| North Sydney Boys High School | |
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Latin: Vincit qui se vincit
He conquers who conquers himself
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| Location | |
| Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, Selective, Single-sex Secondary School |
| Established | 1912[1] |
| Principal | Robyn Hughes[2] |
| Deputy Principals | George Rezcallah and Andrew Mitchell (Relieving) |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Enrolment | ~928[3] |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Colour(s) | Bismark, Coral & Gold |
| Website | www.nsbhs.nsw.edu.au |
North Sydney Boys High School is an academically selective, public high school for boys, located at Crows Nest in Sydney, Australia.
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North Sydney Boys began off site in temporary classes in 1912. At the end of 1914, 89 boys transferred to the permanent home on the corner of Falcon Street and Miller Street, Crows Nest. The School chose the Falcon as its logo according to the location of the school on Falcon Street,[4] even going as far as to name its Old Boys Alumni "Old Falconians" in 1933.[5] After years of controversy, it has been decided to celebrate the centenary in 2012.[6][7].
The first headmaster was Nimrod Greenwood.[8] He had been headmaster of the North Sydney Superior School before the establishment of the High School and had 33 years of service as Headmaster of the two schools.[9] On his retirement in 1915, he was succeeded by C R Smith who had founded Newcastle High School and was to go to head Sydney High School in 1918. Smith was succeeded by the headmaster who had replaced him at Newcastle High School, William Williams, who guided the school for the next 13 years.[10] On his promotion to Inspector, Williams was succeeded also succeeded by the then Headmaster of Newcastle Boys High School, R F Harvey, in 1932; Harvey was head until his death in 1947.[11]
The school has a history of academic excellence prompting Sir James Darling, Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School, to reflect that "North Sydney is the equal of, if not better than, any private school in Australia".[12] He was referring to a 'golden era' in the 1950s and 60s when school's students set numerous records in the published results of the old NSW Leaving Certificate.[12]
North Sydney still performs well in Higher School Certificate results today. In 2011, the Sydney Morning Herald ranked North Sydney Boys High School 2nd in the state.[2] It had the 3rd largest number of recipients of the Premier's 'All Rounders' Award in the state and 2nd highest percentage.[2]
In 2009, it fell out of the top 10 and was placed 14th by The Sydney Morning Herald in its HSC performance list which was topped for the 14th consecutive year by James Ruse Agricultural High School[13] but made a return to the top 10 in 2010 in a list again topped by James Ruse Agricultural High School.[14]
In 2004 it had the 6th highest number of recipients of the Premier's 'All Rounders' Award in the state.[15] According to The Daily Telegraph's Local Top 120 Schools, North Sydney Boys High School was ranked 3rd in the 2003 HSC, with 41 students achieving a University Admissions Index (UAI) of 99 or higher.[16][17]
The campus of North Sydney Boys High School consists of a number of one to three storey buildings on an irregular shaped site over 2.53 hectares and situated on the south western corner of Falcon and Miller Streets, Crows Nest. It also borders residential and commercial retail properties on West Street and Falcon Street. There are a number of mature native and exotic trees with some shrubs. The built environment comprises classrooms, library, amenities, assembly hall, administration and gymnasium, various courtyards, playground areas, tennis courts, car parking, cricket practice nets and an open waste storage area.[18]:3
Construction began on the first building on the Crows Nest campus in 1913[18]:4[19] on contract by John Brown whose tender price was £7770 "on much the same lines" as North Sydney Girls High School whose construction was then underway.[20] In August 1914, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the "Girls' High School at North Sydney has been completed and occupied, while the buildings for the Boys' High School are being erected ... on the most modern lines, while the accommodation and fittings will be ample, and up to date."[21] By the end of December 1914, Sydney Morning Herald could report that the "Boys' High School at North Sydney is being erected by day labour at an estimated cost of £7900. It consists of a two-story brick building, with stone facings, and provides eight class rooms and staff rooms. The science and manual training rooms are detached."[22]
Around 1920 the site expanded and the Arts/TAS building dates from this time. In or about 1953 a library and administration block was erected. In or about 1968 science and classroom blocks were added. The gymnasium dates from about 1980.[18]:4
North Sydney Boys High School is undergoing a major capital building program funded by the State and Federal Governments.
In DA1, completed in about 2003, the Keele Street Lawn area was acquired and refurbished. In DA2, completed in 2005, new tennis courts and other building works were carried out. A new building that includes music rehearsal spaces, visual art classrooms and design and technology workshops have been finished in term 4 of 2006 and students have moved into the new building, now named 'J Block'. A dedicated music computer lab is also available in the new building.
The school community also completed a major upgrade of the AF Henry Hall in 2005 including the addition of a mezzanine, new ceiling, lighting, stage, and stage curtains. In 2007 - 2009 six science labs were completely refurbished costing over $1million.[23]
In 2011, the School named the recently refurbished gymnasium in honour of Old Falconian John Treloar.[24]
The school is now planning for an extension and complete refurbishment to the current library with building due to commence in 2012. Plans for the upgrading of outdoor recreation spaces has also begun.
Former students of North Sydney Boys High School are known as 'Old Boys' or 'Old Falconians', and may elect to join the schools' alumni association, known as the 'Old Falconians’ Union' (OFU). The Union was founded over seventy-five years ago as a way to "promote goodwill fellowship amongst former students of and to provide financial and other support to the School".[25]
In 2010 The Age reported that North Sydney Boys High School alumni ranked equal seventh among Australian secondary school alumni based on the number of alumni who had received a "top" Order of Australia honour behind Scotch College, Melbourne, Geelong Grammar School, Sydney Boys High School, Fort Street High School, Perth Modern School, St Peter's College, Adelaide; equal in rank with Melbourne Grammar School, and The King's School, Parramatta; but ahead of Launceston Grammar School, Melbourne High School, Wesley College, Melbourne and Xavier College.[26]
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