Somerset College (Australia)

Somerset College
Location
Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast, QLD
Australia
Information
Type Independent, Day
Motto Latin: Deo confidimus
("In God we trust")
Denomination Non-Denominational
Established 1983
Founder Clifford Rodney Wells
Chairman Tony Hickey
Headmaster Craig Bassingthwaighte
Staff 180+
Enrollment 1500
Colour(s) Navy Blue, Forest Green & White
              
Slogan Personal Success, Global Outlook
Publication The Times
Inkspot
The Somersetonian
Website http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/

Somerset College is an independent, non-denominational day school located in Mudgeeraba, Queensland. Established in 1983, the college has a non-selective enrolment policy and caters for approximately 1500 students from Pre-Prep to Year 12.

The college is particularly noted for its academic excellence, rating highly in state and national rankings. Since 1997, Somerset is one of only two Queensland schools where the most common OP score among students has been 1.[1] In 2014, 56.2% of its Year 12 students achieved an OP 1-5, the second highest percentage of any graduating class in Queensland.[2]

Somerset is affiliated with the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA),[3] the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[4] Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ)[5] and is a founding member of the Associated Private Schools (APS).[6] The Celebration of Literature, Australia’s largest writers festival for children and young adults, is hosted by the college every March.

History

Somerset College was officially opened on 16 October 1983 by Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Its name is based on the fact the school is located on Somerset Drive, on a location formerly used for dairy farming .

The school's founding principal was Clifford Rodney (Rod) Wells. In 1980, Wells moved to the Gold Coast from Sydney with his wife, singer Roslyn (Dunbar) Wells, and obtained farmland belonging to property developer John Jenkins for a $1 deposit. For 12 months, Wells conducted feasibility studies, had meetings with the Queensland Education Department and held public meetings to establish financial, educational and community support. In 1981, a small group was formed as the first steering committee.

The first buildings opened on 27 January 1983 with 158 students in classes from Year 1 to Year 8. Staff, parents and students helped with the landscaping and laying of turf. The Latin phrase "Deo Confidimus" ("In God, we trust") was chosen as the school motto.

By term four of 1983 enrollments had already grown to 248, of which 189 were in the Junior School. This rapid growth proved the need for independent schools on the Gold Coast and secured the College's future.

Building projects continued well into the late 1980's. In 1986 Dr Barry Arnison OAM, a foundation staff member and deputy headmaster, was appointed headmaster. He oversaw the first graduating class of Year 12 students in 1987 as well as most of the buildings and facilities that stand today including the Arnison Building named in his honour.

Upon Dr Arnison's retirement, Mr Craig Bassingthwaighte was appointed headmaster in 2009. In 2015, the first Pre-Prep students were admitted into the College. New building developments include the Early Learning Precinct (opened 2009), the Knowledge and Information Precinct (opened 2012), the Student Services Hub for the Senior School (opened 2014) and the new athletic facilities, including a gym, indoor hardwood floor courts, outdoor volleyball courts, a ten-lane 400m athletics track as well as new grandstands and clubhouses for the existing pool and tennis complexes (opened 2016).

Structure

The school is divided into the Junior School (Pre Prep-Year 6) and the Senior School (Years 7-12). Both have their separate administration centres with their respective heads being the Head of Junior School and Head of Senior School.

The Founders of Somerset College formed the initial School Council which was renamed the College Board in 2011. Somerset College is a separately incorporated not for profit company limited by guarantee. The College Board has responsibility for the governance of Somerset College in finances, buildings and grounds, and policy. Its most important task is to appoint the Headmaster to manage the operations of the College. The Board discharges its responsibilities through its regular meetings, including its Committees, and by supporting and monitoring the performance of the Headmaster. The chairs of the board are mostly parents, former parents or alumni. The current Chair of the College Board is Mr Tony Hickey.

The College Leadership Team (CLT) is made up of key staff members including the Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Senior School, Head of Junior School, Dean of Information Technology, Dean of Middle Years, Dean of Teaching and Learning, Dean of Activities and the Dean of Admissions. They are responsible for the key decisions surrounding the day-to-day running of the College.

