2019 Academic Report
From the Headmaster 2019 has been a year of outstanding accomplishment. We have seen our boys at their best across a comprehensive range of activities both at home and abroad. We have also seen boys in their day to day school lives actively participating in the life of the College, contributing to the best of their ability and with a sense of collegiality and authentic school spirit. For a school to have a tangible sense of esprit de corps, and a palpably positive and inclusive quality that is so evident at BBC, every boy has a part to play. So what is the purpose of a BBC education? Certainly, it is to provide our students with the skills and cultural knowledge to enable them to participate successfully in society. Knowledge is both cognitive and experiential. Learning is both academic and affective. To be a school of excellence we need to engage a students’ spirit, mind and emotions. An education should also allow students to develop convictions, to understand ethics, and ask challenging questions. Our society benefits from people who are both robust and compassionate, who are not afraid
of life or of other people. Our society benefits from people who develop virtues within themselves. At BBC, we strive to be a world class school so as to help our students be confident and competent global citizens with the capability to change the world. A world class school is one in which every child is provided with the opportunity to achieve. We know that our students are highly capable and will rise to a challenge that is presented to them. In that way we can assist their development by providing opportunities for them to stretch themselves, knowing that there is no greater joy than the feeling of accomplishment that comes from going beyond what we thought was possible. Brisbane Boys’ College is a non-selective academic school where boys achieve personal excellence in a supportive, caring and Christian environment. Our curriculum is designed to develop boys’ minds to be forward thinking and to assist them in exploring their passion and purpose in life and assist each and every boy to reach their potential as we prepare them to take their place in the world as confident and capable young men.
Our wide range of academic, sporting, co-curricular, service and cultural pursuits assist boys to develop interests that complement their formal education. The College could not operate as effectively as it does without the commitment and enthusiasm of dedicated, hard-working and gifted teachers who build powerful working relationships with their students. Therefore, I would like to acknowledge and thank them for their dedication to delivering on our mission. A mission that seeks to develop articulate, cultured and highlyeducated young men of conscience and compassion; who know themselves and demonstrate support for others; who have the tenacity to endure and overcome adversity; and who are prepared to take their place in society and contribute to the broader community. We recognise that it has never been more important to give boys a well-rounded approach to life as part of their education – an approach we refer to as A New School of Thought.
It is this collective ambition to enhance every student’s wellbeing, alongside providing best practice teaching and learning, that focuses our decision-making around providing opportunities for our boys to grow; spiritually, academically, pastorally, and in their cultural and sporting endeavours. My message to the boys of BBC remains the same; be creative at school, have a go, be curious, engage with the big ideas but be disciplined in every aspect of your school life, enjoy the grounds and gardens, enjoy your friendships, work hard to be the best you can be, learn to be humble but still contribute positively with all your heart, be active, learn to question, do not compare yourselves with others, be a trustworthy person. And see the purpose of your learning as being about the contribution you can make. PAUL BROWN HEADMASTER
ACADEMIC REPORT /// 3
Academic Overview Academic Performance At Brisbane Boys’ College we have renewed our focus on academics and innovation with a Prep to Year 12 perspective. This has resulted in some developments being introduced to the College as well as a renewed focus on maintaining traditions and standards of excellence. What has remained is our commitment to ensuring academic achievement and outstanding outcomes for our boys. At BBC our curriculum is designed to develop boys’ minds to be forward thinking and to assist them in exploring their passion and purpose in life. Our teachers aim to assist each and every boy to reach their potential as we prepare them to take their place in the world as confident and capable young men. We teach our boys to question the status quo and solve problems to make the world a better place, now and in the future. Our job, as educators at BBC, is to know each boy well, to tailor his experiences and support him as an individual. Our approach is supported by a range of initiatives, both in and out of the classroom, designed to strengthen his learning experience. Highlights in the academic arena abounded in 2019, with successes both nationally and internationally. In acknowledging the achievements of our boys, it is equally important to acknowledge the role our dedicated staff play in supporting boys to thrive and prosper. The time our staff invest to build positive and authentic relationships with each boy is pivotal to his success, because we know that happy boys achieve to and beyond their potential.
