Secondary School

Semester 1 Report Data

Student Work Attributes (SWA) & Attribute Point Average (APA)

The Trinity College Spirit Ambitions identify excellence as guiding our mission as a school community and call on us to “Inspire excellence amongst students to reach their full potential.” 

The spirit of excellence extends beyond those subjects, activities and tasks we find easy or even enjoyable. A true spirit of excellence involves a commitment to doing and giving our best despite adversity- developing grit, determination and resilience. Boys, in particular, thrive when expectations are clear, consistent and challenging.

Student Work Attributes (SWA) identify those skills and personal habits that all students should seek to develop as they strive for their own personal excellence because they encompass the attitudes, behaviours, and skills that contribute to personal growth and success. These attributes and a descriptor of each level of achievement are found on the last page of the Student Report.

They are:

1.            Application

2.            Independent Learning

3.            Self-Management

4.            Home Studies

5.            Cooperative Behaviour 

An Attribute Point Average (APA) is generated by establishing an average for all SWA’s in all subjects studied, where student achievement is allocated a numerical value:

Excellent (5)    High (4)     Satisfactory (3)     Inconsistent (2)     Unsatisfactory (1)

The Attribute Point Average (APA) is a score between 1.00 and 5.00 and is independent of academic potential or ability. It measures the effort and commitment to personal excellence regardless of the grade attained.

The average APA for Semester 1, 2024 for each year cohort is indicated in the table below:

The APA is an important measure for students and families to examine and reflect upon constantly. Similarly, the College refers to each student’s APA in the following ways:

• Providing information and feedback on student performance
• Acknowledging student excellence
• Tracking student progress over time
• Informing pastoral conversations
• Identifying students of concern and implementing a process of support and interventions
• Establishing minimum standards for considering student's eligibility for Bursaries/Scholarships, tours/immersions, and student leadership opportunities
• Course counselling - in conjunction with GPA and course pre-requisites

There are five APA achievement categories: 

The table below indicates the distribution of the five APA achievement categories for Year 7 to 12 in Semester 1, 2024.

Students with an APA below 3.30 are considered as not working to their capacity and to be “Of Concern”. The College will contact parents, and various support strategies and mentoring will be offered through the PCG Leader, Head of Year or Deputy Principal (Student Wellbeing). 

Pinder Boor Certificates of Excellence are awarded after each semester to those students who achieve an APA of 4.50 or more.  These certificates and a letter from the College Principal are posted home after each semester. All Pinder Boor award winners are acknowledged in the College Newsletter. 

These awards are named in honour of Alaric Pinder Boor - Old Boy, 1912 Head Prefect and Dux of CBC Perth, our original school. A recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship in 1913, Alaric was revered by staff and students alike and impressed all he met with his endeavour and dedication to excellence in all aspects of life. During his time at CBC Perth, Pinder Boor made the most of the opportunity to learn and make a difference to the full, claiming academic and sports honours in equal measure. 

Alaric Pinder Boor’s life was tragically cut short when he was killed in action at the Battle of Beersheba in World War I. The legacy left by Pinder Boor is one of striving for excellence and always giving one's best in all circumstances, particularly in the face of challenges and adversity, and not leaving our potential unfulfilled.

Crown Awards are displayed on the student blazer and recognise those who persistently strive for personal excellence over an extended period from Years 7-12. Students who achieve three Pinder Boor Certificates of Excellence are awarded a Blue Crown. A Green Crown is awarded to students who achieve six Pinder Boor Certificates, and a Gold Crown to those who achieve nine Pinder Boor Certificates from Years 7 to 12. Crown Awards are formally presented at a College Assembly.

Finally, the Pinder Boor Medal is awarded at the College Presentation Night and is presented to Year 12 students who achieve an APA of 4.50 or more in all eleven Student Reports that students receive as they journey from Years 7 to 12. 

Work attributes and the APA are fundamental to achieving personal excellence because they foster a comprehensive approach to personal growth. These attributes help students succeed academically and develop into well-rounded, confident, and capable individuals ready to tackle life's challenges.

Trinity College firmly believes that all students are capable of achieving personal excellence to expect anything less from our boys would undervalue their abilities. Experience and life generally will show them that true success can only be found at the end of a well-worn path of hard work, application and genuine purpose. In partnership with families, our role is to continually and consistently remind them of this and encourage them to strive toward such an ideal. 

If you have any questions about the SWA or APA, please do not hesitate to contact your son’s PCG Leader or Head of Year.

Mr Julian Fritz

Deputy Principal (Student Wellbeing)

Master Classes Term 3

Year 11 Biology Students at Perth Zoo

On Thursday, 13 June, the Year 11 Biology students embarked on an exciting excursion to Perth Zoo. 

The excursion was aimed at educating the students about the significance of biodiversity. Perth is fortunate to be in a biodiversity hotspot, home to a multitude of unique plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. 

The students were inspired by the impressive work being done at Perth Zoo and learnt about various career opportunities in conservation. They delved into the zoo's dedicated efforts in studying and preserving native species, such as the numbat, an endangered marsupial endemic to Western Australia. The zoo's numbat conservation program includes breeding initiatives and habitat restoration projects aimed at boosting wild populations and ensuring the survival of this unique species.

Additionally, the students explored the zoo's initiatives for the West Swan River turtles and swamp frogs. The West Swan River turtles, facing threats from habitat loss and pollution, are a focal point of the zoo's conservation strategies, which involve habitat protection, community education, and research on turtle behaviour and ecology. Similarly, the swamp frogs, another vital part of our local biodiversity, are monitored and protected through the zoo's amphibian conservation programs, which aim to mitigate the effects of climate change and disease on frog populations.

By engaging with these conservation stories, the students gained a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and triumphs involved in preserving our unique wildlife. They left with a deeper appreciation for our region's natural heritage and a renewed sense of duty to protect it for future generations. This experience not only highlighted the importance of conservation but also showcased the myriad ways individuals can contribute to making a positive impact on the environment, inspiring many to consider careers in this vital field.

Ms Gabrielle Ietto

Pinder Boor Certificate of Excellence

Congratulations to all the students who achieved an Attribute Point Average (APA) of 4.50 or more and were awarded with a Pinder Boor Certificate of Excellence.

The Certificate of Excellence is named in honour of CBC Perth (our original school) student Alaric Pinder Boor, 1912 Head Prefect and Dux of the College. A recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship in 1913, Alaric was revered by staff and students alike and impressed all he met with his endeavour and dedication to excellence in all aspects of life. During his time at CBC Perth, Pinder Boor made the most of the opportunity to learn and make a difference to the full, claiming academic and sports’ honours in equal measure. 

Alaric Pinder Boor’s life was tragically cut short when he was killed in action during World War I when the plane he was flying was shot down over Egypt in the Battle of Beersheba. The legacy left by Pinder Boor is one of striving for personal excellence and always giving of ones best in all circumstance and in the face of all challenges and adversity.