On Wednesday 7th October 10:00am – 1:15pm, we had 152 students across Year 11 and 12 who are studying a Unit 3 & 4 sequence sit the GAT onsite across three locations (gym, Year 7 Learning Centre and Year 8 EZ) to ensure we were following the social distancing guidelines. All schools were permitted to utilise our usual external supervisors and we just required more than usual given students were spread across three locations. The GAT is a test of general knowledge and skills in written communication, mathematics, science, technology, humanities, the arts and social sciences. Thanks to Jo Greenhalgh, Tim Randell and Andrew Moffat for their support of our students in preparation for the GAT. The GAT is even more important as it will be used to help calculate the ‘consideration of educational disadvantage’ process this year, given the potential impact of COVID-19. It will also be used to help calculate a student’s Derived Examination Score for any student whose exam performance is affected by illness, accident or personal trauma. The GAT results are also used to help validate the accuracy of school based and external assessments. We always encourage students to strive for their personal best in completing the GAT, putting in a 100% effort across the three hours, just as they would for a SAC or exam.

I was contacted by the DET Media Unit asking if I would host any media who wanted to speak to students about the GAT and their experiences this year. The media were not allowed to attend onsite until the GAT was over. Representatives from Channel 7 arrived after 1.15pm and they asked us to set up a mock sitting with some students and then interviewed Elisa Barone, Jack Phillpotts, Liam Cox, Jack Alacqua and myself. Thanks to these students for being prepared to speak to the media and have this broadcast on TV tonight.

Ms. Michelle Roberts

Principal