Brisbane Grammar School
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| Brisbane Grammar School | |
 |
|
| Nil Sine Labore | |
| Established | 1868 |
| School type | Independent |
| Principal/ Headmaster |
Mr. Brian Short |
| Location | Brisbane, QLD, Australia |
| Campus | Spring Hill |
| Enrollment | 1400 |
| School colours | Oxford Blue (dark blue) and Cambridge Blue (light blue) |
| Homepage | http://www.bgs.qld.edu.au/ |
Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) is a non-denominational, independent boys' school located in the suburb of Spring Hill in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] School affairs
Brisbane Grammar School was originally founded in 1868 under the Grammar Schools Act passed by the Queensland Government in 1860. It was the second school established under this act in Queensland, Australia (the first being Ipswich Grammar School).
The original school, designed by Benjamin Backhouse, was on the site of Roma Street in Brisbane City. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, laid the foundation stone at the site on February 21, 1868. In 1881 the school was moved a few hundred metres away to its current site on Gregory Terrace in Spring Hill to make way for the Roma Street Railway Station, which still stands today.
Following the opening of the boarding house in 1886, state-of-the-art science laboratories were constructed in 1912. A new library and assembly hall were constructed in 1969 as a celebration of the school's centenary.
During the mid 1990s, the school commenced work on the off-campus Northgate ovals, which now consist of six fields that are used for cricket, Rugby union and soccer fixtures. A large indoor sports centre was completed in 2000, and the old gymnasium was later renovated to become the new Centre for Art.
In 2002, the school underwent a major redevelopment with the construction of a new Middle School, which had its first intake of grade 6 and 7 students in 2003. This Middle School consists of a large block of multipurpose classrooms which functions as a complete school in itself, with its own teachers and independent timetables. Grade 6 and 7 students spend most of their time in the Middle School, although they do use the facilities of the "Upper School" for physical education, assemblies, etc. There is also some interaction with the Upper School, for example each Year Eight and Nine class is assigned a group of year 12 students to act as form seniors, who participate in class activities.
[edit] Sexual abuse
In 2003, Brisbane Grammar School was the subject of breif public scrutiny between 35-65 former students claimed that they had been abused by Kevin Lynch, a staff member employed during their residency. Lynch was employed as a school counselor at Brisbane Grammar School during the 1970s and 1980s, and also at St Paul's during the same time [1]. The students claimed that they were tortured with needles and required to perform sexual acts for Lynch [2], and they also alleged that they had told Brisbane Grammar School staff about Lynch's activities, but were not taken seriously[3]. In 1997, shortly after having been charged with the sexual abuse of students at Brisbane Grammar School and St Paul's, Lynch committed suicide. In 2003, the former students rejected out-of-court compensation from the school, and claimed compensation through the law firm Shine Roche McGowan [4][5].
- BGS now has policies in place with the aim of preventing this from happening again. [6],[7], etc.
[edit] Headmasters
- Thomas Harlin (1869-1876)
- Reginald Heber Roe (1876-1909)
- F S N Bousfield (1909-1927)
- S Stephenson (1928-1939)
- G Carson Cooling (1940-1947)
- H R Pigott (1948-1952)
- A E McLucas (1953-1956)
- H R Newell (1956 - 1964)
- Dr Max Howell (1965-1989)
- Dr Peter Lennox (1990-2005)
- Brian R Short (2006- )
[edit] School colours and uniform
In 1869, Headmaster Thomas Harlin introduced Red and Gold as the schools official colours. In 1876, Headmaster Reginald Heber Roe introduced the sporting colours of Oxford Blue and Cambridge Blue, which are seen as the main representative colours of Brisbane Grammar School. The original Red and Gold are seen as the academic colours. The ‘Light Dark Blue’ holds particular significance with sporting activities, where various war cry’s can be heard uttering the phrase.
Students are required to wear full school uniform at all times. There are two sets of uniforms employed during summer and winter seasons. The summer uniform consists of a blue, short-sleeved shirt, a school tie (seniors and prefects wear different ties) and long grey trousers. In winter, a white, long-sleeved shirt and school blazer replace the blue shirt. In the Middle school, the boys wear blue short-sleeved shirts (with a school crest and no tie) and grey shorts with long socks and the school hat (compulsory for the middle school, but not for the upper school).
[edit] Campus
[edit] Indoor sports centre
The M. A. Howell Indoor Sports Centre was officially opned on the 3rd of Mach 2000, by the then Governor of Queensland, Major General Peter Arnison. The centre consists of
- A main sports hall with facilities to accommodate for 2 basketball courts, 2 indoor soccer courts, 3 Volleyball courts, 6 badminton courts, 8 fencing piests or one large arena. The hall also has spectating area to seat 300 people/.
a multi-purpose double basketball court sports hall (which can also accommodate 3 volleyball courts or 6 badmington courts) with seating for 300 • an aquatic centre with a 10-lane, 25m heated swimming pool • a gymnasium featuring a deep foam pit, parallel bars and rings and a spectator area with seating for 150 people during sporting events • a weights room, theory rooms and amenities. [8]
[edit] Northgate Playing Fields
Work commenced on the Northgate Playing Fields in the mid 1990s which now have six ovals which accommodate Cricket, Rugby and Soccer fixtures. The fields are also used during the school week in for training in winter activities. Adjacent to the main oval is a small stadium which caters for seating for one half of the field. There is also a dining area located within the grandstand.
