In a groundbreaking collaboration, Carey Baptist Grammar School has been working with the University of Melbourne’s assessment centre, Melbourne Metrics, in the New Metrics project for four years.
Along with 39 other innovative schools nationwide, Carey is excited to be working with the University’s assessment centre to redefine how it evaluates and understands student capabilities.
The core objective of the New Metrics project is to develop new and robust assessments of complex competencies. These assessments will contribute to an official learner profile that students, educators and tertiary institutions can access to understand each individual’s strengths, abilities, motivations and potential contributions to the community both during and after their time at school.
“We will refine these new assessments in collaboration with universities and workplaces to ensure they align with the evolving needs of our students beyond school,” Carey said.
Central to this initiative are the next-generation assessments that provide insights into students’ ability to act ethically, engage as active citizens, exercise agency in their learning, collaborate effectively, communicate clearly and develop high-quality thinking skills.
Importantly, these competencies do not replace traditional forms of academic learning. Rather, they provide a set of transferable skills that will enhance students’ abilities to achieve success within and beyond school.
ATAR+
“Through the New Metrics project, and with the new learner profiles, we aim to achieve what we call ATAR+ at Carey,” the school said.
While the ATAR is a valuable academic measure and remains an important part of a student’s schooling, it does not fully capture the breadth and depth of students’ skills and strengths.
Universities are also signalling a shift towards considering students’ broader skillsets and personal attributes for successful course placements. The learner profile offers detailed insights, enriching the traditional ATAR-based selection process.
The ATAR remains crucial, but alongside this, Carey recognises the global trend towards holistic measures to better match students with suitable pathways post-school. ATAR+ and the learner profile developed through this project will provide a more nuanced understanding of its students, aiding in their choices beyond Carey.
A long-term project with an immediate impact
From 2025, these complex competencies will be integrated into the curriculum for all Carey students as its way of measuring student personal development beyond the academic.
As it looks ahead, Carey said it is excited about the continued evolution of this project and its positive impact on its students’ futures.
