From the Headmaster

A very warm welcome and welcome back to 2021 for the Somerset community. Over this week we had 209 new students, 151 in the Junior School and 58 in the Senior School, begin their journey at the College and we certainly hope theirs will be as rewarding as ours.

We started the year with a record enrolment of 1,594 from Pre-Prep to Year 12. On behalf of the College Board, I thank you for your continuing support of Somerset as we enter our 39th year. It was quickly apparent that the students settled very well to their classes.

"On 27 January 2009, 20 of the current Seniors had their first day at Somerset … and so did the new Headmaster. I thank them for their friendship and help in walking these past 13 years with me. Goodness knows, they deserve a medal! I was delighted to acknowledge them on the first day of their Senior year, coincidentally 27 January 2021!" Mr Bassingthwaighte.

We welcomed the following new staff:

• Mr Nicholas Brice - Deputy Headmaster
• Miss Bruna da Silva - Science Laboratory Manager
• Mrs Katrina Day - Accounts Clerk
• Mrs Anna De Luca - Events Support Officer – Events
• Mrs Courtney Doyle - Teacher - Junior School
• Mr Adam Evans - Teacher - Senior School (English)
• Mr Jordan Gasmier -Teacher - Senior School (Physical and Health Education and Mathematics)
• Mr Ben Goodall (Class of 2004) - Teacher - Senior School (Science and Chemistry)
• Mr Mick Hall (Class of 1991) - Teacher Assistant – Learning Enhancement Junior School
• Miss Charlotte Hill - Teacher - Senior School (Physical and Health Education and Mathematics)
• Ms Samantha Johnson - Teacher Assistant - Activities Hub
• Cecile Knight - Events Assistant – Storyfest
• Mr Pula Kolokihakaufisi - Assistant Head Coach – Rugby
• Miss Kiah Leslie - Teacher - Junior School (Music)
• Mr Luke Mason (Class of 2017) - Apprentice Chef
• Mr Eddie Miller - Teacher - Senior School (Japanese)
• Mr Geoff Pittman - Teacher - Senior School (Mathematics)
• Ms Nicky Sheppard - Teacher - Junior School
• Mr Rohan Stevenson - Head Coach – Basketball
• Mrs Ruth Sullivan - Science Laboratory Assistant
• Miss Emma Thompson - Liaison Assistant - Community Relations
• Miss Casey Wade - Intern – Events
• Miss Shelby Walter - Intern – AFL
• Miss Rebekah Ward - Teacher - Senior School (Language and Literature, IB English)

Welcome back to Ms Melissa Black, Mr Will Boston, Ms Jenny George, Mr Rodger Neave and Mrs Janine White after some periods of leave.

There have been a number of changes to responsibilities for 2021:

• Mr Spence Attoe - Year 11 Co-ordinator
• Mr Patrick George - Head of House – Veivers (Acting)
• Mrs Katie Hodge - Assistant Head of Department – Mathematics (Acting)
• Mrs Sarah Hossy - Assistant Head of Department – English
• Ms Luisa Navanteri - Year 12 Co-ordinator
• Mr Sam Whish-Wilson - Head of House – Andrews (Acting)

Class of 2020 Academic Results

Congratulations to the Class of 2020, the ATAR edition!

After such a tumultuous 2020, we were delighted to receive the results of the inaugural ATAR cohort.

There were many highlights but what is very obvious is the endeavour of the students, the skill and expertise of their teachers, the leadership and gentle guidance of the Dean of Studies, Mrs Karen Crowley, the responsiveness and creativity of the College Leadership Team, and the patience and support of their families, have combined to produce a stellar set of results.

We congratulate all our students who completed their Queensland Certificate of Education including the Business Diploma. It is no mean effort to run the race and finish; perseverance and discipline that will set our students for life.

One of our students, Jacinta Mai, the Academic Captain, received the highest possible score, 99.95, one of only 30 students across the state.

Another 11 students received a score of 98.85 or above which is the rough equivalent of the old OP 1. At 12% of the cohort, it is probably our best ever result.

55 students, 56% of the cohort, received a score of 90+. Our median score of 91.2, roughly an equivalent OP 5, is equal to our best ever result. In the middle of a pandemic, as the first group to go through this unknown system! Truly we dip our lids to this achievement.

Georgina Powell, College Captain, topped the state in English and Music with perfect scores of 100 as did Chester Whiting, Starkey House Captain, in Philosophy and Reason.

To show the breadth of our students and their interests, Sports Captain, James Guy, received an ATAR score of 99.65 and then proceeded to score his first ton, 105 not out, in senior grade cricket on the Gold Coast. Knowing James, it will be obvious what brought the greatest joy last Saturday.

At Somerset, we continue to have the vast majority of our students ATAR eligible or enrolled in the IB Diploma, 98%+. You will see results from other schools in the media but until we know the rates of eligibility within cohorts, it is impossible to compare these results. Some schools last year reported eligibility of less than 10%, making them statistically anomalous.

Our International Baccalaureate Diploma students achieved the following results:

• 3 of the 15 IBDP students obtained the equivalent of an ATAR or above of 98.85, bringing our OP1 equivalents to 13.2%
• 7 students out of 15 scored more than 94 ATAR (36+/45 IB score)

I look forward to meeting all parents at the Parents' and Friends' Social Function on Friday 5 February 2021 from 6.00pm to 9.00pm on the Sports Facility Concourse to celebrate the New School Year. This function is a wonderful opportunity for parents new to the College and those returning to meet each other and the staff.

Please make this highlight function a priority on your calendar!