In what was an outstanding year for The Geelong College, Dux of the College and College Co-Captain Iona Bulford received an ATAR of 99.65. Iona studied English, Psychology, Mathematics Methods, Further Mathematics, French and Latin. She was awarded The CA Bickford Prize for the top Year 12 English student, The Classics Prize for Latin, The Psychology Prize, the Principal’s Prize for the Captains of the School and a Year 12 Merit Award, as well as Merit Awards for Latin, English and Psychology. In addition to her Co-Captains’ duties Iona was a Prefect in Keith House and was recognised with Honours for Choir, String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Academic Performance, and School Colours for Hockey and Debating.
Deputy Principal of The Geelong College, Mr Roger Smith said this morning how thrilled he was to see the results. “Across the board this year's results have been excellent. With a median ATAR of 83.725, 28.2% of ATARs over 90, 4 scores of 99 or more and 16.3% of Study Scores over 40, almost double the state average, we are very proud of the achievements of our students.
This outstanding group of students have worked very hard and been guided by dedicated teachers to understand and achieve their best. Strong results provide the best opportunities for students, and we look forward to following the continued learning and exciting futures of the class of 2019. It was also pleasing to see two Year 11 students, Danny Yang and Michael Pan, achieve perfect study scores of 50 in Further Mathematics; this sets up an exciting 2020 for both Danny and Michael.
Dux of the College Iona Bulford thoroughly deserves the accolades she has achieved. As Co-Captain of the College, she is an outstanding thinker and leader and challenges herself and others in everything she does. I have great confidence that Iona will go on to make a significant impact in any field she chooses.
Iona has not only excelled academically this year, but in music, sport, debating and in leading the College. Most pleasingly, the extra activities and responsibilities she has undertaken, have enhanced her academic success. This is what we hope a Geelong College education provides, boundless opportunities for our students to develop into well rounded, capable, driven and passionate individuals who will go on to make a difference in their lives.
We encourage this of all students, as being involved in a broad range of learning opportunities helps to uncover passions and to develop skills and talents, but also to learn resilience and mindfulness. All of our highest achievers this year have been leaders, played sport, and many have participated in expeditions, music, drama and community service activities. We hope that these experiences and learning, as well as their academic achievements, will set them up for a successful and happy life,” Mr Smith continued.
Dux of the College Iona Bulford was very excited receive her results this morning and is looking forward to continuing her studies in Psychology next year.
“I was hoping to do well but I was not expecting to do this well. I felt I had been really well prepared by the school, but I was pleasantly surprised with my results this morning,” Iona said.
“I will do a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University. My passion is Psychology so I will study that and look to find some kind of career in the Psychology field in the future, but I really don’t know what that will be yet.”
As College Co-Captain, a keen musician, debater and hockey player, Iona had a busy VCE year but managed her priorities successfully.
“I did have a lot on and at times it was tricky to manage, but I learned a lot about time management and organisation, you have to write everything down! My teachers were so helpful, they always found time to meet with me when I needed help and I received great support from the school and from my family. I’m also grateful that Geelong College creates well rounded students with a great sense of the world and good values, obviously the academic preparation obviously helped me to achieve my results but I think the most important things for life will be the sense of the world and values I have learned at the College,” Iona continued.
Mr Smith finished by offering congratulations to the whole cohort.
“Congratulations to our class of 2019. You have had a great year and learned much during your time at the College. We hope you will take your knowledge, passion and connections into successful and happy futures.”
Of the 143 students who successfully completed their VCE, 139 applied for tertiary study and 136 were offered a first and/or second round university place.
University | Percentage of students |
| Deakin University | 23% |
| University of Melbourne | 22% |
| Monash University | 13% |
| RMIT University | 12% |
| Swinburne University | 9% |
| Australian Catholic University | 9% |
| La Trobe University | 6% |
| Victoria University | 3% |
| Federation University | 2% |
University of Adelaide: 5
University of NSW (including ADFA): 4
University of Sydney: 3
Australian National University: 2
Science: 31
Arts: 11
Engineering: 10
Medicine: 3
Eva Baensch received an ATAR of 97.90. Eva studied Psychology, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Chemistry, English and Further Mathematics. She was awarded the Year 12 Merit Award, and Merit Awards for English, Chemistry and Mathematical Methods. Eva was a Prefect in McLean House was recognised with Honours for Academic Performance.
Penelope Blight received an ATAR of 98.00. Penelope studied Accounting, Chemistry, Further Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Latin and English. She was awarded The D Geoffrey Nelson Prize for Accounting, The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and a Merit Award for Accounting. Penelope was recognised with Honours for Symphony Orchestra and Tennis and School Colours for Athletics and Basketball.