Innovations Significantly in Senior Schooling, 2019 saw the final year of Overall Positions (OPs) and The Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test for Year 12s with the introduction of the Senior Assessment Tertiary Entrance (SATE) system, incorporating QCE and ATAR, for Year 11 students. Teachers have worked with new syllabus documents to develop engaging and aligned learning opportunities. This has required assessments to be endorsed by the QCAA to ensure that new syllabi have been rigorously followed. Syllabus expectations have risen across the
BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
State, however our boys have been well prepared to engage with the future of curriculum implementation. Middle School curriculum initiatives included Year 7 ‘Shakes it Up’, where students worked with Shake & Stir Theatre Company to learn and produce a dynamic performance of Shakespeare’s works. The Year 8 Legacy Projects engaged students in film making and augmented reality to honour Old Collegians who epitomise elements of our Positive Education character traits. Year 9 students ventured afield using public transport to answer academic challenges and engage in the Amazing Adventure. The implementation of these programs has focused on alignment to Australian Curriculum and ensuring the opportunity to further develop human skills and competencies such as creativity, critical thought, communication and collaboration which prepare boys for their future. Within the Junior School our results have gone from strength to strength with our Year 3 students benefiting from the foundational phonics-based literacy programs and evidence-based numeracy programs in place. Our Year 5 students recorded their highest ever success with NAPLAN, topping their performance in all areas from previous years. Engaging curriculum initiatives have been implemented, such as the introduction of a Year 6 Canberra trip to tie with Humanities as boys learn about Democracy. Curriculum innovations also include the introduction of the Eco-Marines program linking environmental studies in Year 4 with a new camp at Tangalooma to learn about Moreton Bay and the surrounding environment. These initiatives strengthen our commitment to ensuring learning is hands-on and relevant to our boys’ lives. Across Middle and Senior School we have also introduced Subject Application Ratings (SARs) which recognise the engagement and diligence of students in class. Since their inception at the beginning of 2019 the number of students who have achieved a perfect score of five across all subjects has seen a steady increase, as has the number of boys who have achieved and Overall Subject Application Rating of 4.5 or above. Dr Leigh Hobart HEAD OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND INNOVATION
ACADEMIC REPORT /// 5
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Class of 2019 Academic Results As our final graduating cohort in Queensland to be issued with an OP, our 2019 Seniors have done themselves, the College and their families proud, with their results once again placing BBC among the top performing academic schools in the State. The results achieved by members from the Class of 2019 are a credit to their hard work and steadfast commitment to their studies. The College also acknowledges the important partnership with parents and guardians and thanks them for the invaluable role they have played in supporting their sons through their years of schooling.
“Our QTAC entry statistics continue to speak to this with 99.3% of our 2019 Senior cohort receiving a tertiary offer.” “It is exciting to see boys opting to pursue a variety of careers from agribusiness, architecture, engineering, commerce, health and medicine, music and more. These are the results for an exceptional education, and we look forward to hearing of their ongoing achievements.”
Our 2019 Senior cohort performed admirably with 16 students achieving an OP 1, 40.3 percent of OP Eligible Students securing an OP between 1 and 5 and 76.5 percent achieving a score between 1 and 10.
Equally, it is appropriate to acknowledge our committed teaching staff who have educated, inspired, engaged and challenged our graduating class throughout their BBC journey to achieve their best. Notwithstanding their commendable OP results, it is also important to recognise the achievements of our Class of 2019 that are not measured by a number.
For Headmaster, Mr Paul Brown, it is important that the education a boy receives at BBC prepares them well to thrive and succeed in their future pursuits and careers.
Achievements both inside and outside the classroom have abounded, across academic, sporting, cultural, leadership and service pursuits.
“We want our boys to enter the world with confidence, courage and compassion to live meaningful and purposeful lives,” said Mr Brown.
As leaders of the College in 2019, our Seniors have fully participated in College life with a sense of enthusiasm and purpose. In 2019, a group of four students travelled to Hong Kong to take part in an International Mathematic Modelling Challenge, where they were recognised as one of the top five teams in the world and received a Meritorious Achievement Award. The Class of 2019 have overseen three GPS Premierships/Championships this year, represented their state and country on the sporting field, composed works performed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, helped secure three World Championships in Robotics, volunteered in numbers to serve and assist those in need, to name but a few highlights. They have also demonstrated fine leadership attributes; particularly during a year in which we moved to a portfolio model of leadership that has seen our seniors model inclusive student leadership and citizenship for a range of boys who will become our future leaders.
