Sydney Technical High School

Sydney Technical High School is an academically selective, state-funded high school for boys in Bexley, a southern suburb of Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1911 as part of Sydney Technical College, the school was one of the six original New South Wales selective schools. The school is colloquially abbreviated to "Sydney Tech", "STHS" or simply "Tech".^[2]

Admission to Year 7 is based on an external selective test held in Year 6 during March. Entrance to Years 8, 9 and 10 is based on the submission of an application form and an interview. Admission to Year 11 is based on the submission of an application form, placement tests in mathematics and English, and an interview.^[3]

Academic achievement

The school consistently achieves superior results in external assessments, such as the NAPLAN, the ICAS, the School Certificate, and in particular, the Year 12 Higher School Certificate (HSC), where its students are regularly ranked in the top ten places in the state across a variety of subjects.^[4] On average, over 80% of its students achieve in the top 20% of the state, with a majority gaining an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank of more than 90.^[4]

In 2010 fifteen students from the school's graduating class received Premier's Awards for All-round Excellence in the NSW HSC.^[5] The school won the national championship in the University of Newcastle Science and Engineering Challenge in 2010 (gold division) and 2011 (silver division).^[5][6]

History

Sydney Technical High School building, 1925

One of the reforms advocated by the 1903 Royal Commission into NSW Education was the establishment of classes providing courses which would involve technical subjects. Consequently, Continuation classes for students interested in technical subjects commenced at the Sydney Technical College.^[2]

In April 1911, these Continuation classes were given the status of a high school, and Sydney Technical High was established. Originally, the school was co-educational with 113 boys and 15 girls. In February 1913, the girls were transferred to Fort Street Girls' High; and, from then on, the school became for boys only.^[2]

Since 1911, the school has been located at three Sydney sites:

• Ultimo House on Mary Ann Street: this was the "country" home of Dr. John Harris, Surgeon of the New South Wales Corps. The property was bought by the Government in 1899 and used by Technical Education for many years before being used by Sydney Tech High from 1911 to 1924.
• Paddington on Albion Street: in 1925, with an enrolment of 421, Sydney Tech High was transferred to Albion Street, Paddington. Although it was a note of expansion, it was a vigorous P&C campaign that encouraged the State Government to fund an entirely new site for the school.
• Bexley on Forest Road: the Old McConnachie's Paddock was occupied and first stone for the school's foundations was laid in March 1955, with the school completed and occupied by September 1956. The official opening for the school's new facilities was on 2 August 1958, with four units: the administration block, general classrooms ('A block'), manual training block and the auditorium and gymnasium. Throughout the years numerous additions have been made to the site. The School Pool was opened in 1966, the Kingston-David Library and Laboratories in 1975 and a brand-new administration block in 1998.^[2]

Administration office and auditorium

School Rules

Students studying at Sydney Technical High School are asked to follow the school rules in order to prevent conflicts and potentially harmful behavior.

Students are asked to:

• Be respectful, especially to guests and new or transfer students
• Arrive at school on time
• Bring all gear (stationery and/or tools) to class
• Recognise that illegal drugs and weapons are strictly prohibited
• Be respectful to all school facilities such as toilets and basketball courts
• Stay safe, as to not run in corridors or any populated areas to minimize harm ^[7]

Facilities

The current grounds at Bexley include the following physical facilities:

• Upper courts and Lower Courts ("The Cage") – basketball courts for Years 7–9 and 10–12, respectively
• Elmo Landsberger Cricket nets – located between Lower courts and Back oval, 3 cricket batting nets & a plaque dedicated to Elmo Landsberger
• New courts – A new basketball court as well as 3 small handball courts and a volleyball court has been put in, near the Anderson Street car park. The construction was completed in May 2009.
• Botanical and Rainforest area
• Sir Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial Library
• Auditorium for School Assemblies and performances
• Gymnasium with indoor basketball courts
• Matthew Goodall Memorial Garden^[8] - Adjacent the library
• Sun Shelter between the Cafeteria and the industrial works classrooms. The shelter was completed as of March 2015.
• Vera's Gym - A physical gymnasium dedicated for outside classroom learning and relaxation. It is often used by PASS and SLR students as well as seniors.

Faculties

Extra-curricular activities

Extracurricular activities offered to Sydney Technical High School students include:

• P&C Association and Student Fundraising
• Debating Teams
• Student Representative Council (SRC)
• Interact – A group dedicated to charity fundraising
• Sound and Lighting Crew – A group of students who, under teacher supervision, dedicate their time to the continued maintenance and functioning of the auditorium and drama studio systems.
• FRED – The school newspaper run solely by students at the school. FRED is back after remaining dormant from 2005 to 2007. However, it remained dormant since the last release of FRED 2009. FRED has been started up again since 2012, with its first release scheduled in early 2013. On 17 July 2014 it released its first issue for 2014.
• Public Speaking – including Inter-School and grade-wide competitions
• Links Program – A group of year 9 students work with students from Hurstville Primary School, to show them what happens in high school and create links between the two schools.
• ISCF – Inter-School Christian Fellowship run by the students under teacher supervision^[9][10]
• Chess – Inter-School Chess Competition also in session.
• Committees of Year 12 organisation – for collaborating the Year 12 Yearbook, Formal, Year 12 End of Year Video and Jerseys
• School Bands – Beginner, Intermediate, Concert, Stage, String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Choir
• Environment Team
• Centenary School Scholarships - Senior, Intermediate and Junior categories
• Department of Education's Great Schools Showoff short film competition - 2012 Sydney Regional winners and 2nd at State Finals
• Chemistry Titration Competition
• ICAS competitions
• Rio Tinto Big Science Competition

The SRC also organise various activities throughout the year, including:

