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On behalf of the Pembroke community, I congratulate our Class of 2024 on their tremendous SACE results which reinforce our School’s proud legacy of academic success.

Over the past few years, it has been a joy to get to know this impressive cohort and their remarkable spirit of resilience, kindness and determination. They are humorous, compassionate, dedicated, respectful and ready to embrace all opportunities.

Following the release of SACE results today, it is my great honour to share some initial highlights with our community. Most notably, I am immensely proud to report that all Pembroke Year 12 students expected to complete the SACE in 2024 have earned their South Australian Certificate of Education. 

Other highlights include:

• 509 A grades & 93 A+ results
• 33 Merits 
• Top ATAR – 99.95 
• 38 students top 5% nationally (ATAR 95+)

Our SACE Dux for 2024 is James Le who achieved a perfect ATAR of 99.95 and 7 Merits (English, Chemistry and Physics this year, alongside Merits in Mathematical Methods, Music Performance Ensemble, Music Performance Solo and Activating Identities and Futures in 2023). He also achieved 2 High Distinctions in university studies through the University of Adelaide’s Headstart program for Research Methods in Psychology and Human Anatomy and Physiology.  In addition, James has been selected to receive the prestigious Governor of South Australia Commendation Excellence Award. We commend James on these truly remarkable accomplishments.

We also congratulate Jade Le who achieved an ATAR of 99.90 and 4 Merits alongside 2 Flinders University High Distinctions, Vikram Selva who received 99.90, 3 Merits and 2 Flinders University High Distinctions, and Laila Thomson with an ATAR of 99.90, 1 Merit and 2 Flinders University High Distinctions. A special mention to our Year 11 students with 11 Merits including Kyle Liu who achieved Merits in Mathematical Methods and Biology.

Seven students achieved an ATAR ranking in the top 1% nationally (ATAR 99+), with 38 students in the top 5% (ATAR 95+) and 67 students in the top 10% (ATAR 90+). 509 A grades were awarded including 93 A+ grades, resulting in 33 Merits across 15 subjects.

An incredible 28 Pembroke students completed one or more semesters of university studies, with 4 studying through the University of Adelaide’s Headstart program, 20 in the Flinders University Extension Studies program and 4 through the UniSA ACCELERATE program. Of these, 15 students achieved a High Distinction in two semesters, giving them a perfect scaled score of 20.0 towards their university aggregate, while 9 received a Distinction or more in two semesters, giving them a scaled score of 19.8 or 19.9 towards their university aggregate. All up, our students earned a phenomenal 50 High Distinctions/Distinctions.

Final Year 12 results are calculated from a diverse range of subject choices and programs including VET and International Baccalaureate subjects. Eighty of our students completed a VET course, while 9 of our SACE students studied one or more IB subjects this year in addition to our 48 full IB Diploma students. As such, we will be able to share a more complete snapshot of achievements after IB results are released tomorrow, which is a welcome milestone in itself given IB results have typically been released in early January.

What is equally extraordinary as our students’ results are the stories of individual triumphs that lie behind the numbers. We know this is a cohort that faced the height of the pandemic at a critical stage of their schooling and adolescence. They had to overcome many obstacles then and many since, and it is that spirit of resilience which has guided them to this moment. Behind every number and score is a person and a story, nuanced and individual. They have all made their mark on our School and we are immensely proud of them all. Thus, we celebrate all stories of personal growth and success with the same pride that we place in acknowledging today’s results.

In addition to academic achievement, it is also fitting to recognise how our Year 12 leavers fully embraced the life of the School through Sport, The Arts, other co-curricular activities, leadership and service, including many who upheld Pembroke’s strong involvement in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. These astute young learners saw the gift of a Pembroke education – with its breadth and depth of opportunities – and grabbed it with both hands. By exploring and nurturing their skills and passions through their academic, social and spiritual domains, they enter the wider world equipped with the knowledge and values to help shape a hopeful future for us all.

In recognising our Class of 2024, I also take this opportunity to sincerely thank the dedicated teachers and devoted families who have walked alongside our students throughout their schooling journey – it really does take a village and that is why at Pembroke, we are stronger together.

We wish our SACE students all the very best, and we look forward to celebrating more good news tomorrow following the release of IB results.

Mark Staker
Principal