Kilvington Grammar celebrates top VCE achievers for 2020

Kilvington Grammar students have notched up some impressive VCE results amid COVID chaos and remote learning.

Kilvington Grammar has been ranked 35th in the state for VCE results in 2020.

Kilvington Grammar students have been praised for their “impressive resilience” after their VCE results saw the school ranked among the top 100 performing schools in the state.

More than a third of the 2020 cohort achieved an ATAR score of more than 90, placing them in the top 10 per cent of all students in the state.

The school’s dux, Harry Xi, achieved an ATAR of 99.35, while two students achieved perfect study scores of 50 in psychology and biology.

Harry Xi achieved an ATAR of 99.35. Picture: Supplied

Four per cent of the cohort achieved ATARs of 99 or higher, while nine per cent had scores of 98 or higher.

Principal Jon Charlton said he was extremely proud of the students’ achievements during a challenging year.

“I honestly could not be prouder of the results, both academic and personal, achieved by this Year 12 group,” he said.

“They went into the start of their final year of school expecting many things, but no one could have predicted the challenges that would go well beyond a ‘normal’ year.

“Our students have displayed impressive resilience and continued to demonstrate a passion for learning and achieving their personal best even while working remotely.”

Kilvington Grammar principal Jon Charlton. Picture: Supplied

Earlier this year Mr Charlton told the Leader managing student wellbeing in a remote learning environment had been one of the biggest challenges of the year.

“Wellbeing is critical to good learning. Some students have thrived in the online environment, others not,” he said.

But he said 2020 had taught him just how strong the Kilvington community is.

“The human spirit rises to a challenge. A setback gives way to a comeback.

“I’ve marvelled at the level of adaptability, flexibility and resourcefulness in students, staff and parents.”

Mr Charlton said the coronavirus pandemic would likely see a new hybrid model of education introduced at Kilvington, combing the best of onsite and remote learning practices.

He also renewed calls for the ATAR system to be overhauled to include a broader measure of students’ abilities and intelligence.

“While academic excellence is key, so is character, community and care, and this year our students really needed to draw upon these elements,” he said.

“In the face of a pandemic, when you are fighting the health crisis of your lifetime, priorities change and what really matters crystallises.

“While we do still need a measure of a student’s academic ability, when you are experiencing an existential threat, what is more important are peoples’ capabilities, competencies, attitudes and strength of character.

“If our focus remains too much on the ATAR, at the expense of the soft skills required in a rapidly changing technological world, we will be left behind.”

He also praised the hard work and “dedication” of staff and the parents and friends who were “cheering from the sidelines” in contributing to this year’s successful results.