Dear Parents/Carers, Families and College Community

Alternate University Entrance Pathway

Last term I surveyed parents/carers and students about their preferences for an alternate university entrance pathway. The rationale for this is;

Our current ATAR pathway has never been well subscribed (currently we have 6 Year 12’s and in the past it has been as low as 2 Year 12’s).
We know there are a larger number of students who should be studying a more academic course to engage and challenge them, but they elect the General pathway rather than our ATAR pathway.
Universities are currently using other mechanisms to select prospective students and the ATAR score is becoming less used as a mechanism.

The survey question was simple; if offered a choice of our current ATAR, the current General or an Alternate pathway, which would you (as a parent or as a student) choose. The Alternate pathway was described as the following;

2.5 days per week on Class - studying English, Animal Production Systems and Plant Production Systems at General level and Applications Maths at ATAR level, plus the Curtin Uni-Ready program.
0.5 day per week Certificate III in Agriculture (Adjusted for Year 11’s because Certificate III doesn’t start until Year 12).
1 day per week on Farm.
1 day per week on Trades.

The survey responses are summarised below and broken into the different categories of students and parents/carers. The numbers in brackets are the number of respondents.

		Preference
		Current ATAR	Alternate	Current General
Current 10	Parents (29 )	10%	41%	49%
Current 10	Students (40)	5%	12.5%	82.5%

Current 11/12 Generals	Parents (34)	0	41%	59%
	Year 11 students (35)	4%	48%	48%
	Year 12 students (31)	0	32%	68%

Current 11/12 ATAR	Parents (11)	45%	55%	0
	Year 11 students (9)	33%	56%	11%
	Year 12 students (6)	33%	67%	0

Parents/carers were given the opportunity to provide comments which were overwhelmingly supportive and positive about the prospect of an Alternative pathway. I am happy to share the comments by email for those interested. The survey data clearly supports our observations.

We will move forward with our planning but will not make any changes until we are comfortable that the changes are well structured and designed, and cater for student needs. At whatever point we might start a new pathway, current Year 11 students would finish Year 12 in the existing pathway.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or observations.

Year 12 Graduation and Prize Day

We have recently been advised of the ATAR external exam schedule so we can confirm the date for our Year 12 Graduation and Prize Day as 12th November. As we get closer we will confirm time details. In the meantime please mark the date in your calendar.

Collie Hockey Players Subs Due

The Collie Hockey Club subs of $60 are now due. Could you please make arrangements to pay into their bank account at your earliest convenience.

BSB: 016560

ACC: 553966665

Please make sure you reference your deposit with your child’s full name.

Steve Watt

HARVEY AG WEEKLY WRAP-UP

"Excellence and Innovation in Agricultural Education"

Issue 21 · 13 Aug 2021

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