Entry to Tertiary Study
Graduates of Steiner schools enter tertiary studies through two different pathways.
The first and more traditional pathway is through the students sitting the state university accreditation exams for example, the HSC in NSW; the VCE in Victoria. Many Steiner graduates have successfully completed tertiary studies over the past 30 years.
The second and perhaps more recent pathway is a non examination course. Students complete the full 12 years Steiner curriculum the culmination of which is a Year 12 major project on a topic solely of the student's choice. Student's are assessed across this whole program. Arrangements have been entered into with Universities in different states for these students to gain entrance to university courses in this way. Students following this pathway have also been successful over the past 12 years.
University Results
A number of universities throughout Australia have accepted Mt Barker Waldorf School graduates on the basis of the internally assessed Year 12 curriculum. Here in South Australia, these include the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, and Flinders University. About 40-50% of the Year 12 Class each year applies directly from our course to enter university. Since 1991, universities have admitted students from the school into a variety of courses including Arts, Commerce, Education, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Science and Speech Pathology.
Statistics supplied by the universities show that the performance of our students has been well above average - at Flinders University, of a total number of 306 subjects studied by these students to 1997, the grades achieved comprised 29 high distinctions, 111 distinctions, 105 credits, 55 passes and 6 fails.
Performance of Mt Barker Waldorf Students at Flinders University (1991- 1997).
Performance of students from Mt Barker Waldorf School at Adelaide University (Statistics compiled from 344 units undertaken by 23 students from 1991 - 2000)
Source: Bill Wood
SPECIAL TERTIARY ADMISSIONS TEST (STAT)
(Information provided by Lorien Novalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education, Feb 2012)
The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is a series of tests sat by a wide selection of candidates, including Class 12 students who seek entrance to a tertiary institution.
The Australian Council for Educational Research offer the STAT on behalf of all Australian Universities.
In NSW, the following Universities accept the STAT for students who graduate from a Rudolf Steiner School in Year 12:
Australian Catholic University
Australian National University
Charles Sturt University
Southern Cross University
University of Canberra
University of New England
Macquarie University
University of Newcastle
University of Notre Dame
Australian Institute of Music
University of Technology
University of Western Sydney
University of Wollongong
The STAT is held in Sydney throughout the year.
The STAT consists of two tests and in the past universities have only required students to complete the STAT multiple choice which is a two-hour exam with 70 questions, half verbal and half quantitative.
There is provision for students with special needs. STAT results remain valid for at least 3 years. You may sit the STAT once every 6 months. Candidates receive their results usually around 3 weeks after the test. Results are sent to the universities that students have applied to for entry.
The STAT is based on the respected North American College Entrance Examination - Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) - the world's most widely used tertiary admissions test.
Lorien Novalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education do not prepare students for the STAT. The nature of the curriculum has enabled students to achieve excellent results. Many students choose to attend various STAT preparation workshops that are held in Sydney from September to November throughout the year.
Students who graduate from Lorien Novalis receive a Class 12 Certificate of Steiner Education. For many years, students have successfully gained entry to various undergraduate university courses throughout Australia (NSW, QLD, WA, NT, VIC) and the World (USA, Europe) via the STAT examination, audition/portfolio and/or interview.