International Grammar School

Infobox Aust school private
name = International Grammar School


motto = "Concordia Per Diversitatem"
(Latin:"Unity Through Diversity")cite web |url=http://www.sydneyschild.com.au/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=98&Itemid=38 |title=International Grammar School|accessdate=2007-12-23 |work=Directory |publisher=Sydney's Child]
established = 1984
type = Independent, Co-educational, Day School
denomination = Non-denominational
slogan =
key_people = Ms. Kerrie Murphy (Principal)
Reg St. Leon (Founding Principal)
Annie Feng (Teacher's Aid)
fees = AU$10,704 - AU$14,445 p.acite web |url=http://www.igs.nsw.edu.au/enrolment%20files/2008%20Fees%20for%20web.pdf |title=2008 School Fees |accessdate=2008-02-11 |format=PDF |work=Enrolment |publisher=International Grammar School]
city = Ultimo
state = New South Wales
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
coordinates = coord|33|52|52|S|151|11|43|E|display=inline,title
enrolment = ~1,100 (P-12)cite web |url=http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:gSTnbhktPzsJ:www.diversityaustralia.gov.au/_inc/doc_pdf/international_grammar_school.pdf+%22international+grammar+school%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6 |title=Bilingual education gives students an international perspective |accessdate=2007-12-23 |year =2007 |work=Diversity Australia|publisher=Australian Government - Department of Immigration and Citizenship]
num_employ =
revenue =
products =
colours = Green & White color box|#008000color box|#FFFFFF
homepage = [http://www.igssyd.nsw.edu.au/ www.igssyd.nsw.edu.au]

International Grammar School (IGS) is an independent, co-educational, secular day school, located in Ultimo, an inner city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in Randwick in 1984, International Grammar focuses its curriculum on languages, and to a lesser extent music,cite news| first = Hannah| last = Edwards| title = March to a different tune| url = http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=%22international+grammar+school%22&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news991110_0377_3217| work = News| publisher = The Sun-Herald| location = Sydney| page = p.97| date = 1999-11-07| accessdate = 2007-12-23] and currently caters for approximately 1,100 students from Preschool to Year 12. The school provides an alternative to a 'traditional private school' education.

International Grammar School is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),cite web |url=http://www.ahisa.com.au/Display.aspx?tabid=2230 |title=AHISA Schools|accessdate=2007-12-23 |year =2007 |month =November |work=New South Wales|publisher=Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),cite web |url=http://www.jshaa.asn.au/nsw/directory/index.asp |title=JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members |accessdate=2007-12-23 |year =2007 |work=New South Wales Branch|publisher=Junior School Heads' Association of Australia] and the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AIS NSW).cite web |url=http://portals.studentnet.edu.au/studentnet/DeskTopDefault.aspx?tabid=98 |title=NSW Independent Schools by Region |accessdate=2007-12-23 |year =2007 |work=Welcome|publisher=The Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales]

History

International Grammar School was established on February 3 1984 at Stanley Street, Randwick, formerly the premises of the Little Sisters of the Poor. At its foundation the school's educational objective was to provide bilingual education from Preschool onwards, and to promote internationalism, music and racial tolerance.cite web |url=http://www.igssyd.nsw.edu.au/about%20IGS.htm |title=About IGS |accessdate=2007-12-23 |year =2007 |work=Information |publisher=International Grammar School]

By 1985 the school had an enrolment of around 120 students, however by the following year the school's future was in doubt due to its failure to gain government recognition, thus making its students ineligible to sit Year 10 and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations, IGS was subsequently forced to battle through eight court cases. The school was also facing crippling losses of money and enrolments had fallen by 60 per cent to around 40 students. In May 1986, the school won its registration appeal, and by the end of the school year of 1988 enrolments and grown to 130.cite news| first = Jenny| last = Chater| title = For this school, Survival is good in any language | url = http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=%22international+grammar+school%22&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news881208_0292_5765| work = News and Features| publisher = The Sydney Morning Herald| location = Sydney| page = p.15| date = 1988-12-08| accessdate = 2007-12-23]

As student numbers continued to increase and the need for specialised High School teaching facilities was identified, it was determined that an additional site was required for the school. From 1990 to 1994, a new premises in Balmain was utilised as a Senior High School, accommodating Years 11 and 12.

In 1994, leasing arrangements were negotiated with South Sydney Council in terms of which the school was to move progressively to a new site in Ultimo. During this time, temporary accommodation was provided for years 7 to 12 in a refurbished woolstore. This arrangement with Council was for a new school to be constructed on the historical site of the Dalgety Woolstore in Kelly Street, Ultimo. The school was officially established on this, its current site, in July 1997.

Curriculum

The school's main emphasis is on languages and it offers a wide range of language courses for study from Preschool through to the HSC. Students are required to learn a second language from when they start at the school until the end of Year 10, and in Years 7 and 8 are required to learn a third language. Either of these may be continued to HSC level. The school also offers to students in Years 10 and 11 an exchange program to its overseas sister schools in Italy, France, Germany and Japan. The creative arts, including Music, design and drama, also play an important role in the school's curriculum.

Controversy

In March 2005, the school made a controversial ban on iPods throughout the school. Beyond simply banning them in classrooms, the school also disallowed their use in the library or during lunchtimes. The school justified this measure by claiming that iPods enable students to "avoid communication with others" and may lead to "social isolation or escape from our community."

There was great resistance to and disagreement with this measure from the student body; many of whom felt that iPods had nothing to do with anti-social behaviour, and that they actually lead to more socialisation in life through the sharing of music and headphones. Despite this resistance—and a seemingly negative portrayal of the ban in the media—the ban still stands, however, enforcement of the ban outside class is rare.

Notable alumni

* Basia A'hern — Actor in movies and television, appearing in "Farscape", "The Sleepover Club" and "McLeod's Daughters" (Class of 2007)
* Rowan Witt — Actor in movies and television, most famously as 'spoon-boy' in "The Matrix" (Class of 2006)cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0936894/ |title=Rowan Witt |accessdate=2007-12-23 |work=IMDb |publisher=The Internet Movie Database]

Recent filming

The school's senior annex, was used as the site for the filming of the David Hasslehoff's cover of the Ted Mulry Gang song "Jump In My Car"

Notable staff

* Eddie Jones — Former teacher and Acting Principal 1992 to 1994; Wallabies Coachcite news| first = Jim| last = Webster| title = The pupil who became the teacher| url = http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=%22international+grammar+school%22&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news870914_0158_8192| work = Sport | publisher = The Sydney Morning Herald| location = Sydney| page = p.47| date = 1987-09-14| accessdate = 2007-12-23]

References

See also

* List of non-government schools in New South Wales

External links

* [http://www.igs.nsw.edu.au/ International Grammar School website]