16
STUDENTS ACHIEVED
OP1
COLLEGE DUX Taehwan Kim COLLEGE PROXIME Xavier Catford
80% OP ELIGIBLE
This year, BBC had 187 domestic and international Year 12 students; of those, 149 chose to pursue an OP pathway
40.3%
ACHIEVED AN OP 1 TO 5
SCHOLARS OP 1 Ben Arya Christian Binggeli Xavier Catford James English Connell Fox James Gao Mousa Al-Ghabban Taehwan Kim Lachlan MacMillan Finn Macnamara Connor McCagh Alastair Petfield Benjamin Pyne Ometh Rajapakse Lachlan Tonkin Ethan Waugh
76.5%
ACHIEVED AN OP 1 TO 10
95.3%
ACHIEVED AN OP 1 TO 15
1 IN 5 55.7% BOYS RECEIVED AN
65.5%
OP 2 Benjamin Bartlett Thomas Barton Samuel Bolton Luka Boskovic Brett Davidson Henry Hulbert Byron Johnson Trenton Lewis William O’Meara Cameron Pankhurst Ethan Rose Patrick Thygesen Arlou van der Westhuizen Sam Williams Alvaro Wong
OP 1 OR 2
OF STUDENTS RECEIVED
OP7 OR BETTER
Received an
A OR B
BBC Performance vs State Average
on the QCS Test
*data relates to OP eligible students
BBC 2019
All QLD 2019
OP 1 – 5
40.3%
22.5%
OP 1 – 10
76.5%
54.3%
OP 1 – 15
95.3%
82.9% ACADEMIC REPORT /// 7
NAPLAN The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) commenced in Australian schools in 2008. Each year, all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are assessed using national tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy.
2019 Results Year 3 Reading
Writing
Spelling
Year 7 Grammar +
Numeracy
Reading
Writing
Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar +
Numeracy
Punctuation
2019 BBC
480
449
464
495
463
2019 BBC
587
536
572
586
618
NMS%
94
94
94
94
94
NMS%
98
99
99
98
100
QLD Average
427
413
411
433
399
QLD Average
545
504
544
542
550
NMS
432.3
423.1
418.7
439.8
408.1
NMS
546
513.2
545.6
541.7
554.1
Year 5 Reading
Writing
Spelling
Year 9 Grammar +
Numeracy
Reading
Writing
Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar +
Numeracy
Punctuation
2019 BBC
563
515
554
571
561
2019 BBC
603
558
592
601
649
NMS%
98
98
98
97
97
NMS%
97
89
95
96
99
QLD Average
503
465
495
498
493
QLD Average
576
535
580
573
589
NMS
506
473.9
500.7
499.1
495.8
NMS
580.4
548.9
582.3
573.2
592
* National Means Score (NMS) - BBC students consistently perform above the national average.
Outstanding ICAS achievements At BBC, we believe that while knowledge-based learning is important, it is no longer enough. We need to teach our students how to be critical thinkers. Not only to solve problems but to recognise them in the first place. We want our students to be curious and creative; to acquire skills, knowledge and understanding, each and every day, so that they can move confidently into the world and make a positive contribution to society in whatever field they choose. The College engages annually with the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) assessment program as a means of establishing external data on all our students, which serves as a comparison to the internal assessment data, derived from school-based assessment. ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment program which recognises and rewards student achievement. It is unique, being the most comprehensive generally available suite of academic assessments for primary and secondary school students, covering English, Science, Mathematics, Spelling and Writing elements. Students with the top score in each subject, in each year level, are awarded a medal and a medal winner’s certificate. In 2019, three BBC students topped the State in their respective ICAS competitions and year levels. They were recognised with medals at a ceremony hosted by the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
The BBC Medallions Speech Night 2019 saw the inaugural awarding of the prestigious BBC Medallions. The design of the Medallion celebrates the classical ideal of harmony expressed through body, mind, form and spirit. The Medallions recognise student excellence and engagement across all facets of College life. The Medallion is hard to win and highly valued. Criteria for being awarded a Medallion: Conduct Have an outstanding report of conduct, application and general attitude Learning Be on the academic prize list (not subject prize list) Service Participate in a service/leadership activity Play Have a high level of diverse school participation that must include representation on at least one school sporting team. A Bronze Medallion is awarded to boys across Years 7 to 12 who meet the criteria. A Gold Medallion is awarded to a Year 12 student providing the student has been awarded a Bronze Medallion in each of the preceding years of secondary enrolment at the College, from Year 7 onwards. A Gold Medallion will be among the highest honours BBC confers on a Year 12 student.
