As is the school’s custom, Barker College welcomed back students from the Class of 2023 at a special Academic Assembly earlier this week to recognise their outstanding results.
A lot has been accomplished and an enormous amount of effort has gone into these results, Head of Barker College, Mr Phillip Heath AM, acknowledged in front of an audience of staff and Year 11 and 12 students.
“Today is an opportunity to recognise the wonderful contributions of the Class of 2023 along with the teachers who have assisted them across their Barker journey,” he said.
“We also recognise that the strength of our school lies in our community and our culture. This year group did a beautiful job of building that School culture. Today we acknowledge the quality, talent and accomplishments of an outstanding group of students. We celebrate all of this and so much more today.”
Current School Captains, Ruby and Broden extended their congratulations to the Class of 2023 on their achievements, and recognised that these achievements will help to inspire and encourage the Class of 2024.
Chair of Barker’s School Council, Mr David Charles (Class of 1975) shared with students how our world needs problem solvers.
“Today is a chance for us to celebrate an emerging generation of problem solvers. At Barker we want to embrace academic excellence and we want our students to have an accomplished and successful life beyond the Mint Gates,” he said.
In acknowledging the Class of 2023, Deputy Head Academic Care, Dr Julie Wilson-Reynolds, highlighted that there were 21 All Rounders who achieved top results in ten or more units; 552 Band 6 places overall, representing some of the strongest results the School has seen for many years.
“We are exceptionally proud of you as young men and women and your sense of teamwork. We hope these results will inspire our Class of 2024,” Dr Wilson-Reynolds said.
Caleb Stace, Barker’s 2023 Vice Captain received the highest ATAR of 99.95 and he encouraged the current Year 11 and 12 students to make sure to “run your own race and stay in your own lane”.
“Whilst it is important to work hard and to do your best, the HSC will not define you,” he said.
Several students were also recognised at the Academic Assembly for their overall improvement, which in some cases saw their final results jump by up to 200 places. They attributed this growth in their learning journey to everything from changing the way they learnt, for example using mindmaps; to utilising the many support programs that the School offers from the Individual Learning Centre to subject support; and trialling different ways of studying.