• Pizza Day
• Fashion Parade
• Talent Quest

Sport

Tech is one of the 19 schools of the St. George Secondary Schools Sport Association,^[11] participating in inter-school competitions for sports including:

• Cricket
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Squash
• Table Tennis
• Touch Football
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• Field Hockey
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Australian rules football

Students also have the choice of participating in the following non-grade sports:

• Squash
• Fencing
• Sailing
• Rotation
• Tennis

Student life

Annual activities

The school's annual activities include:

• The "Celebrity" Human Movement Challenge
• Combined SRC Dance between Sydney Tech and St George Girls High School
• Musicale (School bands, music student groups and soloists)
• Senior Trivia Night (Prefecture)
• Jorge Diaz Wombi Ball Cup (Prefecture)
• SRC Week – Various activities such as Pizza Day, Talent Quest and Counter-Strike Competition
• Year 10 Formal (Formal Committee)
• Year 12 Formal (Formal Committee)
• Annual Talent Quest
• 40 Hour Famine
• World's Greatest Shave
• TechFest - Short film competition - Senior and Junior divisions
• Tech Cup
• Year 12 House Soccer Cup

Fundraising

Fundraising activities include:

• Mufti Days (Interact team, SRC) – Mufti days and sausage sizzles are often held on the same day.
• Charity Fundraising (Interact team on behalf of various charities).
• Year 12 Fundraising – Various fundraising activities to raise funds for the year 12 gift to the school each year.

Prefects

As of 2008, the Prefect Body has been merged with the year 11 and 12 SRC members. The current system encompasses School Captain, Vice Captain, four Senior Prefects, an additional six Prefects from year twelve and another ten Prefects from year eleven. Senior Prefect roles and Captain roles are only available to holders of the school's Wykeham Award. The Vice-Captain chairs whole school assemblies. The Prefects of years 11 and 12 are responsible for canteen duties.

The SRC votes internally to determine the positions of the SRC president, the SRC vice-president and the SRC treasurer. The stated role of the SRC is to organize and raise funds for equipment and facilities for the school. ^[12]

House system

There has been a reintroduced house system, consisting of 6 houses. These correlate with the six Roll Call classes and are named, Williams, Turner, McMullen, MacKinnon, Broome and Gotto. The House Captains are elected from Years 10 and 12. The roll call classes are arranged according to the students' surnames. Students compete together in their houses at the Athletics carnivals, Cross country carnivals, and Swimming carnivals.

Notable achievements

Australian Nuclear Science Competition

Sydney Technical High School won a competition that tested skills in a science and engineering challenge. Students competed in the regional competition at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) recently.

The event encouraged teenagers to get involved in maths and science and promote careers in the fields. Part of the challenge involved constructing a bionic hand. More than 250 year 9 and year 10 students from seven Sydney schools participated.^[13]

Canberra Maths Day

173 year 12 students from 31 schools attended the 2014 Maths Day national finals. In teams of four the students took part in mathematical challenges designed to build teamwork skills and promote a love of maths. The day was divided into four challenges: a group of story problems, a Swiss 'find the rule' problem, a cross number puzzle and the day’s highlight, the relay – a test of brainpower and physical stamina. 2nd prize was awarded to Sydney Technical High School and the competition is run annually by the Australian National University.^[14]

Associated schools

St. George Girls High School is considered to be the female counterpart or 'sister school' of Sydney Technical High School, and often engages in Student Representative Council activities, as well as Combined Parents & Citizens meetings.^[15]

Notable alumni

Alumni are referred to as Old Boys.

Aviation

• Sir Charles Kingsford Smith – Pioneering aviator

Entertainment and the Arts

• Alex Dimitriades – Actor
• Frank Dodds – music producer
• Stephen Edgar - Poet
• Les Gock – Musician
• Clive James – Writer
• Patrick Matthews – Musician
• Leo McKern – Actor
• Leonardo Nam – Actor
• Laurie Patton – Journalist, television executive
• Imants Tillers – Artist. Class of 1968
• Mike Tomalaris – Journalist, TV Presenter
• Trevor Ashley - Australian Entertainer

Politics, religion and law

• Sir Robert Askin, Premier of New South Wales^[16]
• Bruce McDonald – Former Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales (1981)
• Stephen Loosely - former Senator
• Graham Richardson – former Senator (ALP) (1983–1994); Environment Minister (1987–1993); Health Minister (1992) during Bob Hawke's term of office as Prime Minister.
• Cecil Abbott AO QPM, Commissioner of the New South Wales Police (1981–1984)
• Francis Oag Hulme-Moir, 7th Bishop of Nelson

Sport

• Reg Gasnier – Rugby league player
• John Konrads – Olympic gold-medallist swimmer and businessman
• Stephen Wooldridge – Olympic Cyclist (gold medallist 2004 Olympics). Class of 1995.
• Nic Maddinson - International Cricketer
• Josh Reynolds - Rugby league player

Armed services

• Air Vice Marshal Christopher Deeble AM CSC ^[17]
• Air Vice Marshal Ernest Hey CB CBE ^[17]
• Air Vice Marshal David Rogers ^[17]
• Air Vice Marshal Kenneth Tuckwell ^[17]
• Air Vice Marshal Sydney White AO ^[17]

Others

• Saul Griffith - Australian-American Inventor
• David Coe - Australian businessman
• Rod Carter - Former AFL player, Sydney Swans
• Max Howell - Educator and rugby union player

See also

• List of Government schools in New South Wales
• List of selective high schools in New South Wales
• St. George Girls High School

References

External links

• Official website
• NSW Department of Education and Training: Sydney Technical High School
• Official Sydney Technical High School FRED Facebook Page
• Official site of STHS FRED digital publications
• Class of 1984 web site (includes many documents and photographs to do with Sydney Technical High School from 1979 to 1984).