VCE Results

Celebrating the Class of 2025 | Santa Maria College  

Outstanding VCE/VM results. Amazing futures ahead.

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‍Lens 1: Behind the Results - Stories of Courage and Possibility

College Dux – Sarah Zhu

As the College Dux of the Class of 2025, Sarah Zhu’s results are exceptional — but it is her journey that truly inspires.

Across her years at Santa Maria College, Sarah consistently challenged herself through advanced study. As a Year 10 student, she completed Units 3/4 Chinese as a Second Language, achieving a study score above 30. In Year 11, she undertook Units 3/4 Biology, earning an outstanding study score above 41. By Year 12, Sarah achieved remarkable results well above 40 in Chemistry, English Language, Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics.

Beyond the classroom, Sarah served as Co-Learning Captain in 2025, leading her portfolio with creativity, innovation and a deep commitment to student voice and academic culture.

What makes Sarah’s achievement especially powerful is the determination behind it. Living with a visual impairment, Sarah never allowed challenges to define her limits. With the unwavering support of her family and a strong partnership with the College, she ensured she had every tool needed to pursue her personal best, doing so with quiet courage and resilience.

Reflecting on her extraordinary results, Sarah simply shared:
“Nothing is impossible.”

At Santa Maria College, we are incredibly proud to celebrate not only Sarah’s academic excellence, but her strength of character, leadership and belief in what is possible.

 This is what achievement looks like when young women are known, supported and empowered to dream boldly.

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Dux Secondus – Lauren Park 

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Lauren Park on her outstanding achievement as Dux Secondus of the Class of 2025.

Throughout her years at Santa Maria College, Lauren has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence, approaching her studies with diligence, focus and intellectual curiosity. As a Year 11 student, Lauren achieved an exceptional study score of 42 in Psychology, reflecting her ability to engage deeply with complex concepts and apply her learning with confidence.

In her final year, Lauren continued to excel across a broad range of VCE subjects, achieving study scores well above 40 in English, Business Management, History and Legal Studies, while also undertaking the challenge of Mathematical Methods. Her results are a testament to her disciplined work ethic and consistent pursuit of personal excellence.

Alongside her academic achievements, Lauren made a significant contribution to College life through leadership and service. She proudly served as Carmel House Captain in Years 8, 9 and 12, demonstrating sustained commitment, responsibility and care for her peers. Lauren also successfully completed her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, further highlighting her resilience, perseverance and willingness to challenge herself beyond the classroom.

Lauren’s achievements reflect not only her academic ability, but her character, leadership and dedication to making the most of every opportunity available to her.

 We congratulate Lauren on her remarkable accomplishments and wish her every success as she continues her journey beyond Santa Maria College.

Lens 2: Raising The Bar Through Purposeful Practice

The strong VCE outcomes achieved by the Class of 2025 reflect more than individual effort. They are the result of sustained, intentional improvement in teaching and learning practices across Santa Maria College.

In 2025, the College recorded:

• An increase in Median ATAR
  
• A higher percentage of study scores above 40 across a range of subjects
  
• An improvement in median study score from 30 to 32
  
  

These results are a testament to a whole-school commitment to continuous improvement, student agency and evidence-informed practice.

Our focus has been clear: to create learning conditions where every student is supported to achieve her personal best.

Timetable and Assessment Reform

• Introduction of a five-period timetable, creating space for targeted academic support
  
• A dedicated Period 5 SAC schedule, allowing assessments to occur in structured, supportive conditions
  
• Use of external supervisors for all SACs, ensuring consistency, fairness and focus
  
• A renewed emphasis on trial examinations to strengthen exam readiness and confidence

Seminar Period: Learning How to Learn

• A focused Seminar period designed to build effective study and revision habits
  
• Seminars include the explicit teaching of:
  
  • Study and revision skills and exam strategies
  • Time management and organisation
  • Reflection and goal setting
  • Inspiration drawn from alumnae stories, helping students connect learning with life beyond school

Learning Walks and Pedagogical Growth

• Introduction of Learning Walks to strengthen teaching practice across the College
  
  
• A shared focus on not the teaching happening in the classroom - but the LEARNING:
  
  • How students are learning in real time
  • Engagement, clarity and cognitive challenge in the classroom
  • Consistency of high-impact strategies across learning areas

Explicit Instruction and Professional Learning

• A strong drive to embed explicit instruction as part of the College’s Instructional Model
  
  
• Ongoing professional learning in 2025 focused on this instructional Model:
  
  • Setting learning intentions and success criteria
    
  • Guided Practice that develops student understanding
    
  • Effective feedback and formative assessment

Strong Foundations Through the IB Middle Years Programme

• The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) continues to prepare students for success in VCE
  
  
• A focus on not just understanding the Learner Attributes, but living them. These include:
  
  • Resilience and perseverance
    
  • Independent thinking
    
  • Reflection and self-management
    
  • Confidence in tackling complex learning
    
    

These attributes support students to transition into senior studies with clarity, capability and confidence.

