Top VCE schools by subject revealed
The top VCE schools by subject have been revealed. Here are Victoria’s best performing schools in English, maths methods, biology and more.
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The best VCE schools by subject have been revealed, as one high-flying public school plans to change its ways after seeing a boost from online interactions.
Schools whose students achieved the highest number of 40+ study scores in the most popular subjects were uncovered in a Herald Sun analysis, showing St Kevin’s topped the charts in the only all-in subject.
The boys’ school was the clear winner for English — the subject taken by almost all VCE pupils — with 103 students scoring over 40, followed by Haileybury (96) and Haileybury Girls (85).
But non-select entry government schools McKinnon, Melbourne Girls’ College and Frankston High were also celebrating making the top 25 across the state for the most popular subject.
Frankston High, with 21 students achieving English subject scores of 40 or above, was honoured with the same number of top scores as prestigious campuses Ballarat Grammar, St Leonard’s and St Paul’s.
“In lockdown, it possibly enhanced our results,” said Frankston High principal John Albiston.
“Teachers would differentiate between students and follow up online, they would record themselves so students could go back and watch those sessions, and they were able to give a lot of regular and quick feedback.
“Quieter students were more prepared to speak up on (online) chat.”
Mr Albiston said the school planned to keep recorded lectures, which students could turn back to during revision, and continue with Microsoft Teams so teachers and students were more readily connected and communication wasn’t limited to the class period.
Student Louis Robson, 18, said while it was a year he’d never want to repeat, there were “definitely ups and downs” with online schooling.
“Easily being able to access my English teacher and talk to her was a real benefit,” said Louis, who plans to study Arts at Melbourne University.
“Within half an hour I’d get feedback on an essay.”
Elly Howell, 17, said online learning meant teachers could give live commentary on film techniques while the movie was playing.
While the classroom was “obviously preferred”, she said there were parts of remote learning that should “definitely be kept in future teaching”.
Despite missing milestone events with friends in their final year of school, Elly was “excited for a new chapter” studying medicine and medical science or biomedicine at Monash University.
Meanwhile, government schools topped the lists of other popular subjects, taking out best results in maths methods (Melbourne High), biology (MacRob) and legal studies (Suzanne Cory High).
Schools that featured most in the top scoring subjects were all select entry public campuses — John Monash Science School was among the best in English, maths methods, biology and the recently popular subject environmental science.
Nossal High and Melbourne High also claimed three top spots.
Only students who agreed to have their top scores published by VCAA would have results appear on the 2020 honour roll.
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