Excellence at Scots 2016 | from the Principal Academic Excellence

2016 EXCELLENCE From the Principal Each and every one of us has the potential If we believe that attaining excellence hinges sharing them, and taking joy in them. It means to tread the path to excellence. Excellence on natural talent or special giftedness, two moving beyond the pursuit of self-satisfaction provides an insight into the daily striving and things may happen: firstly, we may believe to the more mature search for meaning and achievement of boys and staff across a broad that because we seem to be better than those fulfilment. That is our mission at Scots – range of educational domains. In the context around us at the time we do not need to Brave Hearts Bold Minds. of The Scots College, scholarly excellence, apply ourselves to continuous practice and vocational excellence, moral excellence and refinement, and secondly, if we don’t appear Scots to the fore! relational excellence combine to encourage to have that natural talent, we are more likely virtuous wellbeing, intellectual maturity and to underachieve because we develop a set of spiritual formation. Excellence is the process beliefs that convince us that success is beyond of becoming better than I once was. our reach. If, on the other hand, we believe that talent is not implicated in our future Finding one’s purpose is the first step to living achievements, we are likely to persist and a life without limits. Maintaining hope in the persevere. Moreover, we will be inclined to move future and faith in the possibilities will keep heaven and earth to get the right opportunities Dr Ian PM Lambert boys moving toward their goal. Maleness is for ourselves and our families. Opportunity and Principal about connection, linkages, and pathways purposeful practice provide the twin insights of from the past to the future. It is about modern research on excellence. collective excellence and a deep striving to please and be successful in order to honour At another level, boys need time. Boys’ schools those who have gone before them. It is about give their students the time they need, time to loyalty, hard work and belonging. come fully into adolescent experience at their own pace, time to adjust to the fact that life is British table tennis champion, Matthew Syed, moving on and taking them with it. And while in his book, Bounce: The myth of talent and this process is under way, the school continues the power of practice, challenges the common to put positive images of manhood before the paradigm that excellence belongs to the boys. This not only tells them about the world naturally gifted. He argues that opportunity; of men but builds a sense of anticipation as cultural legacies and purposeful practice over well. The expression “true happiness comes time are the best indicators of success in through fidelity to a worthy purpose” means any field. being faithful to your own gifts, growing them, 2 Excellence at Scots 2016 | From the Principal Academic Excellence HSC Results Proportion of boys in top two bands by subject An impressive year was had, once again, for the College across the breadth of all that we do with outstanding performances across our Academic, Sport, Co-Curricular and cultural programs. In 2016, 242 students sat the Higher School 100% >90% >80% Certificate (HSC), the largest cohort in the Chinese Background Speakers English Extension 1 Drama College’s history. This included 200 Year 12 English Extension 1 Mathematics Extension 1 Latin Continuers English Extension 2 Modern History students and a further 42 students from Years 10 French Continuers Music Extension and 11 who are pursuing an accelerated pathway. French Extension Studies of Religion 1 History Extension Visual Arts This is a significant increase on previous years Latin Extension with 216 students sitting the HSC in 2015 and Mathematics Extension 2 190 in 2014. Music 1 Music 2 The College’s continued focus on Academic achievement across the board has seen us excel Scots boys awarded Band 6 in a number of areas. Compared to the State average 100% Scots State 71% 44% 39% 33% 30% 29% 29% 28% 29% 18% 17% 18% 17% 72% 14% 14% 14% 9% 9% 11% 11% 9% Across all courses, 72% of boys’ results were awarded 1 2 y in the top two Bands (Bands 5 and 6, E3 and E4). a rn or st de DHPE Dram French P Music 1 Hi French Biology Mo Religion isual Arts Studies of Religion Extension Studies of V Software Continuers Design and Development Academic Excellence | Excellence at Scots 2016 3 We provide a comprehensive approach to teaching that encompasses the wider scope of learning experiences possible for children. Mr John Crerar, Head of the Preparatory