Among private schools endlessly upping their fees with the promise of ATAR excellence, the estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research reports that on the path to university entry character and commitment really matter. But for students without supportive homes, schools have to step-up.
Ronnie Semo and NCVER colleagues used data sets including NAPLAN and the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth to identify what delivers university entry scores. They found that controlling for socioeconomic and language backgrounds, gender and indigeneity, students with strong NAPLAN results are almost twice as likely to score 90-plus ATARs.
And schools don’t have the biggest bunch to do with it, “most of the variation in a student’s tertiary entrance score can be attributed to their demographic profile or academic ability rather than the school they attend,” they write.
The good news for Australia is that academic ability and diligence can trump class, that the school people go to does not dictate their ATAR outcome, “meaning that students should not be impeded or discouraged by their individual backgrounds.”
The bad news for Education Ministers mindful of budgets is that expanding university access will require more resources for schools to assist who are not such self-starters.
“Schools must ensure that support and opportunities are provided for all students, such that the potential of all young Australians is maximised, with a particular focus on male students and those who fall behind. The unique educational and occupational aspirations of each student must also be recognised, with schools encouraged to identify optimal pathways for each individual.”
And it will take an end to schools shunting students who need support into dead-end options. Andrew Harvey (Griffith U) with colleagues Lucy McDermid and Rebecca Wren reported last year that in Queensland, “the tracking of Indigenous and low SES students into non-ATAR pathways is particularly glaring.” (Future Campus August 30 2023).
“There are merits to diversifying curriculum, increasing VET provision in schools, and reducing reliance on ATARs. However, much of the current streaming appears to be reducing rather than increasing choice, particularly for students already under-represented in higher education,” he previously warned.
