Dean of Senior Years

Term 3 has been a busy time for Year 10 students having met with their SET plan mentors to discuss post school aims and preferencing for Year 11. Thank you to all parents and students for your involvement in this important process. It is a joyous thing to hear the promise of futures articulated in relation to passion for particular learning areas and current progress. Students are now working to continue to grow their exposure and understanding in their preparatory subjects at Year 10 to allow them to continue this growth pattern across the remainder of the Senior Phase in Years 11 and 12. 

A reminder as we move into the peak of the assessment cycle and Year 10 Term 3 Exams of the importance to be aware of the Academic Policies and Procedures  should students require an extension or miss a scheduled exam. This information can be found in the Policies and Procedures tile on MyMtA along with the ‘request for extension’ form. Please note that in the senior phase (Years 10-12) students are required to provide medical documentation to support applications for extensions and absence from exams due to illness. I wish all Year 10 students the best as they work to achieve meet their goals this term. 

In Term 3, Year 11 students are working to achieve their best in Unit 2 for most subjects in order to secure their QCE point accordingly. In cohort meetings this term we have focused on organisational strategies with a more targeted approach to study schedules, support with the use of retrospective revision charts, and reinforcing the amazing supports on offer here at the College for students with our Academic Mentors at Senior Study from Monday to Thursday.  It has been excellent to see the numbers requesting feedback on the work they have been doing at home and in classes at senior study. When students understand the importance of seeking and responding to feedback, they learn that growth is possible. I wish all Year 11 students the best as they head into the Year 11 Exam period. 

Term 4 will see students moving into work on Unit 3 in General subjects with Internal Assessment items. Units 3 and 4 are paired. This means that once students complete three internal items (school based tasks) and one External exam, they will have secured a mark out of 100. Where students meet the boundary for a pass (this is determined by the QCAA), they bank two QCE points. Overall results in Units 3 & 4 can be used to determine an overall ATAR for those on the ATAR pathway. Of great importance at this stage in the Senior phase, is for students to reflect on feedback offered for Formative Assessment tasks in Year 11, and put into action recommendations for next steps with the strategies provided. Students enrolled in Certificate III, IV or Diploma courses on RANK pathways continue to work at meeting competencies. It has been such a pleasure to see students working at these with excitement as they build a profile for their post school aims. 

Students in Year 12 have been busy completing work in Unit 4. Students have received information relating to their Mock Block exams and External Examinations. Students eligible for Rank have already had their QTAC meetings with the Futures Hub. Students who are ATAR eligible commenced QTAC meetings last week and have been scheduled for these across the remainder of the term. Students will receive their ATAR indication at this time. Parents and students are advised that this is an indication only. The indication is likely to fluctuate if assumptions about scaling are inaccurate. Fluctuation is also likely if EA results do not match IA results. Beyond this, students in applied subjects and some Certificate courses are finalising assessment. I am regularly running into students around the College who are so excited to report the completion of the final work in their courses. It is indeed a wonderful thing to see. As this term comes to a close, Year 12 students will receive their  Mock exam results and feedback which can be used to inform their areas for focus in the lead up to external exams. I wish all students well over the coming weeks in Year 12.