Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale

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For other schools of the same name, see Presbyterian Ladies' College.

Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale

Ad Astra "To The Stars"
Established	1887
School type	Independent, Presbyterian
Executive Principal	Dr. William T. McKeith B.A., Dip.Ed.(Macquarie), M.A.(Sydney), MBA (Leicester), Ed.D., F.A.C.E, F.A.I.M.
Head of School	Mrs Debra Kelliher
Chairman	Rev. Peter Hastie
Affiliations	Presbyterian, AHIGS, PLC Sydney
Location	Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Campus	Rural
Enrollment	400 (K-12)
School colours	Blue and Green
Homepage	www.plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale (formerly New England Ladies' College 1887-1910 and Hilton School 1910-1939) is an Independent, Day and Boarding, Presbyterian school for girls, in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. The school dates from the foundation of the 'New England Ladies College' in 1887, and has been under the control of the Presbyterian Church of Australia since 1938, moving to its current site in 1960. PLC Armidale is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS). Enrolment at PLC Armidale is non-selective, and students from all races and religious affiliations are welcome.

1 History
2 Principals
3 The PLC Armidale/PLC Sydney Alliance
4 Associated Schools
5 Notable Alumnae
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] History

The school dates from the foundation of the New England Ladies College at Smith House in 1887, offering a secondary education for girls under its Principal, Miss Elizabeth Higgs. In 1910 'New England Ladies' College' was bought by Alethea Tendall, who went on to be proprietor and Principal for 28 years, who renamed it Hilton School. When Miss Tendall bought it, the school was operating out of two houses.

In 1938 a group of Presbyterian businessmen purchased the school and the following year it came under the financial support of the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. In 1945, seventy acres of land on North Hill were purchased, and following a fund raising campaign, the foundation stone of the new school buildings was laid in 1960. Since then several building programmes have extended the facilities to their present extent. PLC Armidale is home to 330 girls with 80 boarders.

The school has described it's mission as "To nurture and celebrate the uniqueness of each girl and to challenge her to aspire to the best of which she is capable. Ad Astra."

[edit] Principals

Dr. William T. McKeith 2006 - (Executive Principal of PLC Armidale, Principal of PLC Sydney)
Mrs Judith White 2003 - 2005
Mr Roderick West 2002 (Acting)
Dr Ness Goodwin 2000 - 2002
Mrs Carole Tisdell 1997- 1999
Mrs Rosalyn Lindsay 1989-1997
Miss Francis Parsons 1979-1989
Mrs Faye Morris-Yates 1971-1978
Miss Dorothy Knox (Acting) 1969-1971
Miss Belinda McCarthy 1963-1968
Miss D Joan Humby 1959-1962
Miss E. Jean McColl 1954-1958
Miss Kathleen Buchan 1952-1953
Miss C. Ashworth 1942-1951
Dr Helen Wilkie 1938-1941
Miss Anthea Collis Tendall 1910-1938

[edit] The PLC Armidale/PLC Sydney Alliance

In the September-October 2005 edition of the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales's 'Church Offices Newsletter', the Chairman of Trustees, Jeof Falls, announced an alliance between the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney, and the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale.

"Arising from a detailed strategic analysis of the school over the past six months and recommendations from some highly respected educational consultants, the Church has moved to strengthen PLC Armidale through modifying its governance structure so as to bring it under the executive leadership of one of our country’s most experienced and successful Principals, Dr William McKeith, who is the Principal of PLC Sydney.

This action was endorsed by the General Assembly in July. Members of the present PLC Armidale Council will form part of the new Council. Essentially, PLC Armidale and PLC Sydney will become true sister schools under the leadership of a united Council and an Executive Principal. PLC Armidale will also continue to have its own Head of School.

Both schools will retain their strong sense of independence, and will maintain their separate identities so as to recognise and preserve the unique relationships, histories and traditions that both have developed over many years in serving their respective communities. Dr McKeith’s appointment as Executive Principal of both schools is effective from 1st September 2005.

We see obvious benefits in strengthening the schools through this close alliance. Both schools have been working quietly in cooperation for a long time at a variety of different levels. This initiative is seen as an opportunity to position PLC Armidale and PLC Sydney so that these fine schools can further develop their existing high level of academic and co-curricular achievements while retaining our Christian values and traditions. It will offer opportunities for the sharing of curriculum and policy development between the two schools, as well as to provide professional development opportunities for staff, confidence for parents and an outstanding education for all our girls."

- Jeof Falls, Chairman of Trustees

(Source: http://www.local.pcnsw.org.au/pdf/newsletters/SepOct2005.pdf)

[edit] Associated Schools

Neighbouring Schools

Nearby schools include:

Presbyterian Schools

P.L.C's sister school is 'The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney' at Croydon. Sydney and Armidale "P.L.C's" are both overseen by Dr. McKeith (Executive principal of Armidale, Principal of Sydney), and the Sydney College Council.

Presbyterian Church of Australia Schools