[edit] Moogerah Outdoor Education Centre
Brisbane Grammar School also has a campus located in Pepperina Hill. This is he Moogerah Outdoor Education Centre, or commonly referred to as Moogerah. The Centre provides invaluable education experiences for the students. The programme is highly regarded and thoroughly enjoyed by the students. The programme encumbers bushwalking, camping, abseiling, rock climbing, canoeing, orienteering and ropes courses. The aims of the visits are to strengthen the relationships within the cohort, as well as develop self confidence/awareness/esteem, and generally stand them in good stead with physical experiences that will benefit them in future life.
The Centre is also used for various other school activities. Such activities include writers’ Camps, Musical Composition Camps, Study Camps, Sport Training and fieldwork in senior courses, as well as Clubs and Activities Groups (such as the Astronomy Club, who use the Centre’s observatory facilities, or rowing, which uses the boatshed on the Lake edge) visit on various weekends. Over the past decade, annual residency programme’s have been introduced to give the boys further extension in their fields of interest. Writing, art and music composition programmes are firmly established, as well as a Scientist-in-residence programme.
[edit] Music
The school has a 4-level music building. The music block consists of teaching classrooms as well as a room dedicated to each type of music (Brass, Woodwind, Percussion and Strings). It also features a music technology lab, which consists of 35 computers equipped with Midi-keyboards and various compositional programmes such as Finale, Sibelius, Acid Music Pro, Cakewalk Home studio’s, Fruity Loops and Band-in-a-box. The building also has air-conditioned practice rooms, with upright piano’s kept in top condition. The bottom floor contains a rehearsal gallery, which is used for the schools various bands, orchestras and choirs to rehearse in. The gallery seats approximately 300, and is also a venue for GPS debates. The gallery is also a setting for a significant selection of fine Australian contemporary Art.
[edit] Function Halls
The Centenary Hall accommodates the entire 1400 student-body for weekly assemblies. It is also used for various other functions such as Breakfasts, Music Concerts, Debate's and Drama Productions. Its gallery can accommodate a Year group for lectures and other large meetings. The Drama theatre can seat approximately 300 and provides excellent acoustics for Theatrical productions. Its top-class lighting system and ample storage room makes it an ideal location for rehearsing and performing drama productions. The school holds a Junior School Play and a Senior School Play once a year, and a musical every 2 years. The Great Hall is one of grammar's most historical buildings. The walls are paved with honor-boards acknowledging Academic Achievement dating right back to the 1900s. The stage, overlooked by a magnificent 10 X 2 metre Stain-glass window provides excellent venue for Public Speaking and Debating, as well as Vocal Performances, or simply a nice dinner party. The hall is also a popular venue for weddings.
[edit] Academics
The school offers education for boys from Year 6 right through to Year 12. There are no selection procedures, boys are accepted in the order they were enrolled. The school does, however, reserve the right to make special consideration in particular circumstances, such as interstate or oversees transfers. The Middle School caters for boys from years 6 to 8, and the Senior School boys from Years 9-12. Numerous scholarships and bursaries are available each year for boys who enter in Year 8. Such scholarships are awarded based on academic merit (by sitting for a Scholarship Test) and through an interview with the Headmaster. Initial bursaries are also awarded based financial needs or other special hardship. Academic Programme
Brisbane Grammar School’s academic programme is tailored to suit the needs of its students, who virtually 100% of which proceed to Tertiary Education. In recent years, around 95% of graduating students have received a first-round offer to a tertiary institution[1]. The school offers mainstream subjects: English, Mathematics (A, B and C), Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science), History (Modern and Ancient), Music, Drama and Languages other than English (French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Latin). More broadly, the students are taught competencies in numeracy, literacy, communication and critical thinking. The school commits itself to providing the students with an academic curriculum based on a broad knowledge base and global perspective, coupled with the skills of thinking and confidence and ability in the use of technology within a supportive yet challenging environment which develops independent and collaborative learners. The teaching system is essentially based on the following principles:
- Independent Learning: Instilling values upon students to teach them to take responsibility for their own learning by setting themselves goals and formulating effective study patterns, reflecting on their own experiences and growing from it.
- Collaborative Learning: Demonstrating the importance of the Teacher-Student relationship, as well as the Student-Students relationship. This provides opportunities for developing intellectual skills in an attempt to enhance social competence.
- A challenging, yet supporting learning environment. This principle encourages the student to think and work independently and interdependently, instilling autonomy and emphasizing individual differences. It develops habits of mind, including curiosity, critical thinking and creativity. This, in turn, provides opportunities for the students to extend, refine and apply their knowledge.