Curriculum

Somerset College offers all three International Baccalaureate programs. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) forms the basis of the curriculum from Pre-Prep to Year, 5 providing the essential building blocks of literacy and numeracy with the culminating experience of the PYP Exhibition. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) from Years 6-10 focuses on developing students who are self-directed, self-regulated, independent and autonomous learners. Service requirements provide opportunities for students to be active members of the greater community and is an essential part of the life at Somerset. In Years 11 and 12 students choose either the IB Diploma Programme or Queensland Certificate of Education both of which allow for tertiary entrance. In June 2006, the college hosted the Asia-Pacific International Baccalaureate conference.

Houses

All students and some staff at the college are divided up into 5 different houses, each named after prominent families in the Mudgeeraba area.

House Mascot Motto Head of House
Andrews (Gold) Lion A Heart of Gold Ms Bronwyn Lee
Franklin (Purple) Frilled Neck Lizard Nil Sed Optima (Latin for 'Nothing but the Best') Mrs Allison Foster
Laver (Green) Eagle We Fly on Wings of Eagles Mr Dane Oman
Starkey (Red) Unicorn Unity is Strength Mrs Melinda Green
Veivers (Blue) Seagull Striving for Success Mr Bradley Walker

Student Leadership

The position of a Senior at Somerset requires a high degree of individual responsibility in upholding the ideals and rules of the College at all times. At the same time, it carries the role of guide and mentor to all members of the college. The Student Leadership Team, comprising all the Captains, has a particular responsibility to fulfil this role as well as their specific area of responsibility.

International Baccalaureate

Somerset College is one of three International Baccalaureate World Schools on the Gold Coast accredited to offer the IB Diploma Programme. It also offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), for which it received accreditation in 2006. In June 2006, the college hosted the Asia-Pacific International Baccalaureate Conference.

Events

Each year in mid-March, Somerset College hosts its annual Celebration of Literature. The three-day festival features notable authors and poets from around Australia, and attracts around 20,000 school student and adult participants.[7] Past visiting authors have included: Douglas Adams, Paul Jennings, Geoffrey McSkimming, Kate Forsyth, Andy Griffiths, Andrew Daddo, Gretel Killeen and Terry Denton.

Programs

Somerset College's outdoor education curriculum includes camps for students in Years 6 to 11.[8]

Students in the Senior School from Year 9 and above are encouraged to take part in the student exchange programs. Students studying German are able to visit Germany every two years (on the odd years students host German students). Students studying Japanese visit Japan every two years. The Italian trip is available to Year 11 students undertaking ab initio Italian and takes place in the summer holidays before beginning Year 12. The group travels around Italy visiting many historic landmarks and students stay with a host family and attend their billet's school for a couple of weeks.

There is also an annual ski trip, typically held in early September, where any student from the Senior School is able to visit Perisher Ski Resort in New South Wales for one week.

Sports

Somerset College participates in the Associated Private Schools (APS), along with seven other schools on the coast. sporting season in both summer and winter.

Winter Sports

Summer Sports

Recreational Sports

Major APS Carnivals

Somerset takes part in the following APS sports carnivals:

College Mascot

The Somerset College Mascot is Martin the Spartan, and can be found at various school sporting events.

Notable alumni

Entertainment

Media

Sports

References

  1. ↑ "From The Headmaster 27/01/17". Somerset Times. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "OP/IBD School Ranking - 2014". Better Education. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "IPSHA QLD Branch Handbook 2014" (PDF). IPSHA. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "Queensland Schools List". AHISA. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "Gold Coast Schools" (PDF). Independent Schools Queensland. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "Inter-school Sport". Somerset College. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Celebration of Literature | Somerset College". www.somerset.qld.edu.au. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  8. ↑ "Student Life | Somerset College". www.somerset.qld.edu.au. Retrieved 2016-12-21.
  9. ↑ "Bryce Lindores Returns to Somerset!" (PDF). Somerset Times. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2012.

Coordinates: 28°05′33″S 153°22′28″E / 28.09250°S 153.37444°E / -28.09250; 153.37444

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