The Hutchins School

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The Hutchins School is a private school, located in the suburb of Sandy Bay in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is notable as it is the only K-12 boys-only school in the state. The school is modelled on the Rugby School in England.

It currently has a student population of more than 1000, making it one of the largest private schools in Tasmania.

[edit] History

Founded on August 3, 1846 by the Anglican Church in honour of the Venerable William Hutchins, the first Anglican Archdeacon of Van Diemen's Land, The Hutchins School is one of the oldest private schools in Australia. Its first location was Ingle Hall, a small building in the centre of Hobart, next to The Mercury building. The School soon expanded beyond the capacity of Ingle Hall, and a new premises was sought.

The school moved to the Macquarie Street location, affectionately known as the Old School. It was during the time spent on this campus that the school established the form that it currently has: The Prefect System and the House System began here. When in the 1950's, it was decided that the School again needed to move, it sought its present location in Sandy Bay. The last classes at the Macquarie Street campus concluded in 1964, and full-time teaching began in Sandy Bay in 1965.

Since then, the school has grown exponentially, having gained some 600 students since 1980. The school has entered numerous partnerships with schools in countries ranging from India and Thailand to Canada and the USA. The school also has two sister schools in the Hobart area, which are Fahan School, and St Michael's Collegiate School, with whom the school shares its year 11 and 12 classes. The current Head Master is Bill Toppin who in his reign has reshaped the schools physical image, pushing for numerous developments on the school grounds.

Since 1926, the school has been governed by the Christ College Act [1], an act of the Tasmanian Government which ties the school to the Christ College and Launceston Church Grammar School.

The school is divided into four "mini schools". The ELC (Early Learning Centre) which begins with kindergarten, ending with year two. The Junior School, which encompases years three to six. The Middle School, made up of years seven and eight and finally the Senior School, which includes years nine through twelve.