The school places the highest priority on learning. As such, Brisbane Grammar has outstanding learning and teaching facilities. Aside from ample general classrooms and various other teaching spaces, the school has a fully air-conditioned, computerized library which accommodates 300 readers and about 100 000 books and other reference resources. The school also has 7 computer rooms equipped with 30 computers each, with state-of-the-art software installed to not only protect against misuse, but to provide for a better, modernized education.
[edit] Dimensions of Learning
As of 1997, Brisbane Grammar School has been introducing a learning framework throughout the academic curriculum. The framework is titled ‘Dimensions of Learning’ (DOL) and was established in the United States with positive results. It provides teachers and students with a solid grounding which can guide the planning of a curriculum, delivery and assessment. It synthesizes the latest research on cognition, adopting a learner-centred approach. DOL places strong emphasis on the use of complex reasoning processes, and metacognition (thinking about thinking). In doing this, it does not, however, overlook the importance of utilizing the environment in which learning occurs as well as the role played in the process by the students themselves. DOL envisages that there are five "dimensions" to which learners and their teachers must attend in the process of learning. The school has formulated five Dimensions of Learning
(a) Dimension 1: Positive attitudes and perceptions about learning. (b) Dimension 2: The acquisition and integration of knowledge. (c) Dimension 3: The extension and refinement of knowledge. (d) Dimension 4: The meaningful use of knowledge. (e) Dimension 5: Productive habits of mind.
[edit] Extracurricular sports and activities
Grammar’s extracurricular activities provide primary arenas for boys to investigate and extent their talents, while developing the skills of leadership and teamwork. The school offers various activities. These include Water polo, Rugby Union, Soccer, Tennis, Cricket, Basketball, Volleyball, Rowing, Sailing, Swimming, Track and Field, Cross Country, Fencing, and many more. Grammar also offers a range of cultural activities, including Drama, Music, Chess, and Debating.
Students may participate in an Orchestra, Concert Band, Stage Band or individual ensembles for an extensive range of instruments in the Brass, Woodwinds, Strings and Percussion categories. While it is not compulsory for the students to involve themselves in an extracurricular activity, it is encouraged in keeping with the School’s education philosophies. Such involvement is said to be an important part of being a “Grammar Boy”. It builds school spirit by instilling a sense of belonging and attachment. Similarly seen in the academic curriculum, breadth and balance is encouraged, with all students encouraged to not only participate, but value and support the multitude of available activities.
The school is a member of the Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc. (GPS), this membership provides the competitions in sports and several other endeavours. Most competitions are played out on Saturdays at any of the schools' sporting facilities. On the main campus four playing fields and six tennis courts [9] are on site for sporting activities, whilst cricket, rugby and soccer fixtures are conducted at the Northgate campus. Sailing is conducted on Sundays at RQYS, Manly, and the GPS championship is held at the end of the season. The school also competes in some non-GPS sports, such as Fencing and Water Polo. The school has had long standing success in water polo, winning the competition for 12 of the last 13 years. Current Australian players include Toby Jenkins (Athens Olympics), Jordan Votan and Ashley Burgess (U20 Australian Team)and Mitch McCann (U18 Australian Team).
The school carries proud traditions in cultural activities such as music, theatre, chess, debating and public speaking. The school employs specialist music teachers for training and performance in Singing, Strings, Woodwind, Percussion and Brass. The boys hve individual private lessons as well as weekly lessons in a small group (free of separate charge). Several long-standing clubs and societies (such as the Astronomy Club, the Service Committee or the Old-Boys association) also operate, some of which have a distinct service orientation.
In 2006 BGS's Senior A debating team achieved 2nd in the GPS competition after losing only one debate in the last round to GPS champions St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace. 2 of the 5 team members achieved selection in the QLD team along with 2 other boys from St. Josheph's College. The Queensland debating team went on to win the National Title. Also worthy of special note is Patrick Begley, who was selected to represent Australia in the world championship winning team in Wales in mid 2006.
[edit] 2006 Achievments
- GPS Chess Champions - Premier and Senior Divisions
- GPS Cross Country Overall Victors
- GPS Sailing Overall Victors
- GPS Gymnastics Overall Victors
- GPS Track and Field Overall 4th Place, Andrew French winning GPS Track and Field Age Champian for the Under 16 division
- GPS Debating 2nd Place Senior A Division
[edit] Notable Alumni
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[edit] Notes
The school employs 1.5 psychologists (http://www.bgs.qld.edu.au/edprog/pastoralcare/pastoral_care_structures.htm)
[edit] References
- Academic notes Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7, 2006.
- Report detailing academic results of the 2004 Senior cohort Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7, 2006.
- Development dates Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7, 2006.
- Description of school population Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7, 2006.
- Historical information Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7, 2006.
- School colours information Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7, 2006.
- Extra curricular information Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7, 2006.
- Historical information State Library of Queensland. Retrieved January 7, 2006.
