Canberra's graduating class of 2025 will have their median ATAR results kept under wraps, as education authorities extend a controversial policy of non-disclosure. The decision marks another year where detailed academic performance data for ACT schools is withheld from the public.
FOI Victory Proves Temporary as Review Stalls Release
The move follows a brief period of transparency in 2024, when The Canberra Times successfully obtained the 2024 median ATAR data through a Freedom of Information request. That release, however, prompted the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) to announce a review of its data publication processes. Education Minister Yvette Berry stated at the time that she did not support releasing individual school data but endorsed the review, arguing the current approach "supports student wellbeing and encourages a more inclusive and supportive educational environment."
Despite the FOI decision-maker ruling that release was in the public interest—enhancing government accountability and informed debate—the board has opted for secrecy pending the review's completion. Four months after committing to the examination, the BSSS established an Advisory Committee to provide expert advice on Year 12 data practices.
Advisory Committee Work Pushes Final Decision to 2026
BSSS Chair Catherine Hudson confirmed the committee's mandate includes evaluating the principles and practice of releasing comparative Year 12 data, including its impact on students, teachers, schools, and the community. The committee's work is incomplete, with final recommendations not expected until March 2026. Consequently, the board will not take any action that pre-empts the committee's findings, leaving the 2025 cohort's data unpublished.
This lack of information creates a significant vacuum for parents and the community seeking to understand school performance. The policy has been in place since 2019, when the BSSS ceased publishing ATAR information, deeming it "damaging to student welfare." The ACT has long been reluctant to release detailed Year 12 metrics, providing far less data than most other Australian jurisdictions.
Broader Context: National Shift on Educational Data
Minister Berry's stance aligns with her involvement in national discussions about reforming the presentation of MySchool and NAPLAN data to promote equity. In subsequent years, NAPLAN reporting has shifted to highlight schools showing the most improvement based on similar characteristics, rather than raw scores alone.
Proponents of limited data release argue that a single statistic cannot define a school's value, pointing to student achievements beyond academics—such as volunteering, community initiatives, and workforce entry. However, critics contend that removing data points entirely prevents a nuanced understanding of how schools support diverse student pathways into further education and employment. The absence of information forces assumptions based on limited evidence, rather than fostering informed discussion with comprehensive data.
For now, Canberra's families and taxpayers are left waiting until at least 2026 for any potential change in the transparency of Year 12 outcomes.
