Margaret River Senior High School honours 2024 cohort after ATAR success

Margaret River Senior High School has fielded another strong showing in this year’s Year 12 ATAR results, with 2024 dux Will Dallimore leading the pack with 98.75.

The latest cohort of 17 high achievers cements the school’s ever-improving focus on academics which garnered headlines last year after it smashed a number of achievement categories in the annual Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank results.

Acting principal Steve Jurilj said the “hard work, resilience, and dedication” of students and staff had once again produced “outstanding results”.

Of the 44 students who completed ATAR this year, four scored 95 or higher, placing them in the top 5 per cent of students Statewide.

Seventeen students achieved an ATAR of 90 or above and 28 students attained 80 or higher.

Mr Jurilj said the regional scaling bonus drove those scores even higher, with 23 of those students on an equivalent ATAR of 90 or above.

He said the results firmly placed MRSHS in WA’s top 20 high schools.

“These results are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students, supported so well by our passionate and committed staff,” he said.

“We are proud to provide every student with the opportunity to excel, whether through the ATAR pathway, vocational education and training, or other programs that cater to their individual talents and aspirations.”

While the school was loath to single out individual talent among a diverse field of high achievers, Will Dallimore’s ATAR results put him at 13th spot out of regional public school students. He was followed closely by Tiki Goodall with 98.25.

The 17-year-old told the Times he was grateful for the support from his teachers and peer group.

“For me, the key to success was prioritising mental health and using study strategies that worked best for me,” Will said.

“These included breaking my study into manageable blocks, lots of practice exams, and using techniques like teaching content to others, making concise notes, and focusing on active recall.

“Staying consistent and organised while also making time for rest and hobbies in between was really important.”

Student Yazmin Byrne told the Times cutting one of her five ATAR subjects helped her narrow her focus to post the result of 95.75 she wanted.

“Having my friends also do ATAR was super helpful, as I knew that I wasn’t alone in the stressful times, and was able to do study groups with them,” she said.

“I feel like something that was really important was to try and trust yourself, and believe in the hard work that you’ve done, and being proud of what you’ve achieved, especially on the day of the exams, as the extra stress of doubting yourself is really not helpful.

“Overall, it was a super tricky year, with lots of long nights and early mornings, but I am really grateful for the education, and I feel really pleased with my results and proud of the outcome after all that study.”

Will said he would study medicine next year, while numerous other graduates canvassed by the Times said they would opt for the traditional Margaret River gap year.