Albert Ge (Year 4) was awarded a medal for Science Morgan Duckett (Year 7) was awarded a medal for English Isaac Jennings (Year 10) was awarded a medal for Writing.
Inaugural Bronze Medallion Recipients Year 7
Year 11
Jacob Aziz
Gaviru Devendra
Sean Beak
Alister Gomersall
Hemish Dubey
Year 12
Samuel Kim
Taehwan Kim
Year 8
Lachlan MacMillan
Angus Seeto
William O’Meara
Quinlan Seymore
Ometh Rajapakse
Year 10 Aparaj Bogahawatta Matthew Cranitch
2019 Academic Achievements Overview BEST EVER RESULTS FOR READERS CUP WITH A BRONZE FOR YEAR 5
40 YEAR 6 STUDENTS TRAVELLED TO CANBERRA TO LEARN ABOUT DEMOCRACY
24
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
SHAKE AND STIR THEATRE COMPANY INTRODUCED SHAKESPEARE TO YEAR 7 200 BOYS ON STAGE FOR A MEGA PERFORMANCE AFTER ONE WEEK
YEAR 8 LEGACY PROJECT WITH OLD COLLEGIANS SEES STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH AUGMENTED REALITY TO PRESENT THEIR STORIES TIED TO CHARACTER TRAITS
YEAR 4 INTRODUCED ECOMARINES AND WENT ON THEIR FIRST CAMP TO TANGALOOMA WHERE THEY GOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND FEED THE DOLPHINS
YEAR 3 BOYS SCORED THE
HIGHEST
WRITING SCORE EVER IN NAPLAN
YEAR 9 EXPERIENCED THE AMAZING RACE
OPTIMINDS STATE FINALS FOR TWO TEAMS WITH A SECOND PLACE FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
RESEARCH PROJECTS WITH ISQ AND THE AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN PROGRESS
YEAR 11 STUDENTS STARTED THE SATE SYSTEM WITH 52 ASSESSMENTS ENDORSED, 27 NEW SYLLABI BEING IMPLEMENTED WITH LOTS OF ENDORSERS AND CONFIRMERS ON STAFF
YEAR 5 BOYS SCORED
HIGHEST
IN READING, SPELLING,
GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION
AND NUMERACY BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
YEAR 12 STUDENTS SAW OUT THE OLD OP SYSTEM WITH THE FINAL ROUND OF QCS WITH 65.5% RECEIVING AN A OR B. A STRONG COHORT TO FINISH
YEAR 10 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE INAUGURAL
TWO STUDENTS PERFORMED WITH LABOITE, AFTER 80 AUDITIONED FOR 12 ROLES
A SP IWEEK RE
TO ENGAGE THEM IN THEIR SENIOR SCHOOLING OPTIONS
THREE BOYS TOPPED THE STATE IN ICAS, IN SCIENCE, WRITING AND ENGLISH
− + ÷ × FOUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICAL MODELLING CHALLENGE IN HONG KONG, PLACING IN THE TOP FIVE TEAMS WORLDWIDE
FIRST PLACE IN THE STATE FOR ASX SHAREMARKET GAME
A NEW SENIOR SCHOOL CURRICULUM COORDINATOR AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM COORDINATOR WERE APPOINTED COORDINATORS FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED, ARROWSMITH AND EAL FROM PREP TO YEAR 12 WERE ALSO APPOINTED, TO ENSURE THAT PROCESSES RUN SMOOTHLY
SIX STUDENTS HAD THEIR COMPOSITIONS PERFORMED BY THE QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
YEAR 5 TEAM WON THE DAVINCI DECATHLON AT A REGIONAL LEVEL
+
YEAR 10 STUDENTS WERE INVITED TO SIT THE AUSTRALIAN MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD COMPETITION
FIRST YEAR OF GIFTED TO THE POWER OF THREE, LEADING TO A SECOND PLACE IN QUEST AT STATE LEVEL
YEARS 5 AND 6 WRITERS LAUNCHED THEIR OWN PUBLICATION WITH AUTHOR BRIAN FALKNER
SUBJECT APPLICATION RATINGS (SAR) WERE INTRODUCED IN 2019 TO REPORT ON THE QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF A STUDENT’S APPLICATION TO HIS STUDIES, WITH A RATING OF ‘5’ BEING THE HIGHEST AND ‘1’ BEING THE LOWEST. THE MAXIMUM AVERAGE SAR OF 5 WAS ACHIEVED BY NINE STUDENTS IN TERM 1, INCREASING TO 40 STUDENTS IN TERM 3 206 STUDENTS ACHIEVED AN AVERAGE SAR OF 4.5 IN TERM 1, INCREASING TO 335 IN TERM 4 ALL YEAR LEVELS INCREASED OR MAINTAINED THEIR AVERAGE SAR ACROSS 2019, MEANING MORE BOYS WERE ACADEMICALLY MOTIVATED AND ENGAGED WITH THEIR LEARNING AT A HIGHER LEVEL ACADEMIC REPORT /// 11
2019 SCHOLAR PROFILES
Taehwan Kim OP 1 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE/DOCTOR OF MEDICINE AT UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY. RECIPIENT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLORS’ INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP. 8 YEARS AT BBC JOINED THE COLLEGE IN YEAR 5. AWARDS AND CO-CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT College Captain, Dux of the College, Leadership Prefect, Vice-Captain of Amnesty International, Robotics, Swimming & Volleyball. Robotics, Volleyball, Cross Country, Music, Swimming, Track and Field, Amnesty International, Chess, Debating, Football, Peer Mentor, Reader’s Cup, Coffee for Cambodia, Rugby, Theatre.
