Tyrrell College outperforms some of Melbourne’s elite schools
Through tragedy and patchy internet on their farms, students at Tyrrell College outperformed some of Melbourne’s elite campuses.
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Students at a rural school with a single rain water tank and pebble-cladded buildings have beaten the ATAR scores of those at some of Melbourne’s most elite campuses.
The pupils of Tyrrell College not only battled having no internet on their farms 50km out of Sea Lake, in the northwestern corner of the state, but returned from remote learning only to face another major blow.
The father of one of their VCE students, the community’s greatest leader and only police officer, was killed when he was struck by a car when riding his bike in early November.
Leading Senior Constable Dennis Cox died just two days into the three-week long exam schedule.
“They got out of COVID, and the kids did an amazing job, then we had this tragedy,” principal Mark Corrie said.
Leading Sen Con Cox’s daughter valiantly fought on with her studies while students rallied together to get through exams.
Assistant principal Abby Walklate said the school’s students were the “shining light” and “pulled our community together” in a time of tragedy, while Mr Corrie said the kids had shown “so much integrity”.
“I’m so proud,” he said.
“It’s probably a true reflection of how human beings should conduct themselves in a time of crisis — it’s funny that we look to kids sometimes to set that example.”
A total 19 students completed VCE subjects, with the school achieving a median study score of 34. Last year it was 31.
Their results boost lifted the cohort into the company of private city campuses Melbourne, Caulfield and Camberwell Grammar, and into the top 60 schools across the state.
Student Isabella Shepherd, 18, was “overwhelmed” when she opened her results to find an ATAR of 87 when she was expecting a rank in the 70s.
“It was just a very full on year — we had to try to be resilient,” she said.
“The internet was glitchy — I live in a town with no service and if our booster wasn’t working, I would have struggled.
“It’s such a great feeling to have everything done.”
Mr Corrie said everyone had pitched in to get through a year of “absolute mayhem”
“For these kids to get to where they got to, it’s amazing,” he said.
Almost half of Aussie kids bullied at school
A national survey of parents has uncovered sky-high rates of bullying – and heaped pressure on governments to take a national approach to tackle the harmful behaviour.
Take me out of school or I’ll end my life: Young bullied girl’s plea
Across Australia, young kids are going to school riddled with anxiety and fear over what insidious bullying could await them after entering the school gates. These are their stories.