Scotch College’s new student credentials recognise critical thinking, collaboration and citizenship skills beyond exams

Scotch College will this week celebrate students in years six and nine who have gained new qualifications which recognise New Metrics – credentialing student achievements beyond traditional exams, test scores, NAPLAN and ATARs.

New Metrics – or the Australian Learner Competency Credential (ALCC) – has been designed by academics at the University of Melbourne and assesses skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication and active citizenship for students.

Scotch College’s years six and nine students will join more than 1,000 students from 20 schools across Australia in receiving their ALCC, including Naracoorte High School, which offers a fuller picture of students’ abilities and equips them for further education, employment and life in a tech-focussed world.

While transferable, 21st Century skills have long been part of Australia’s curriculum, schools such as Scotch College have sought support to assess and credential these competencies to prepare students for the future.

The ALCC uses validated, standards-based learning progressions to assess and credential a broad range of competencies. Partner schools use an online assessment platform to evaluate students throughout the year, allowing teachers to better understand students’ development and design learning experiences that help them exercise and demonstrate these skills.

The ALCC has been developed to be used in any school for any student, and builds on the International Big Picture Learning Credential, a personalised model used globally to evaluate secondary school graduates’ diverse capacities and qualities.

Principal Trent Driver said Scotch College was proud to be learning in partnership with the University of Melbourne’s New Metrics program, an advanced research-practice initiative, aimed at transforming education in Australia.

He said the ALCC prepared students for life beyond school and recognised new ways of learning, understanding the need to reimagine education in a rapidly changing world.

“This program challenges traditional approaches to schooling, moving beyond outdated models to develop innovative ways of assessing and credentialing student success,” Mr Driver said.

“By working with academic experts and leading educators, New Metrics enables Scotch College to create and validate assessment tools that measure complex competencies, including Acting Ethically, Quality Thinking and Agency in Learning, preparing students in a world of new educational futures.

“Through this partnership, Scotch College will prepare students for the tomorrow they are entering by generating detailed learner profiles, highlighting a broader range of skills and knowledge.”

Executive Director of Melbourne Metrics Enterprise Professor Sandra Milligan highlighted the importance of the ALCC.

“Traditional metrics focus on what a student knows or can achieve under high-stakes test conditions,” Professor Milligan said.

“To thrive in today’s AI-driven world, students need to demonstrate more—collaboration, ethical decision-making, entrepreneurial thinking, and critical reflection. These are the qualities this credential recognises.”

The first-mover schools to be involved, including Scotch College, are part of the Melbourne Metrics New Metrics for Success research-practice partnership, which supports educators in teaching, assessing, and credentialing future-focused competencies.

Key Features of the ALCC:

• The competencies credentialed include: Agency in Learning, Acting Ethically, Active Citizenship, Collaboration, Personal Development, Communication, and Quality Thinking.

• Issued at key transition points: Primary to secondary (Grade 6), early secondary (Year 9/10), and senior secondary (Year 11/12).

• Built on rigorous standards: Validated, evidence-based learning progressions.

• Complements traditional measures: Broadens recognition of student achievement to include skills valued by employers and tertiary providers.

• Adopted by diverse schools: government, independent, and Catholic schools from six Australian states.