A FORMER "gifted'' boarder at the $45,000-a-year Geelong Grammar drastically turned around her failing exam results after moving to a $500-a-year TAFE college, the girl's mother said today.

Rose Ashton-Weir, now 18, and her mother Elizabeth Weir are suing the prestigious Geelong private school after she began failing badly in maths in years 9 and 10 and later missed out on enrolment in law at the University of Sydney.

But the grammar school is defending the civil lawsuit before VCAT, arguing it was Ms Ashton-Weir's effort and attention that let her down.

"Intellectually, she was highly capable, and very eloquent,'' Geelong's head of Clyde house Heather Morgan told the tribunal.

"(But) there was a little bit of social naivety ... emotionally I think there was an element of possible immaturity,'' Ms Morgan said.

"She didn't manage disappointment well.''



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Prior to year 9 in 2008 when she began attending the grammar's Timbertop campus, and boarding for two terms in 2009 at the Corio campus, Ms Ashton-Weir had achieved a number of 99 per cent scores on tests and her mother yesterday questioned Ms Morgan about the academic definition of "gifted''.

"Giftedness is a very debatable point in education,'' Ms Morgan said.

The tribunal heard Ms Ashton-Weir had suffered glandular fever, was absent for seven weeks and scored an E in maths as well as an eight out of 68 result but had asked to be transferred from advanced to foundation maths.

There were also concerns, not supported at the time, about swine flu on the campus.

Ms Morgan said despite individual tutoring and goals set, Ms Ashton-Weir, whom she said had friends in

Sydney but may have felt isolated at boarding school, did not respond.

"She was determined almost to prove she couldn't do it,'' Ms Morgan said.

"There were times when Rose was distressed by her illness, distressed by her expectations, distressed by not being at home.''

Ms Ashton-Weir is now completing a double degree in arts and science.

Outside VCAT, Elizabeth Weir said the Geelong fees were $45,000 a year but her daughter's performance improved significantly when she attended Sydney's $500-a-year Bradfield TAFE.

Their civil claim, based on a breach of contract argument, seeks compensation for school fees and relocation costs.

The hearing, before deputy VCAT president Ian Lulham, continues