The improvement in results achieved by the Class of 2025 represents more than academic success. It reflects a Teaching and Learning community deeply committed to growth, collaboration and knowing each student well.

At Santa Maria College, we believe that when students are challenged, supported and taught with purpose, they thrive.

Lens 3: More Than a Score - Pathways with Purpose

While academic results provide an important measure of achievement, at Santa Maria College we believe the true mark of success lies in where our students are heading and how prepared they are for life beyond school. 

The outstanding outcomes achieved by the Class of 2025 reflect a holistic approach to education that values academic excellence, personal growth, belonging and future readiness.

Our students achieved impressive post-school outcomes, including:

• 70% of students receiving early entry and tertiary pathway offers
  
• Successful transitions into a wide range of university, TAFE, apprenticeship and employment pathways
  
• Clear, purposeful plans for life beyond Santa Maria College
  
  

We recognise that success looks different for every student. Santa Maria College offers flexible VCE, VM and VET programs, designed to meet students’ individual strengths, interests and aspirations.

Key features include:

• Tailored pathway selection to support diverse learning needs
  
• Opportunities to combine academic and vocational studies
  
• Ongoing monitoring and support to ensure students remain engaged and confident in their chosen pathway
  
  

This flexibility empowers students to take ownership of their learning and pursue pathways where they can thrive.

Personalised Careers and Pathways Support

Central to our approach is an in-depth, individualised Careers and Pathways Program, which ensures every student is guided with clarity and care.

Students are supported through:

• One-on-one careers counselling and goal setting
  
  
• Tertiary and pathway planning tailored to individual aspirations that begins in the junior years
  
  
• Early entry and alternative pathway guidance
  
  
• Work experience and exposure to post-school options

By the time students graduate, they leave with confidence, direction and a clear sense of purpose.

Lens 4: Learning Beyond the Classroom  - Belonging, Connection and Growth

At Santa Maria College, we invest strongly in co-curricular programs, because we know that when students feel connected, supported and have a strong sense of belonging, they excel academically.

The Class of 2025 demonstrated exceptional involvement across co-curricular opportunities, including:

Music at Santa Maria

• A high level of student participation across instrumental music, ensembles and performances
  
• Opportunities to develop discipline, creativity, collaboration and confidence
  
• Strong connections between music engagement, wellbeing and academic success
  
  

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Santa Maria College is proud of its long-standing commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh Award, a program that challenges students to grow through experiences well beyond traditional academic learning. In 2025, the College celebrated a record number of Gold Award recipients - the highest in Victoria, reflecting the dedication, resilience and determination of our students. The award is looked upon favourably by Tertiary Institutions, supported by the high number of conditional early offers provided to the class of 2025.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award develops essential life skills through four key areas:

• Physical Recreation
  Encouraging students to challenge themselves physically, build healthy habits, develop perseverance and understand the importance of wellbeing as part of a balanced life.
  
  
• Skills
  Providing opportunities to learn, refine and commit to a personal skill, from music and creative pursuits to leadership and technical abilities,  fostering discipline, confidence and self-belief.
  
  
• Voluntary Service
  Instilling a strong sense of empathy, responsibility and service, as students give their time to support others and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
  
  
• Adventurous Journey
  Requiring students to step outside their comfort zones, work collaboratively, problem-solve in unfamiliar environments and develop resilience, adaptability and leadership.
  
  

Through these experiences, students build independence, confidence and a strong sense of purpose. The Duke of Edinburgh Award equips young women with transferable skills that prepare them for future study, work and life, complementing their academic pathways and shaping them into well-rounded individuals ready to face the world with courage and compassion.

These experiences help shape well-rounded, confident young women, equipped with the skills and self-belief needed to navigate future challenges.

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