Dear Community,

Over the past weeks a debate has resurfaced regarding the merits of the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) as a measure of student attainment in the final years of schooling. Last week, a group of principals from both the independent and public systems wrote to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) to outline their concerns regarding the failings of the current system.

The principals argued that the “bluntness” of the examination-based measures lacks the sophistication to holistically assess a student’s learning and capabilities and that, as such, “these arrangements no longer seem fit for purpose for many, perhaps most learners”.

The group has recommended that the relevant authorities adopt assessment measures which create a learner profile which can also acknowledge other characteristics such as “commu