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Victorian selective school debate heats up as thousands miss out on Mac.Robertson places

Top academic results and cramped campus fuel election-year fight over whether to expand or scrap the selective entry system

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
Thousands of students miss out on a place at Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School every year, intensifying a political debate over Victoria’s four selective-entry schools that is set to become a state election issue. With only 1000 new spots available across the network each year and thousands sitting the entry exam, the Liberal opposition has promised to establish new selective schools, while critics argue the system entrenches social segregation.

Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, located on a cramped site hemmed in by Albert Park, apartment buildings and Kings Way, has no room to expand. Principal Sue Harrap described the campus as “tiny” with three buildings and “nowhere for us to expand to.” The school has no outdoor recreation area and pays to use the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and athletic centre, as well as sports fields at Fawkner Park in South Yarra for physical education.

Demand for the school is driven by academic results that rival those of private schools without the tuition fees. Analysis of education department data shows that in 2025, 34.7 per cent of Mac.Robertson students achieved a study score of 40 or above, with a median VCE study score of 37 — well above the state average of 30. In the previous year, 31.1 per cent scored 40 or higher with the same median score. Its closest competitor, Ruyton Girls’ School in Kew, recorded 30.9 per cent of students scoring 40 and above and a median of 36.

Harrap said she must balance the school’s “VCE reputation” with the challenges of running an ageing campus with space limitations. Mac.Robertson was forced to drop its International Baccalaureate program last year and does not have the funding of nearby private all-girls’ schools.

The state Liberals have promised to create new selective schools if elected, arguing the strong demand justifies expansion. Opponents, however, say selective schools contribute to social segregation by funnelling high-performing students away from comprehensive public schools.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The outcome of this debate will shape access to high-quality public education for thousands of Victorian families.
  • It highlights tensions between academic excellence and equity in a system where selective schools can draw resources and top students away from neighbourhood schools.
  • With the state election approaching, the issue could influence voter preferences, particularly among parents weighing public and private options.

Background

Victoria currently operates four selective-entry high schools: Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, Melbourne High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. They admit students based on an entrance exam and are consistently among the top performers in the state’s VCE results. The schools have long been a subject of debate, with supporters viewing them as a meritocratic pathway for gifted students and critics arguing they create a two-tier system that disadvantages students who do not gain entry. Mac.Robertson, established in 1934, is the oldest of the selective girls’ schools and its inner-city location leaves it with no room for physical expansion.

Key Perspectives

[Proponents of more selective schools]: The strong demand — thousands of applicants for 1000 places — demonstrates a clear need for additional selective schools. The state Liberals have pledged to create new ones, arguing that parents should have access to high-quality public options that compete with private schools. [Critics of selective entry]: Selective schools exacerbate inequality by concentrating high-achieving, often more advantaged students in a few schools. They argue that resources would be better spent improving all public schools rather than expanding a system that filters students by test scores. [Principal Sue Harrap]: While proud of the school’s results, she faces the practical challenges of running a high-performing school in a constrained physical space without the financial resources of private counterparts.

What to Watch

  • The state Liberal Party’s detailed election policy on selective schools, including proposed locations and funding.
  • The Victorian Government’s response — whether it will match, modify or reject the Liberal promise.
  • Any independent review or data release on the socioeconomic composition of selective school enrolments, which could shift public opinion.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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