Beyond ATAR: Learner Profile goes national

Recently the national Education Council considered the findings of the Review of Senior Secondary Pathways into work, further education and training, chaired by Peter Shergold.

The review took up several recommendations laid out in the ALL publication Beyond ATAR: Proposal for Change including the establishment of a learner profile to provide a trusted, common way of presenting the “whole child,” including capabilities, alongside academic learning.

The Beyond ATAR publication was driven by the view that deep changes in our community, the economy and work futures mean that all young people need to have different options to transition from compulsory education into adult life, further education and citizenship.

Schools, educators, systems have been valiantly trying to move in the right direction. But as long as the markers of success reinforce old standards, the degree of change will continue to be limited and efforts counterproductive.

In ALL’s ambitious vision for change,  three proposals for systemic change were articulated: how we treat the 15-19 phase of education; how we identify and measure the capabilities that all young people need, providing a fuller reflection of student achievement, and, how we ensure the tertiary system is accessible to all learners.

ALL BELIEVES NOTHING WILL CHANGE UNLESS THE WAY WE MEASURE CHANGES.  THIS LED TO OUR REPORT BEYOND ATAR.

– Ellen Koshland