#NoATAR2020
In the final weeks of Term 1, Peter Hutton spoke with several media outlets including an appearance with Ellen Fanning on The Drum. In his conversation Peter highlighted the urgent need for the cancelling of ATAR for 2020.
Peter explained,”with everything else that is going on in the world isn’t the ATAR one issue we can take off the table for this year and give kids the ability to cope the best they can in very difficult situations? I am aware that not all FSA school leaders will share my enthusiasm for cancelling senior exams and the ATAR for 2020 in favour of allowing all students with pre-requisites a ‘free pass’ into first year of University. Talking with a few of the senior university people at various institutions, this seems like it could soon become a reality. Whilst I am often referred to as the Director of FSA, I have endeavoured to explain that this is a campaign run by me as an individual, but I accept their will be some link made by people to the wider Alliance which is unavoidable. My hope is that we may be able to achieve a change in the ATAR that would otherwise have been achieved over 5-10 years in the space of 12 months. It is obviously a matter for each school leader and community to decide their stance on this”.
The impact of COVID19 on education systems around the world quickly became apparent. At the end of March the International Baccalaureate examination board cancelled the May exams, explaining the decision as being an ethical and responsible one. In the UK, A-Level and GCSE exams were cancelled with the government stating that the exam regulator, Ofqual, and exam boards will work with teachers to provide grades to students. At the end of Term 1, the urgent need to consider alternatives to the ATAR exams in 2020 dominated discussions as students increasingly found themselves in increasingly stressful situations. With international examination boards round the world cancelling exams, a proactive response was called on through the #NoATAR2020 campaign.
In Australia it was recognised that for students with access to technology and reliable online systems, a move to remote learning due to school closures will allow for the continued access to subject content and teaching staff. However for students in disadvantaged and remote areas this will not be the case. A proactive response to cancelling the ATAR exams was actioned with the #NoATAR2020 campaign hitting social media channels across Australia, recognising students were under immense stress during these uncertain times. Supported by research, in 2019 it was reported that academic-related stress “has demonstrated negative impact on students’ learning capacity, academic performance, education and employment attainment, sleep quality and quantity, physical health, mental health and substance abuse.”.
