Toowoomba’s OP1 students mark end of era

Here’s how some of Toowoomba’s top students found out about their marks - and what they’re planning to do next.

SOME Toowoomba students endured a sleepless night on Friday, others woke with excitement and anticipation, as OP scores were released across the state.

For a few students, their years of hard work were rewarded with the perfect score; an OP1. They will be the last cohort of students to receive OP marks.

One of these students was Toowoomba Anglican School graduate Jasmine Barui, who found out her result in an unconventional way.

"I woke up at 8.30 on (Saturday morning) to nine missed calls from my parents, they had gotten a text message from the school saying congratulations," Ms Barui said.

"I went to check my OP and my laptop was dead. When I found I had gotten an OP1 my parents started crying."

Harristown State High School graduate Laura Barrett said there were also tears of joy in her household on Saturday morning.

"I went into my parent's bedroom to check, saw that it was an OP1 and my mum and I both had a bit of a cry together," Ms Barrett said.

The Glennie School graduate Ekene Aghanwa and St Mary's graduate Edward Witherspoon both came across their OP1 scores that night.

"I stayed up until midnight. I told myself I would wait, but I couldn't," Ms Aghanwa said.

"I logged in and saw I had gotten a one. I went crazy, I started shouting, it was really late at night, so I hope I didn't wake the neighbours."

"I woke up at 4am, and I had a feeling they were out, so I had a quick look. I was so relieved that the year had been worth it," Mr Witherspoon said.

( From left ) OP1 recipients Jasmine Barui, Laura Barrett and Ekene Aghanwa. Picture: Nev Madsen. Saturday 14th Dec, 2019

These four students have a bright future ahead, as they all plan to start university in the new year. Ms Barui is hoping to study law and arts at the University of Queensland, before travelling to LA for acting. Ms Aghanwa and Mr Witherspoon are both planning to study medicine at UQ, a dream shared by Ms Barrett, who is looking to study biomedical science first at Griffith or the Queensland University of Technology.

Across town, Toowoomba schools enjoyed a successful end to the last year of the OP system, as they prepare to make the switch to ATAR.

Thirty two per cent of students at Fairholme College ranked OP1 - 5, and seven students at Harristown State High School also scored within that bracket.

At Toowoomba Anglican School, 27.7 per cent of students received between an OP 1 - 5, with 11.1 per cent gaining an OP 1.

Wilsonton State High School reported 100 per cent of their students achieved their QCE, and the school dux was awarded an OP1.

There was another OP1 student at Toowoomba Grammar School and 29.9 per cent of the TGS cohort got an OP 1 - 5.

There were similar achievements reported at The Glennie School, where 26.9 per cent of students scored an OP1 -5.

 

School stats breakdown so far:

Fairholme:

OP1-5: 32 per cent

OP1- 10: 74 per cent

OP1-15: 91 per cent

Toowoomba Anglican School:

OP1: 11.11 per cent

OP1- 5: 27.77 per cent

OP1- 10: 61.11 per cent

Toowoomba Grammar School:

OP1 - 5: 29.9 per cent

OP1 - 10: 69 per cent

The Glennie School:

OP 1-5: 26.92 per cent

OP 1-10: 59.61 per cent

OP 1-15: 96.15 per cent