What subjects did you take in Year 12? In Year 12, I studied Mathematics B, Mathematics C, English, Chemistry, Physics and Japanese.
What led you to choose these subjects? When subject selections opened before the start of Year 11, I didn’t really have a clear idea of what I wanted to study at university or which direction I wanted to take my life in after school. So, I chose subjects that I enjoyed studying because I knew this would help me perform well academically and enjoy my senior years.
What advice would you share with students who are about to begin their Senior School journey? If you approach Senior School with the right mentality, they will be some of the best years of your life. Don’t waste any time – spend every second of your Senior School journey doing activities that you love, studying subjects that you are interested in and making memories with people you want to be around. Work hard – if you fully invest yourself into your studies, your activities and your friends, you will reap the rewards. You will find that your life becomes much more exciting, fulfilling and worthwhile, and you will have everything you need to succeed later in life.
BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
What is the most valuable piece of advice you received from a BBC teacher? You get out what you put in. If you want more, you have to give more. After cruising through Junior School, I struggled to maintain my standards throughout the first two years of Middle School because I started to take my achievements for granted and began to expect success without working for it. When I began to work harder and started investing heavily back into my studies, my sport and my personal development, I saw that effort come back in the form of achievements, fulfilment and pride. This work ethic was always encourage by BBC teachers.
In your view, what mindsets and character strengths are needed for achieving goals? When chasing goals or facing challenges, I always relied on one strength - confidence. Confidence is key when pursuing any target; the ability to recover from obstacles and back yourself until the end is such an important tool for any young person to achieve anything. No matter what obstacles came my way, what other people thought or how hard I failed at something, I always tried to maintain full confidence in myself and found the motivation to persevere because I truly believed that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.
What was your favourite and most impactful learning experience at BBC? My involvement in the Coffee for Cambodia program and the tour to Cambodia in 2017 was one of my favourite and most impactful learning experiences. To have an opportunity to give back to an underprivileged community and to experience first-hand the poverty that is experienced by many Cambodian families today was a truly eye-opening and confronting experience. It certainly taught me to be compassionate and grateful. Being able to spend time and help these people in need was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.
What is your favourite memory from your time at BBC?
What you will miss, now you have graduated? I’ll miss the wonderful community at BBC which has had such a profound impact on my life for the last eight years. From the little things, like lunchtimes with my friends and friendly classroom banter, to cherished memories, like representing the College at weekend sporting games or spirit rallies on assemblies.
What are your plans for 2020 and beyond? In 2020, I hope to commence studying overseas at a college in the USA. In the meantime, I will be studying at the University of Sydney and have enrolled in the Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine double degree program.
