St. Philip's Christian College
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St. Philip's Christian College is an independent co-educational Christian school in Newcastle, New South Wales. The Newcastle campus is based in the suburb of Waratah, but the school encompasses three other campuses, including one at Port Stephens, one at Cessnock (formerly Cessnock Christian College), and a campus in Waratah which houses the DALE (Dynamic Alternative Learning Environment) program for students at risk and a Young Mother's program. The college is the largest independent school in the Hunter region.[citation needed] In 2001, the school received $AU3.76m in federal taxpayer's grants.[citation needed]
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[edit] History
The school was founded in 1982 by St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Waratah with the aim of 'whole child' education - intellectual, social, physical and spiritual. Classes commenced on 4th February, 1982 in renovated areas within the Church facilities. The College catered for students from Kindergarten to Year 7 during 1982. Each year thereafter, another academic year was added up to Year 10 in 1985. Year 11 classes commenced in 1988 with the first H.S.C. candidates being presented in 1989. As of 2005, the College had over 900 students enrolled from Kindergarten to Year Twelve.
Up until 1984, the College operated entirely at the church site. During 1984 a site in High Street was purchased and occupied. Sparke House became the administration centre for the College with temporary transportable classrooms being used initially.
Initially, the College was operated as an undertaking of St. Philip’s Anglican Church. However, in May 1985, St. Philip’s Christian Education Foundation Limited was formed and this non-profit company took over the ownership and operation of the College.
In 1995 a new campus of the College was established at Salamander Bay. This campus now has an enrolment of over 560 students from Kinder to Year Twelve.
In 1997, an alternative school for students at risk (Years 7-10) named D.A.L.E. (Dynamic Alternate Learning Environment) was established with the aim of encouraging students in danger of dropping out of school to gain their School Certificate. In 2000 a unit for young mothers complete with crèche facilities and specialised support was added.
In October 1997 the College acquired Narnia Christian PreSchool. Narnia is a one unit preschool for children from three years old to school age.
In 2001, the Waratah campus was restructured into a Junior School (K-4), Middle School (5-8) and Senior School (9-12).
In 2005, the college acquired Cessnock Christian School which was renamed to St. Philip's Christian College Cessnock Campus.
In 2007, the Waratah College commenced it's 25th anniversary and has almost 1000 students in that one campus.
The College is a member of the NSW Association of Independent Schools, the Australian Association of Christian Schools and the Association of Christian Schools International.
[edit] Religious culture
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St. Philip's has always claimed to be a Christian school and it is a condition of entry that students participate in the Christian life of the College. The first vision statement of the College is that it seeks to be a school where "every student develops a personal faith in Jesus Christ and is empowered to live with purpose, integrity and joy". The school makes the likely claim that less than 50% of its students are practising Christians. A recent student survey found that 78.2% of students claimed a religious affiliation. Roughly 40% of the students claimed to be evangelical or charismatic.
The school has a policy of encouraging Christian students - only Christian students are selected to be prefects (student leaders) and non-Christian students are specifically excluded from nomination as School Captain. Currently 100% of prefects attend a charismatic church.
A 2005 student-initiated survey demonstrated a strong degree of dissatisfaction with the religious culture of the school. 51.1% of non-religious students disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement "The College treats Christian and non-Christian students equally", compared with 17% who strongly agreed or agreed. By comparison, 45.2% of charismatic students agreed or strongly agreed with the same statement compared with 28.2% who disagreed or strongly disagreed. Similar trends were found in response to the questions "I feel safe expressing my religious views", "I experience a range of religious views through the college", and "The college teaches me to be tolerant of other religious views".
The college has a strict policy of employing only Christian staff, from its executive and teaching staff to its administrative and cleaning staff.
As part of the school's aim to have every student developing a Christian faith, there are often altar calls and evangelical events which create an atmosphere designed to draw students to becoming Christians. Christian groups of friends have developed in the school, often as a result of knowing each other from churches, and Christian students are encouraged to bring their non-Christian friends into the Christian faith. This is not hidden, and is in fact sung in the lyrics of music played at compulsory Chapel services where non-Christian students also forced to attend, as well as made to stand up during praise and worship. The music is usually modern evangelical music, such as Hillsong music.
