A leading Catholic girls’ school has suspended the offering of academic scholarships this year, questioning both their purpose and impact. Ian Elder, Principal of Santa Maria College in Attadale, Western Australia, says that scholarship exams only test innate academic ability, and not persistence and application which, when combined with ability, are better predictors of success. Instead of relying on academic high flyers, Ian Elder believes Santa Maria College has lifted its academic results by focussing on the “mantra” that “everyone can improve”.