Thousands of students miss out on a spot at select-entry Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School every year.
asserted
Thousands → miss → School
Its popularity, and that of the state’s three other selective-entry high schools, is fuelling an ongoing debate that is about to become an election issue.
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that → fuel → debate
There are only 1000 new spots at the four schools every year, but thousands take the entry exam in the hope of securing a coveted enrolment.
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thousands → be → enrolment
While proponents argue this demand shows why Victoria needs new selective schools – as promised by the state Liberals – critics say they are fuelling social segregation.
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they → argue → segregation
Mac.Robertson is hemmed in by Albert Park, apartment buildings and the chaotic Kings Way, meaning its current campus has no room to grow.
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campus → hem → room
The lure for parents is the promise of academic results that rival those of many private schools, without the expensive price tag.
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that → rival → tag
An analysis of data from the education department, curriculum and exam body found it was consistently one of the top-performing schools in the state.
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it → find → state
That’s based on the percentage of individual study scores above 40.
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That → base → 40
According to the 2025 data, 34.7 per cent of the cohort received a score of 40 and above, while the median study score was 37.
uncertain
score → accord → 40
In the previous year, 31.1 per cent of the school’s students received a mark of 40 and above, and their median VCE study score was 37.
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score → receive → 40
Its closest competitor is Ruyton Girls’ School in Kew, which had 30.9 per cent of its cohort achieve a score of 40, while its median study score was 36.
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score → have → 40
Principal Sue Harrap says she must balance the school’s “VCE reputation” with the reality of running an ageing campus with space limitations.
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she → say → limitations
“We are tiny, we’ve got three buildings,” Harrap says.
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Harrap → get → buildings
“There’s nowhere for us to expand to.
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us → ’ → ?
There is no outdoor recreation area so they pay to use the nearby Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and athletic centre, she says.
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she → be → Centre
The school is also forced to shell out to use sports fields at Fawkner Park in South Yarra, where students have their physical education and health lessons.
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students → force → education
Robertson also does not have the funds of some of the nearby private all-girls’ schools and was forced to drop its International Baccalaureate program last year due to its running cost.
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Robertson → have → cost
A Victorian auditor-general’s report, published in June, rated the school in “worn” condition.
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report → publish → condition
But despite these issues, Mac.Rob’s (its nickname) is still a destination of choice, with 300 pupils earning a coveted place there each year.
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pupils → earn → place
Harrap says many new students have to adjust to not always being the best.
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students → say → ?
“There is a huge impact on the students’ identity when they come here – they’re used to being the best,” she explains.
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she → be → identity
Many have perfectionist tendencies, an internal narrative that can be damaging to their self-confidence, she says.
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she → have → confidence
“Then they can feel like they’re not good any more,” Harrap says.
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Harrap → feel → ?
Students also have to deal with the school’s reputation as a cut-throat “VCE factory” only concerned with getting the highest ATAR or study scores.
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Students → have → scores
Harrap says while they value results, the reputation is overblown.
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reputation → say → results
“The students understand the VCE works best if you collaborate as a group and support each other to do well,” she says.
asserted
she → understand → other
“It’s not a dog-eat-dog world that people think it might be, and no one is dragging each other down.
uncertain
one → ’ → other
They really support each other to grow.”
asserted
They → support → other
Mackenzie Li did an intensive two-month study course before the entry exam to increase her chances of being accepted.
“It feels really stressful especially for a 13-year-old,” she says of the test.
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she → do → test
Now a year 11 student at the school, the 16-year-old has just returned from the US, where she did an international extension program at Yale.
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she → return → Yale
But for Li, it was worth the stress and study once she was accepted.
“We may not have the best facilities, or … the most money to build the fanciest campus, but I think the community really makes it worth it,” she says.
uncertain
she → accept → campus
While the academic side of the school can be intense, she always felt supported by staff and her peers
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she → support → staff
“If I had to do it again, I would, just because I think being in the school has, personally, given me a pathway to be the best version of myself and my future,” she says.
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she → have → myself
Stories like Li’s, however, are why critics argue the system is broken.
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system → argue → Li
The drive for parents to get their children into the state’s four select-entry schools see many pay thousands on professional tutors.
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many → get → tutors
Trevor Cobbold, from the group Save Our Schools, which campaigns for education equity, previously says more select-entry schools would be the wrong move for Victoria.
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schools → campaign → Victoria
“More selective schools would exacerbate social segregation in the public system and increase the already high concentration of low-income and other disadvantaged students in some schools which lowers student results.”
asserted
which → exacerbate → results
Harrap warns if new students fixate on academic rankings, they will be let down, and the school has shifted to ensuring students work to achieve their personal best, rather than just getting top marks.
“The irony for this school is that you have to perform well on a test to get in, but if you continue to have that performance orientation, and you’re looking to be number one, [most] … we take 300 kids in every year, and 299 of them will be disappointed.”
asserted
299 → warn → them
To combat this, the school works to shift mindsets away from pure results towards emotional regulation and wellbeing – a vital transition for the incoming year 9s.
asserted
school → combat → year
They not only have to navigate that change, but often face long commutes, a new routine and their own changing identities.
“Their mindset needs to shift to ‘I’m no longer striving to be the best; I’m striving to be the best version of myself’,” Harrap says.
asserted
Harrap → have → myself
…and 47 more, not listed.
The Aporia