I have so many incredible memories from my time at BBC, but one that has a special place in my heart is the 2015 GPS Swimming Championships. I was a young Year 8 student and I was walking out of the marshalling area to swim in the U13 6x50m Freestyle Relay. As I walked out, I was greeted by a sea of supporters in green, white and black, who were yelling out to me, screaming words of encouragement and cheering me on. In that moment, I felt fearless, inspired and invincible. I had never felt more proud to represent BBC.
ACADEMIC REPORT /// 13
Xavier Catford OP 1 DOCTOR OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND 6 YEARS AT BBC JOINED THE COLLEGE IN YEAR 7. AWARDS AND CO-CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT College Proxime, Academic Prefect, ISCF Vice Captain, Debating Co-captain Debating, Music, Cricket, Basketball, ISCF, Peer Mentor, Reader’s Cup, Rugby, Amnesty International, Football, Robotics, Tennis
What subjects did you take in Year 12? Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics C, Mathematics B, English and Chinese.
What led you to choose these subjects? I chose these subjects because I was interested in them, but also because I needed a balance. I chose Chinese instead of Biology because I wanted to have a change rather than do all sciences. I enjoyed my Math subjects the most because they were very interesting and also because the teachers and friends in those classes had similar interests.
What advice would you share with students who are about to begin their Senior School journey? My advice would be to decide early on what you want to achieve. This doesn’t have to be what everyone else tells you, but what you desire to achieve and get out of your final few years of schooling. If you want something, normally you will be determined to get it and work hard to meet those goals. If someone else has picked your goals for you, it is harder to be motivated to achieve them. Aim high.
What was your favourite and most impactful learning experience at BBC? The best activity I was involved in was the International Mathematics Modelling Challenge. I got to hang out with three close friends during that experience, and not only did we achieve and learn a lot, but also grew closer and bonded while doing some serious work. The stress of finishing our solution was really softened by having my friends there, so I learnt that if you enjoy the little moments, you can enjoy solving even the toughest of problems. Placing in the top five teams worldwide and travelling to Hong Kong was just a bonus.
What has your time at BBC taught you about approaching and solving problems? BBC taught me that teamwork is very important to approaching problems and overcoming challenges. I found that if I worked on my own, and relied solely on my own set of skills, it was a lot harder to succeed than if I utilised the skills of people around me. This means support your friends, and they can support you in the challenges you face. An example of this would be a challenging Math assignment that I received, instead of working on it for hours by myself, I found a friend who had a better understanding. It was not about copying off him or letting him do it for me, but rather we went to the teacher together and got clarification on a few concepts. We discussed different ideas of how to approach it and I offered my input where I could. Thus, I was able to do well on the assignment as a results of the support I had around me.
What service-based activities have you been involved in at BBC? I was involved in ISCF (Inter School Christian Fellowship), the Red Shield Appeal, Access Outreach Street Vans, as well as the 40 Hour Famine. I really valued these activities because they taught me that life is about more than school marks and sports fields. Serving others and showing love is an eternal gift that is so easy to give.
What is your favourite memory from your time at the College? I did like the BBC culture and being a part of a community. The times I was with my friends and we were laughing and enjoying ourselves was a highlight of my time at school.
What are your plans for 2020 and beyond? I am planning to become a doctor, and am doing biomedical science and eventually medicine at UQ.
BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
Brett Davidson OP 2 BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (HONOURS)/ BACHELOR OF ECONOMICS AT UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND 8 YEARS AT BBC JOINED THE COLLEGE IN YEAR 5. AWARDS AND CO-CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT Collegian, Academic Scholar, Birtles House Prefect, Amnesty International School Leader, Year 7 Mentor Cross Country, Volleyball, Water Polo, Rugby, Amnesty International, Basketball, Cricket, Public Speaking, Rugby, Track and Field
What subjects did you take in Year 12? Mathematics B, Mathematics C, Chemistry, English, Economics and Graphics.
What advice would you share with students who are about to begin their Senior School journey? Approach everything with an open mind, no matter the stigma, pressure or expectation. Depending on your mindset these three years can be some of the best of your life that you remember with great amounts of joy, satisfaction and gratitude. Or you can choose to miss out and underutilise the immense opportunities for growth and happiness presented to you by a BBC education.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you received from a BBC teachers? “All I want from you is effort and application not performance.” Although I was unaware of it at the time, this little gem would sprout the thoughts that led me to one of the standards I strive to uphold in my everyday life. Essentially, it’s saying to try your best in everything.
