KANIVA College has the highest percentage of top study scores in the Wimmera, a new report shows.
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New data from the Good Education Group’s Good Schools Guide 2018 shows the college had the highest percentage of Victorian Certificate of Education study scores above 40 last year.
Horsham College had the second highest, followed by Horsham’s St Brigid’s College and Warracknabeal Secondary College.
Former Kaniva College student Daniel Hicks was the school’s dux in 2016 with a score of 98.55 – one of the highest in the school’s history and the highest in the Wimmera last year.
Other students at the school also received study scores above 40.
Daniel said the college’s high percentage of top study scores was a team effort by a range of students.
“I would consider the college's results as the culmination of a year's hard work from everybody in the class of 2016,” he said.
Daniel believes Kaniva College provided him with an ideal environment for studying.
“Study was generally targeted and enjoyable, as it was done with friends who also aspired to do well, under the guidance of teachers who knew the students and knew how to aid them,” he said.
“I believe that rural schools have the advantage of a sense of camaraderie.
“The small class sizes in rural schools paves the way for close friendships between classmates who are undertaking the gruelling experience of year 12.
“As this friendship can easily extend to the entire class, you're never truly alone and there is always somebody who can help make things less stressful.
“To contrast it with a larger school, there might be instances where multiple large, close groups emerge in the one year level.
“Under stress, I believe that such division can lead to rivalry, which is unnecessarily detrimental.”
There were 14 students in Kaniva College’s 2016 year 12 class.
Daniel said a disadvantage of rural schools was often funding.
“Rural schools are often ignored when we are clearly capable of excellence,” he said.
Daniel is now studying law and science at Monash University and does VCE tutoring.
Good Education Group chief executive Chris Lester said Kaniva College’s top scores were a great achievement.
“What we’ve seen in the data is that you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get a quality education,” he said.
“Across the state, there’s a great mix of government and non-government schools all achieving a high percentage of study scores above 40.”
Mr Lester said while the scores are important, the guides wasn’t developed to determine the best schools in Victoria.
“It’s a tool to increase people’s understanding of the Victorian education system and help parents make an informed decision about the best school for their family,” he said.