five years he was an assistant principal.

“Part of the narrative has to be constantly reminding students that there is a need for balance. Life is much more than just academic achievement,” Dr Mordini said.

“It is hard to see that when you are a young person trying to get your best VCE result. I get that.”

Dr Mordini said his role as leader of the academic community was to equip his students for life and support them and their families.

Of the 2020 cohort, 35 enrolled in Monash University medicine.

While proud of all graduates, Dr Mordini said the school’s job also was to turn out “good global citizens who have a sense of personal efficacy and resilience”.

Last year, the VCE median study score for Melbourne High was 37, well above high priced private schools.

Tony Mordini has been appointed principal of Melbourne’s top government school, Melbourne High. Picture: Mark Stewart

Like many schools, it is embedding Respectful Relationships in its curriculum, a program to promote and model respect and equality.

“I don’t want the boys to be isolated in their thinking. They have to be good men in the community and good spokespeople in the community around broader community issues,” he said.

“They are well placed because they are bright young men.”

Dr Mordini wants to see if there is an appetite to also offer the International Baccalaureate, an alternative to the VCE.

The school will be working collaboratively with a group of Government schools to develop the Centre of Higher Educational Studies which is located on adjoining land in Chapel Street. It will be a hub to extend gifted students across a number or government schools.

He is also eager to further pathways with universities and can see a time when students may do a university subject at year 12 instead of five or six VCE units in their final year of school.

“Universities will need to look at different business models,” he said.

Dr Mordini, who taught history, English and Italian at VCE level, comes to the school with a varied professional life, including academia, bureaucracy and entrepreneurship. He was part of the start-up team behind Swinburne Online, a collaboration between the university and ASX listed SEEK.

Dr Mordini was a surprise choice for the principal gig at the select entry boys’ school as most principals are drawn from alumni.

Among the roll call of principals is Australian cricket captain Bill Woodfull.

Student alumni range from chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton to the male members of the The Seekers, the late music entrepreneur Michael Gudinski and leaders in business, education and health.

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