In your view, what mindsets and character strengths are needed for achieving goals? An understanding mindset focused on growth and a character strength of self confidence come in handy. The understanding mindset relates to not being afraid of failure, as one needs to realise that it is a reality. Also, that goals aren’t always achieved in a perfect straight line of progress. Focus on the trend and overall outlook rather than get caught up in the small failures of now. This mindset comes hand in hand with self confidence or the “back yourself” mentality as you will require mental strength to push yourself through times of self-doubt.
What are your plans for 2020 and beyond? The majority of 2020 will be a mix of finishing the first year of my Engineering/Economics degree at UQ, casual work, club sport and socialising.
ACADEMIC REPORT /// 15
Patrick Thygesen OP 2 BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING/BACHELOR OF COMMERCE AT UQ. 5 YEARS AT BBC JOINED THE COLLEGE IN YEAR 8. AWARDS AND CO-CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT College Vice-Captain, Sports Prefect, Cross Country and Track and Field Captain Cross Country, Track and Field, Football, Peer Mentor, Basketball, Cricket
What subjects did you take in Year 12? English, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics B, Mathematics C, and Senior PE.
What led you to choose these subjects? Through my Middle School years, I always enjoyed Maths and Science classes. So, I decided to follow these passions in Year 12 by selecting similar types of subjects that I had an interest in and that would also challenge me.
What advice would you share with students who are about to begin their Senior School journey? Although Year 12 might seem like the most significant year of your schooling life, the years before it are just as important. While the workload is not as heavy, these are the years where you need to establish the right habits before going into a hectic senior year filled with so many extra commitments. The key to being successful at school is to be organised, so if you put in the hard yards early on, it will feel like second nature come Year 12 which will make it that much easier and enjoyable.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you received from a BBC teacher? Something that was continuously reiterated by most of my teachers while at BBC was that there are always people that want to help you achieve your goals. No matter what part of the school I was in, if I needed help to get better as an athlete, student or even just needed a chat, someone was always willing to help me out where they could.
BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
What has your time at BBC taught you about approaching and solving problems? I learnt that it is important to use the strengths of others around you. Throughout Year 12, we learnt early on that there was a huge range of talent within the Prefect group and that when all this talent was used effectively, tasks not only became easier, but were also done better.
What is your favourite memory from your time at the College? Having the privilege to lead BBC to a back to back Cross-Country Championship. Being able to lift the trophy and celebrate with all the boys is a moment I will cherish forever.
What you will miss, now you have graduated? One thing that I will miss about school is the chance to see my mates every day, whether that be at lunch time or even during class. Another thing that I will miss about BBC is College Spirit and being able to belt out war cries with your best mates on a Saturday. Early on I took most of these moments for granted, but it’s not until you finish that you realise how special and unique those memories are.
What are your plans for 2020 and beyond? To begin the year, I will start by studying a Bachelor of Engineering/ Commerce degree at the University of Queensland. However, my goal is to go to the United States in Spring where I can hopefully continue to study in the fields of engineering or commerce while continuing to improve as an athlete in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).
Sebastian Lingane OP 7 STUDYING COMPOSITION AT THE GRIFFITH CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC 8 YEARS AT BBC JOINED THE COLLEGE IN YEAR 5. AWARDS AND CO-CURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT Music, Rock Band, Pipe Band, Theatre, Art Club, Cricket, Football
What subjects did you take in Year 12? Music, Music Extension, English, Mathematics A and Drama.
What advice would you share with students who are about to begin their Senior School journey? Don’t be afraid of doing things. If you have an idea, a plan or the drive to do something you must act on it because you only get one shot at things, and what if it works?
What is your favourite memory from your time at the College? My favourite memory from BBC would be performing an original composition at Speech Night. It was a huge honour to play and it felt like a perfect ending to my time at the school. This was followed by when I won a scholarship to have works performed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra during my last week of school.
What you will miss, now you have graduated?
What is the most valuable piece of advice you received from a BBC teacher?
I will miss my teachers, many of which I am now proud to work in the same field as.
To never settle for average; to always go above and beyond what you need to do because in the end you will be proud of what you’ve achieved.
What are your plans for 2020 and beyond?
