Secondary Personal Capacity Transcript
Tim Barrett / Academic
Secondary Personal Capacity Transcript
19 June 2023
Have you recently wondered what being successful at school looks like?
Some might instantly think of straight A's, high marks in an exam, or a top band on a standardised test. And yes, these are examples of success by a traditional, known metric. However, a growing number of leading educators, parents and even students, realise that a ‘grades only’ view of success doesn't tell the whole story. They believe that being successful at school also includes things like building character, learning how to interact with others, having the skills to learn and relearn, being creative, and having the resilience to face tough challenges. At St Andrew’s, we agree, and put all these capabilities under the umbrella of Personal Capacity. We believe that we must broaden our understanding of what success means, especially in our rapidly changing world, and look to new metrics that highlight and celebrate varied student achievements. Hence the creation and implementation of our Personal Capacity Transcript or PCT, which will sit alongside your child's Academic Transcript so that you can get a complete picture of their learning and growth.
The Personal Capacity Transcript will capture a broad range of evidenced capabilities and achievements that showcase involvement, passion and strengths of our Secondary students. We recognise that each of our students are unique, and their involvement and achievement in activities outside of the traditional metrics of success are valuable and should be celebrated. In fact, the research studies conducted by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), indicate that developing personal capacity and tracking these types of achievements is a more accurate predictor of future success in life (1) .
As seen in the sample, each PCT is unique, reflecting the student's personal journey through the academic year. It showcases a learner's statement, credits earned from eight categories, and the specific achievements that they choose to link to a QR code. The transcript will reset annually (with an exception for Years 11 and 12 which spans two years) to allow the student to set and reflect on goals for different credit outcomes. It will be a ‘living document’ that can be viewed on the student and Parent Portal and printed off at any time as needed.
The PCT truly captures the holistic student experience we offer here at St Andrew’s. By focusing on academic performance but also personal capacity, we can better prepare our students for the diverse challenges and opportunities they will face in their futures. And in doing so, we elevate the definition of success and acknowledge that each student's school journey is unique and valuable. Please see the short video HERE that explains more about the Personal Capacity Transcript and where to find it.
Author Profile
Tim Barrett
Head of SAIL
Tim has been working in the education industry since 1999 and brings extensive experience in student learning to St Andrew’s. Tim leads the College Ministry and the St Andrew’s Institute of Learning (SAIL), which drives the development of staff and Personal Capacity at the College. This includes community service, cultural intelligence training and the St Andrew’s Global Learning Program that facilitates research and collaboratation with schools from across the world.
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