School – Deputy Principal NAPLAN Results Relative % Scots Students % NSW Students Performance in the Top 3 Bands in the Top 3 Bands The National Assessment Program – Literacy Scots/NSW and Numeracy (NAPLAN) commenced in Year 3 Reading 89.1 70.8 1.3 Australian schools in 2008. Each year, all Year 5 Reading 92 62.3 1.5 students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are assessed in May using national tests in Reading, Writing, Year 7 Reading 76.3 53.1 1.4 Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Year 9 Reading 77.1 51 1.5 Punctuation) and Numeracy. Year 3 Writing 94.1 80.8 1.2 The overall NAPLAN results for 2016 are Year 5 Writing 76.2 50 1.5 pleasing with significant growth demonstrated Year 7 Writing 65.6 41.2 1.6 by the Year 5 cohort in the Preparatory School. Year 9 Writing 48.6 35 1.4 A highlight from this year’s results sees 89 percent of our students in Year 3 and Year 5 Year 3 Spelling 91.1 76.1 1.2 achieving within the top two bands for Year 5 Spelling 80.6 63.6 1.3 Numeracy along with strong results obtained Year 7 Spelling 68.7 62.2 1.1 in Reading. Our writing results demonstrate steady improvement with 94 percent of Year 3 Year 9 Spelling 67.4 55 1.2 boys achieving in the top three bands. Year 3 Grammar and Punctuation 84.2 71.9 1.2 Year 5 Grammar and Punctuation 87.9 64.2 1.4 The Scots College recognises, however, Year 7 Grammar and Punctuation 71.2 57.2 1.2 that there is a need in the Senior School to enhance our writing results. As such, work is Year 9 Grammar and Punctuation 65.8 41.9 1.6 currently underway to address this for 2017 Year 3 Numeracy 88.1 61 1.4 and beyond with the introduction of a Writing Year 5 Numeracy 88.7 57.1 1.6 Program led by Dr Cody Reynolds and the recent appointment of Mr Neil Smith as Academic Year 7 Numeracy 85.7 60.7 1.4 Writing Coordinator. The Humanities Faculty Year 9 Numeracy 82.3 52.8 1.6 has emphasised the need to lift the standard of writing in the junior years of the Senior School following the recent success such a focus has had in lifting writing in the senior years. Ms Monique Fewkes Head of Learning Enrichment 4 Excellence at Scots 2016 | Academic Excellence ATAR High Achievers Christopher Cooper Huw Evans Henry Higgins 99.9 99.9 99.85 Christopher was a Huw will be Henry’s passion highly intelligent remembered as a for knowledge student who achieved highly focused and and learning saw top band results in all diligent student. him receive an his HSC subjects. in In 2016, Huw was outstanding set of 2016 Chris received awarded The Tony HSC results with The College Prize for Extension 1 English; McFadyen Prize for English Essays, The English, Modern History, History Extension The Dr Arthur Quinnell Prize for Chemistry, Daniel Mendoza Memorial Award, The and Studies of Religion being his strongest The Phillip Myerson Memorial Prize for Bowman Senior School Verse Speaking subjects. His commitment to consistently Physics as well as being awarded the Prize, The College Prize for Extension 2 producing his best work was obvious, Dux of Year 12. In terms of Co-Curricular, English, The College Prize for Software as was his attention to detail and the Christopher was heavily involved in Design and Development and The Akon high standards he set himself. Henry’s Music. His maturity and leadership were Prize for Proxime Accessit to the Dux. participation in a range of activities during recognised in his appointment as Leader Huw was actively involved in all aspects his time at the College included Athletics, of Contemporary Music. Christopher was of College life. He was Captain of 2nds The Ashburner Society and Community a member of the College Orchestra (1st Volleyball and Audio Visual Solutions Service. In 2017, Henry plans to study a Bass), College Big Band and Jazz Ensemble, in 2015 and 2016. He was a member combined Arts and Commerce Law degree as well as a rock band he formed with of the 1st Debating team where his at The University of Sydney. fellow students. In recognition of his great talent was recognised when selected contribution to Music, Chris was awarded in the Independent Schools’ Debating Colours for Music in both 2015 and 2016. Association Senior A Debating team. Huw His ambition is to follow his passion and was an effective Peer Support Leader and become a professional musician. was Vice-Captain of James Bee House. William Simpson 99.6 William has always been motivated to The Senior boys of 2016 are genuinely holistic achievers. achieve academically. They have created a student culture of kindness, Achieving top band HSC results in and respect, hard work and quiet achievement.

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