Alex Booker received an ATAR of 99.15. Alex studied English, Physical Education, Psychology, Mathematics Methods, Chinese and Chemistry. She was awarded The BR Keith Modern Language Prize for Chinese, the Physical Education Prize, The Dr A J Campbell Perpetual Trophy Prize and a Year 12 Merit Award, as well as Merit Awards for English, Chinese and Physical Education. Alex was a School Prefect and Co-Captain of Wettenhall House. Alex won the Tennis Best and Fairest Award, was captain of the 1st Tennis team and 1st Netball team and was recognised with Honours for Tennis, Netball and Academic Performance.
Jacqui Greer received an ATAR of 99.30. Jacqui studied Physics, Further Mathematics, Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Chemistry, French and English. She was awarded The AT Andrews Memorial Prize for Mathematics and Science, The Brian Lester Prize for Specialist Mathematics, The Mathematical Methods Prize, The Hermitage Old Girls’ Prize, The Year 12 Prize for Outstanding Academic Performance, The Chemistry Prize and a Year 12 Merit Award, as well as Merit Awards for French, English, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics and Chemistry. Jacqui was a School Prefect, Co-Captain of Keith House and won the Soccer and Water Polo Best and Fairest Awards. She was recognised with Honours for Tennis, Water Polo and Academic Performance, and School Colours for Soccer and Debating.
College Co-Captain Oscar Illingworth received an ATAR of 96.35. Oscar studied Further Mathematics, Physics, History – Revolutions, Mathematics Methods, Geography and English. He was awarded The History Revolutions Prize, The Principal’s Prize for the Captains of the School, a Year 12 Merit Award Prize and Merit Awards for English, History – Revolutions and Geography. In addition to is Co-Captains duties, Oscar was a Prefect in Calvert House and was recognised with Honours for Concert Band, Symphony and Academic Performance and School Colours for Jazz Ensemble and Rowing.
Connor McGucken received an ATAR of 96.90. Connor studied Latin, History – Ancient, History – Revolutions, Legal Studies, Further Mathematics, Psychology and English. He was awarded The Ancient History Prize, a Year 12 Merit Award and Merit Awards for History – Ancient, Legal Studies and English. Connor was a School Prefect and Co-Captain in McLean House. He was recognised with an Honour for Academic Performance and School Colours for Debating, Badminton and Choir.
Ethan McGucken received
an ATAR of 99.50. Ethan studied Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, History
– Revolutions, Mathematical Methods and English. He was awarded The
Hobday Prize, The C A Bickford Prize for the top Year 12 English
student, The MacFarlane Burnet Prize for Proficiency in Science
particularly Biology, The Biology Prize and Merit Awards for English and
Biology. Ethan was a School Prefect, a Prefect in McLean House and was
recognised with Honours for Badminton and School Colours for Choir, Quid
Novi and Debating.
Jialin Miao received an ATAR of 97.70. Jialin
studied French, Chinese, Further Mathematics, Mathematical Methods,
Biology, Chemistry and English. She was recognised with Honours for
Concert Band, and School Colours for Softball and Debating.
Audrey Ng received an ATAR of 95.85. Audrey studied Latin, Literature, History – Ancient, History – Revolutions, Further Mathematics and English as an additional language. She was awarded The Morongo Medal for the Captains of Mossgiel and Mackie, The English Additional Language Prize and Merit Awards for English as an additional language and History - Ancient. Audrey was the Captain of Mossgiel Girls’ Boarding House and the Editor of the School Newspaper Quid Novi. She was recognised with Honours for Quid Novi, and School Colours for Basketball and Badminton.
William Page received an ATAR of 98.80. William studied Physics, Chemistry, Mathematical Methods, Further Mathematics, Biology and English. He was awarded The Rowing Excellence Award, The Physics Prize, a Year 12 Merit Award and Merit Awards for English, Physics and Chemistry. William was a School Prefect and a Prefect in Shannon House, and was recognised with Honours for Rowing, Football and Academic Performance.
Orlaith Plowman received an ATAR of 98.95. Orlaith studied Chemistry, Biology, Further Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, French and English. She was awarded The B R Keith Modern Language Prize for French and Merit Awards for French and Mathematical Methods. Orlaith was a School Prefect and 1st Soccer Captain and was recognised with Honours for Soccer.
Amy Tso received an ATAR of 97.85. Amy studied Biology, Chemistry, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Further Mathematics and English as an additional language. She was awarded The Mathematical Methods Prize, The Badminton Best and Fairest and a Merit Award for Mathematical Methods. Amy was the 1st Badminton Captain and a Prefect in McLean House. She was recognised with School Colours for Badminton, Soccer and Quid Novi.
*Please note that due to privacy we can only release ATAR results of students who have given written permission.