Braemar College’s 2022 Dux Heather Sutherland said she was surprised to find out she’d received a highest possible score when VCE results were released on Monday morning.
She said she was keen to use her Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 99.95 to study neuroscience and later, medicine.
“[My parents were] shocked as well, because I thought I hadn’t done really well [in my exams], they were surprised and happy,” she said.
“My teachers were incredible and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Braemar College principal Russell Deer said the school was thrilled with the results across the board, with 22 per cent of the year 12 cohort receiving an ATAR of 90 or better.
“Young people have worked really hard post COVID-19 [lockdowns] and gratefully had a full year of face-to-face learning,” Mr Deer said.
“The students had to get used to a rhythm again once they returned face-to-face and we’re really proud of what they’ve achieved.
“We’re also really mindful of the fact that this is the first cohort of young people who have been educated on both campuses at our college, at Woodend campus and the Mount Macedon campus.”
Braemar’s Dux Proximus was Madeline Coates, who received an ATAR of 97.8.
Mr Deer said another theme the school observed during this year’s VCE was the diversity of pathways chosen by students, including those that are not ATAR-based.
“They completed their schooling and already had other pathways picked out that weren’t reliant on an ATAR, like doing diploma level courses, or trades… there’s a whole range,” he said.
Elsie Lange
