As ATAR results and study scores become a blur of numbers for local students, Seymour College is celebrating a 100 per cent Year 12 completion rate for a “resilient” cohort.

VCE co-ordinator Sharon Hill said while this year’s cohort was smaller than usual, the students, who started their high school journey amid COVID lockdowns, were enduring.

“It was a small group from Year 7, and they’ve had a really tough time because during Year 7 and 8, they were COVID students, so they couldn’t get that normal transition into high school,” she said.

“I think they’ve become really resilient, and it’s a pretty cohesive group because they are quite small.”

Students across the state received their VCE and Vocational Major results on Thursday, December 11, with a record 65,586 students having completed the VCE, and 9777 completing VCE-VM.

Seymour College announced that graduate Isabelle Kemp was its 2025 dux on the day the results were released.

Isabelle, who studied English, literature, history, general maths and psychology in Year 12, said it was great to see her efforts pay off.

“It feels extremely rewarding that I’ve put in all this effort and I get this reward, not only being able to attend university, but just to have physical proof that I’ve achieved something throughout this entire year,” she said.

“It’s actually a really amazing feeling.”

A Year 11 student has also been named a high achiever after reaching an impressive high of 43 in fast-tracked general maths.

Danish Zakir will now undertake English, history, maths methods and biology next year, and said he felt a bit anxious as he entered into Year 12, but was determined to achieve high to go down the “medicine line” and study to become a general practitioner after graduating.

“(I feel) quite nervous,” he said.

“I do have support from external help, and from my teachers, since they also give quite a lot of information.”

Isabelle, who is now looking to study education after being inspired by the staff at Seymour College, advised Year 11s making the transition next year to “make a schedule” and access the support the teachers provide.

“A lot of the teachers have been teaching for a very long time, they know what they’re doing,” she said.

“I think some people forget that they’re there to help you, especially for Year 11 and 12s.”

After farewelling the students at Fowles Winery before their exams, Seymour College staff now wish the graduating class of 2025 all the best for their future endeavours.

“We’re really proud of them, us teachers,” Ms Hill said.

“They’ve been a really lovely group. I guess good things come in small packages.”

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Thursday, 1st January 2026

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