SACE results 2024: Students at Loreto College have scores correct after wrong ATAR issue

Some students at a top private girls’ school have had their results amended after they were given the wrong Year 12 score, leaving many devastated and confused.

Students at a top private girls’ school have had their ATARs amended after they initially received incorrect scores.

A group of school leavers at Loreto College, Marryatville, were left devastated and in tears after their vocational education subjects were not counted towards their ATAR, impacting their final result.

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The Advertiser understand many students were in tears opening their scores on Monday morning.

About 16,000 Year 12 students woke on Monday to see the results of all of their hard work this year, with their grades and university entry scores officially released.

Loreto College Principal Kylie McCullah said 14 Year 12 students’ results were impacted “whose pattern of study included Certificate III VET courses”.

“The College followed the usual process for submitting VET results,” Ms McCullah said.

Loreto College Marryatville principal Kylie McCullah. Picture: Les Hallack

“It remains unclear why the VET results were not included in the final ATAR calculation.

“We understand the stress this situation has caused for both students and families and send our sincerest apologies to those impacted. We have contacted all affected students and their families and have provided an update on their result status and additional support needed at this time.”

By 4pm, the students had received their updated, correct scores.

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank – or ATAR – compares students’ grades to other members of their cohort via numerical value, capping at the 99.95 ‘perfect’ score.

The 14 Loreto students who undertook vocational education and training subjects (VET) were left with scores up to 10 points lower than they were expecting.

SACE Board chief executive Michaela Bensley said providers who collect results, such as VET pathways, sometimes give their scores after ATAR scores are first calculated.

“It’s very common practice for us to then receive those results, put them onto the system and reissue those qualifications,” Ms Bensley said.

“What we will make sure is Loreto understands that process and that students are supported.

“There hasn’t been an error in the processing of results.”

Ms Bensley could not answer whether VET results should have been sent by providers before ATAR scores were released.

Students at Loreto College, Marryatville, received the wrong score. Picture: Chris Walls

“The most important thing is to support the Loreto students,” Ms Bensley said.

The issue is “very common”, she said, but that no other schools are affected.

It’s understood the school needed to take a final administrative step for the results to be verified, with that occurring on Monday afternoon. This issue was resolved soon after.

Education Minster Blair Boyer said he felt for the Loreto students impacted.

“My heart goes out to any young students who were hoping for a better score today and felt they haven’t got that because those VET subjects weren’t counted,” Mr Boyer said.

“My message to them is they will be (counted).”

VET subjects count towards the total ATAR by creating an average of other subjects to create a score out of 20.

Originally published as SACE results 2024: Students at Loreto College have scores correct after wrong ATAR issue