Senior success: six factors that guide parents and students entering Years 10 and 11

Quality coeducational curricular and extensive cocurricular programs engage every Senior School student at Wesley in meaningful learning experiences and encourage every one of them to do their level best, and realise their talents and their potential, as Jill Caple and Oliver Thompson explain.

Research by Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) reveals that the top six factors that guide parents in choosing the right school with their child, in order of importance, are:

• how the school develops their child as a whole person – attitudinally, morally, spiritually, physically and intellectually
• best fit in meeting their child's needs
• reputation
• quality of education programs
• educational philosophy, and
• academic results.

Of course, all these factors overlap: by meeting the needs of every one of our students, we enable them to develop as a whole so that as they progress in their learning into the senior years, they do their level best, and realise their talents and their potential. That’s why Wesley, as an open-entry school, focuses on quality curricular and cocurricular programs designed to engage every student in meaningful learning experiences, with an emphasis not just on learning to know, but also to do, to live with and to be.

In Senior School, our Years 10 and 11 students enjoy a lot of choice, studying the pathway best suited to them, through the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP), and are able to pursue their interests, selecting from a broad offering of specialist and interdisciplinary subjects. They’re also involved in cocurricular activities that include everything from membership of the Athletics squad to Zumba at lunchtimes, and so much in between – debating, organising campus events, music rehearsals and concerts, mentoring younger peers, involvement onstage and backstage in theatre productions. Our aim is to ensure every student finds their talent and has every opportunity to pursue it, and with opportunities for experiential learning in our outdoor education program, our many trips and tours, and the Year 10 Yiramalay Induction Program, our students really do learn about themselves and the world.

Academic results

While academic results ranked as the sixth most important factor in the ISV research, it’s clearly an important consideration for parents, and because those six factors overlap, academic results are something of a proxy measure for the other five. So what’s the picture at Wesley? With about 350 students completing their Year 12 studies at Wesley last year – some 60 per cent studying the VCE and 40 per cent studying the IB DP – the median ATAR was 88.05. More than 40 per cent of Wesley students attained an ATAR of 90.00 and above, placing them in the top 10 per cent of the equivalent Year 12 cohort in Australia, while two thirds of Wesley students attained an ATAR of 80.00 and above, placing them in the top 20 per cent of the equivalent Year 12 cohort in Australia. Almost 120 – about half – of our VCE cohort achieved a study score of 40 or higher, a fantastic achievement of which we’re extremely proud.

What do our students say?

Natasha Stonehouse-Melke, who studied the IB DP and attained an ATAR of 99.95, Wesley’s cocurricular program enabled her to explore passions outside the classroom, de-stress and develop organisational skills that proved invaluable in managing her Year 12 academic program. ‘In Year 12, I was part of the debating team, led first violins in the school orchestra, played hockey and was also involved in the school musical,’ Natasha said. ‘I’m extremely grateful for the amazing support of my teachers, family and friends.

‘At Wesley, each student, girl or boy, is presented with the same opportunities and encouraged to excel. Learning in a coeducational environment exposes you to a range of perspectives, provides a dynamic classroom environment and allows you to become a more open-minded individual.

Jay Foster, who also studied the IB DP and attained an ATAR of 99.60, joined Wesley for Years 10 to 12. ‘The thing that will stay with me the most about my time at Wesley is the community,’ Jay said. ‘Classmates, friends and teachers surrounded and supported me throughout my three years at Wesley and I found friends who welcomed me and helped me grow.

‘From student mentoring, debate and public speaking to various community service projects, I was involved in numerous cocurricular activities. Participating in the Public Questions Society (PQS), and later becoming the PQS Prefect, helped introduce me to new Wesley students and furthered my understanding of global contemporary issues.’

For Juliet McBurney, who studied the VCE and attained an ATAR of 99.15, Wesley really is about a ‘true education.’ ‘I feel prepared and look forward to the challenges which lie ahead,’ Juliet said. ‘During my six years at Wesley, I was always involved in sport, and was the Cross-Country Captain and Athletics Vice-Captain in my final year. Establishing a routine of sport and study in Middle School helped me balance the demands of study in Senior School. I also really appreciated the traditions at Wesley, like the school songs and assemblies.’

What does the research say?

According to research by Maria Evangelou and colleagues, a key feature of a successful schooling experience for students is engagement. Our school structure is designed to engage students as they progress through adolescence to young adulthood. The Senior School provides opportunities for every emerging adult, whether transitioning from Middle School or new to Wesley in Year 10 or 11, to be their best by creating a sense of engagement and offering all the support they need while still providing the specialist facilities, staff expertise and cocurricular opportunities you’d expect in a large school.

Research reported by Lisa De Bortoli in PISA Australia in Focus: Sense of belonging at school also reveals that engagement matters because it’s part of a ‘virtuous circle’: engagement leads to belonging, which leads to motivation, which leads to academic success, which leads to engagement. For our students in Senior School, building that virtuous circle is one of the best gifts we can give, enabling them to do their level best so that when they step through the school gates for the last time, they’re ready for anything.

Of course, we also hope they’ll come back to visit and share the secrets of their success with their younger peers – and they usually do.

Jill Caple is the Head of Senior School at Wesley’s Glen Waverley Campus and Oliver Thompson is the Head of Senior School at the St Kilda Road Campus.

Contact us

Contact us to find out more about Senior School enrolments at our Glen Waverley and St Kilda Road Campuses.

To see our Glen Waverley or St Kilda Road Middle Schools in action, we invite you to book a tour.