College creation is vindicated, says principal

School Certificate and HSC results have vindicated the creation of the two-campus Brisbane Water Secondary College only two years into its operation, according to principal Mr Pat Lewis.

Mr Lewis said that, in the first combined Year 10 group, students improved on previous years' achievements across all courses examined.

In the external examinations for English literacy, mathematics, science, history and geography, the college had more students achieve in each of the top three bands than in previous years across the two former high schools.

"When looking at how students performed compared to when they were in primary school, all courses again showed a continuing upward trend in student improvement, particularly for students in the middle and upper performing groups," Mr Lewis said.

The 2003 Higher School Certificate also saw the first combined Peninsula student group examined.

"Students in all course groupings had achieved improvements when compared to their performance in the School Certificate two years earlier," he said.

"Of these, impressive improvements were made in the areas of personal development, health and physical education, the social sciences, technology courses and visual arts.

"Equally impressive were the number of courses where students' average scores exceeded the State average, and the many courses where improvements have been made compared to State averages.

"These were spread across a wide range of individual courses.

"As well as sound group success, individual students also distinguished themselves in both School Certificate and Higher School Certificate results," Mr Lewis said.

In the School Certificate, 16 individual scores were achieved in the State's highest band, with outstanding students being Scott Meulman, Dale Miller, Alex Beaton, and Justin Steward.

In the Higher School Certificate, nine individual scores were achieved in the state's highest band, with outstanding students being Adam Austin (Dux of College), Alex Bennison, Amy Birrell, David Jenkins, Martin McGrath, and Belinda Sutton.

Adam Austin and Martin McGrath also achieved UAI scores in excess of 90.

"These results are a very pleasing beginning to the college in its quest to improve student learning outcomes," Mr Lewis said.

"They reflect the commitment of both campuses of the college to instil strong basic skills in students and then to build these into the best possible Certificate outcomes.

"The high expectations which all teachers have of students, and the high quality work which they demand, will have an increasingly positive influence on future improvement.

"Our Peninsula students have shown that they are capable of great things and the college is determined to ensure that they continue to achieve them," said Mr Lewis.

Email, February 4