Both Ethan Yap and Kevin Castle say they were in utter disbelief when they heard the news.
They have been awarded this year’s Beazley Medals for academic achievement, taking out the highest Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) score and outstanding VET subject performance respectively.
Public schools achieved a clean sweep of the prestigious awards this year, with Mr Yap having attended Perth Modern and Mr Castle having gone to Kent Street Senior High.
“My immediate reaction was complete disbelief … I really thought ‘oh, is this a prank?’ After the call, I was really just overjoyed,” Mr Yap said.
Ethan Yap is hoping to study mathematics and computer science at university. (ABC News: Ruby Littler)
“It’s really good to see all my hard work pay off, but I was also definitely not expecting it either.”
Mr Yap is hoping to study mathematics and computer science when he goes to university.
Nearly 28,000 Year 12 students completed one or more WACE course units or endorsed programs in 2024.
“Initially I thought I’m gonna drop everything just to study, but I’m really glad that I didn’t, because the hobbies really helped me alleviate some of the stress, and it’s a good balance,” Mr Yap said.
Proud parents
Mr Castle, who won the VET Beazley Medal, said it was a toss-up between between ATAR or VET classes, but decided VET was the most practical path forward in his pursuit to get into an aviation mechanic program.
“It’ll be absolutely amazing if I’m able to become an apprentice aircraft mechanic … and that truly is my goal for the future.
Mr Castle attributed his success to his time management and being able to balance assessments, tests and extracurricular with family time and hobbies.
Both boys gushed about the support they’d received from their parents. Mr Yap described is mother and father as being proud and overjoyed while Mr Castle said his mother was over the moon.
“They were my number one supporters, my number one believers. They knew I could always do something big,” Mr Castle said.
ATAR participation a concern
The WA Education Minister, Toni Buti, said the Beazley Medal was the highest honour a senior secondary student in Western Australia could achieve.
Mr Buti reiterated concerns about the ongoing decline in students doing ATAR subjects.
“We hope to commence some reforms next year, but we have to consider those carefully because sometimes when you seek to make changes it can have unintended consequences,” he said.
“I have to come to the universities on this point where they continue to allow student in via many different methods.”
He said these were viable and with merit but risked dis-incentivising students from undertaking ATAR.
WA Education Minister Tony Buti (second from left) remains worried about the ongoing decline in students doing ATAR subjects. (ABC News: Ruby Littler)
He said he celebrated any student winning the award but admitted having two winners from the public education system was a special moment.