What has your time at BBC taught you about approaching and solving problems? Balancing work, school, and passion was the toughest challenge I experienced as I juggled doing commissions for orchestras, maths assignments, and my passion projects. BBC allowed me to organise my time effectively for the most important things.
What service-based activities have you been involved in at BBC? I was a member of the Pipe Band since Year 5 as well as the music ensemble programs. I did Theatre, Art and Film. They enhanced my understanding of having a sense of community and passion for art.
As of February, I have three musical commissions with different organisations, multiple competitions, small gigs, first year studying at the Griffith Conservatorium for composition, and overseas trips planned.
What led you to pursue this direction and why is this important to you? I love creating music. I love watching people listen to my music, I love the details of writing, I even love the bureaucracy that is sprinkled in composition. I want to make a difference in history through my art and these are the first steps to making that a reality. If music is the catalyst in which I can make even one person happy, then I have truly chosen the right path.
ACADEMIC REPORT /// 17
A New Look School Year Since the beginning of 2019, Year 11 students have been engaged with the new Senior Assessment Tertiary Entrance (SATE) system. This includes the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) and replaces the Overall Position (OP) ranking. Engaging in the first new Senior syllabus reform in over 20 years, the boys of Brisbane Boys’ College are well positioned. As high expectations and consistently pleasing academic results continue to see us placed as a top performing Queensland school. There are several differing factors between the outgoing OP system and SATE. Firstly, there are new syllabus documents for senior students. Foundational Units 1 and 2 are covered in Year 11, with Unit 3 starting in Term 4. Importantly, in this process boys are encouraged to select subjects which are of interest to them and are prerequisites for university courses they are considering. As a result, BBC has increased its offerings to boys by introducing subjects such as Psychology, Engineering and Philosophy and Reason. These have been very popular with multiple classes allocated. Another difference is that the results from Units 3 and 4 are used to calculate student ATAR results. The assessment scores from each of these units combine to give students a mark out of 100 for each subject. Generally, a student’s top five subject results (regularly out of six subjects studied) are submitted to the Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority (QCAA) and ultimately Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) for calculation of their ATAR. Some assessments in Units 3 and 4 are internally developed assessments; external exams represent the remaining 25 percent or 50 percent (for Science and Mathematics subjects). To ensure quality assurance throughout the state, internal assessments are endorsed by trained teachers working with the QCAA. Selected, completed assessments are then confirmed again by trained teachers from across the state working for the QCAA. Many of our BBC Senior School teachers are Endorsers and Confirmers, with some also being acknowledged for their professionalism by being BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
named Lead or Chief Endorsers. We have already had our Internal Assessment Instruments 1 and 2 endorsed, ready for implementation during Unit 3. The next endorsement event will happen in late January to ensure that the third Internal Assessment Instrument (IAI) meets expectations. The first Confirmation event of teachers’ judgements for the first assessment instrument occurs in late April. Our Year 10 programs have also been reviewed to best prepare our young gentlemen for the new system. To minimise subject changes, subject choices have been designed to reflect the senior subjects. Boys also engage with more elective subjects before making senior subject selections. We have also refined our subject selection process for Year 10 students incorporating Morrisby profiling, SET Plans and ASPIRE Week. This is to help boys avoid making subject changes during Year 11 so they can optimise the foundational units offered during that time. The most significant difference with the SATE system is the introduction of external exams set by the QCAA. Mock exams are available to the public through the QCAA website and many subjects have implemented internally developed mock exams during this year, to prepare students for the conditions. Boys will have multiple opportunities to practice and prepare for these exams which will be held from 26 October through to 17 November. It is expected that all boys will complete a QCE. To support this process the College has appointed a Senior School Curriculum Coordinator in order to monitor progress and work with classroom teachers, Year Team Leaders, Heads of House and Heads of Department to ensure all boys are on track to achieve this. They will also monitor boys’ progress with achieving their ATAR score. We are excited by the future of this system and appreciate the transparency and clarity of process that it enables. Our boys have been well prepared and we look forward to seeing the results of their hard work in 2020 and beyond.
ACADEMIC REPORT /// 19
Confidence springs from mastery. It is the self-belief required to embrace the unknown. At Brisbane Boys' College, we integrate best practice teaching and learning with the science of wellbeing, and in doing so, safeguard the most important ingredient to a boy’s success: confidence. We refer to this as A New School of Thought.