Ballarat Clarendon College has achieved remarkable success, including topping ATAR results in Victoria, for multiple consecutive years, offering valuable lessons for other schools seeking to enhance student outcomes.
Since 2010, the College has grown from 1,300 to nearly 2,000 students, with waiting lists now common - a testament to their successful approach. The College has become a model for other schools, and receives 100s of requests for others to visit. In a recent interview with Dr Greg Ashman, Deputy Principal at the College, we got to understand a little more about how this school has established itself as a consistent top performer.
Since 2010, the College has grown from 1,300 to nearly 2,000 students, with waiting lists now common - a testament to their successful approach. The College has become a model for other schools, and receives 100s of requests for others to visit.
However Dr Ashman is quick to point out there are "no magic spells" - just consistent application of evidence-based practices and attention to detail. This can be energising for some, as it’s very doable, but does take time, consistency and a systematic approach.
At the heart of Ballarat Clarendon College's success lies a surprisingly straightforward philosophy: trust the process.
Rather than explicitly targeting ATAR scores, the school focuses on establishing robust systems and processes that naturally lead to strong academic outcomes. Their guiding principle is to, "maximise students' skills, competencies and capacity so that when they stand on the threshold of their future, they can choose their heart's desire."
This approach emphasises controllable daily actions over abstract goals. Students are encouraged to focus on immediate tasks - attending classes, completing homework, and following teacher guidance - rather than fixating on final results. This mindset helps reduce exam-related stress while building consistent habits that lead to success.
The College's success is built on a foundation of evidence-based teaching practices, with particular emphasis on explicit teaching methods. Unlike the common misconception that senior students should be left to independent learning, Ballarat Clarendon College maintains structured teaching approaches throughout all year levels.
Key elements of their teaching model include:
The school prioritises subject-specific professional development, allowing teachers to adapt evidence-based practices to their particular disciplines. Rather than generic professional development sessions, teachers spend significant time working in subject-based teams to refine their approaches.
Success is tracked through both quantitative and qualitative measures. Beyond academic metrics, the school also tracks:
The success of Ballarat Clarendon College demonstrates that exceptional academic results don't require revolutionary methods - rather, they emerge from the consistent application of evidence-based practices and attention to fundamental educational principles.
Ballarat Clarendon College is one of our valued partner schools. You can learn more about the College here or dive into Dr Ashman’s work on his Filling the Pail Substack here. The College is hosting ResearchEd Ballarat on Saturday 15 March 2025 - you can get your tickets here.
