Sydney Boys High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Sydney Boys High School

motto = "Veritate et Virtute"
'Truth and Courage'
established = 1 October 1883
type = Public selective all-male secondary
affiliations = GPS
founder =
principal = Dr. K.A. Jaggar
chairman =
enrolment = 1140
grades = 7–12
colours = Chocolate brown and sky blue color box|#7B3F00color box|#1E90FF
campus = Urban Parkland: 34 400 m²
city = Moore Park in City of Sydney
state = NSW
country = Australia
website = [http://www.sydneyboyshigh.com/ Sydney Boys High School]

Sydney Boys High School is an academically selective secondary school for boys, located in the City of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It regularly ranks highly amongst schools in the state of New South Wales in terms of academic results.

Sydney Boys High School, operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, was the highest achiever in the HSC of all boys' schools in New South Wales in 2006 according to a list published by the Sydney Morning Herald. The school has 1,140 students, from years 7 to 12, and is a selective school catering for the academically gifted. The school was previously known as The Sydney High School, due to its position as the first government High School in New South Wales created under Premier Henry Parkes' system of public education in the early 1880's.

Sydney Boys High School's sister school is its neighbour at Moore Park: Sydney Girls High School. The school is a member of the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales (GPS).

In 2001, "The Sun-Herald" ranked Sydney Boys High School fifth in Australia's top ten boys' schools, and first in Sydney, based on the number of its male alumni mentioned in the "Who's Who in Australia" (a listing of notable Australians).cite news| first = Frank| last = Walker| title = The ties that bind| url = http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=%22presbyterian+ladies+college%22&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=author&sf=headline&sf=text&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SHD01072295GNI6E8E6E| work = Sunday Life| publisher = The Sun-Herald| page = 16| date = 2001-07-22| accessdate = 2007-09-12] Ref_label|a|a|none

History

, known as "Old Boys", with many active ex-student organisations including the Sydney High School Old Boys Union, the High Club and High Rugby Friends.

High is the oldest public secondary school in NSW to offer education until matriculation to university. It was originally located on Castlereagh Street in the City of Sydney. Later, it moved to Mary Ann Street, Ultimo. In 1928, the school moved to its current location at Moore Park, on the fringe of the inner city. This site was designed by George McRae, who also designed the Queen Victoria Building. (This site was previously the Moore Park Zoo). Each year (from Year 7) is divided into six houses: Eedy, Fairland, Rubie, McKay, Saxby, Torrington. These houses are named after Old Boys who have given significant service to the school.

In the 2006 film Superman Returns, the school had a cameo in a scene where Lois Lane picks up her son after school. The school is often used by the nearby Fox Studios as an offsite filming ground.

Fame

The school is one of the oldest government-funded high schools in New South Wales, and the oldest such school which did not have an attached primary school.

Sydney Boys High is renowned for its academic success, especially in the Higher School Certificate, in 2006, according to "Sydney Morning Herald" listings, ranking in 3rd, below Baulkham Hills and James Ruse Agricultural High School, with a student attaining a 100 UAI. In particular, it earned a reputation as the finest New South Wales public school at debating, having now won the Hume Barbour and Karl Cramp trophies more times than any other school. Sydney High has also been the GPS champion for both Chess and Debating on several occasions as well as Rifle Shooting. It has educated many high profile and influential individuals who have proceeded to reach the top of their chosen fields at a global level. The school has also established itself a long standing tradition of sporting achievement in both the GPS and CHS competitions. The school colours of Sydney Boys High are sky blue and chocolate brown; shown most strikingly on the school's striped rugby union jersey.

Departments

The school is made up of eleven departments (also known as "faculties"), each teaching one or a variety of related Board of Studies–endorsed subjects. The departments are:
* English (Subjects: English, Drama.)
* Mathematics (Subjects: Mathematics)
* Science (Subjects: Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics)
* Creative Arts (Subjects: Visual Arts, Architecture, Photography, Music). "Note: The Creative Arts department is split into two subdepartments operating under different regulations and in different parts of the school. One is the Visual Arts subdepartment, the other is the Music subdepartment."
* Social Sciences (Subjects: Geography, Commerce, Business Studies, Legal Studies, Economics, Studies of Religion)
* Languages other than English (LOTE) (Subjects: French, German, Chinese, Latin, Classical Greek, Hebrew)
* Personal development, Health and Physical Education
* Industrial arts (Subjects: Design & Technology, Technical Drawing, Engineering, Software Design)
* History (Subjects: History, Wars through the Ages, Empires, Ancient History, Modern History, History Extension)
* Welfare (Subjects: Character Education)
* Careers

Enrolment policy

Sydney Boys High School accepts one hundred and eighty students in year 7, all of whom have passed an academic ability test in year 6 conducted by the NSW Department of Education. The 180 students separated into classes of thirty, which also determines the students sporting house: Eedy, Fairland, MacKay, Rubie, Saxby and Torrington. There is also scope for entry in year 9 onwards, and a reserve list system for those who have not been offered a place in previous years. A further 20 students are interviewed and granted admission to the school for year 9 on the basis of academic ability (determined by school reports and ability in national competitions) and extra curricular activities. These two components are weighed equally, and some preference may be given to persons with a family placement claim, if the committee feels it is justified. Enrolement policy is determined by the Sydney Boys High School Council and the Department of Education. The Parents and Citizens, Old Boys and Teachers have voting powers on the Council.

Sports

Sydney Boys High is the sole state-run member of the AAGPS [http://portals.studentnet.edu.au/sports/base.aspx??tabindex=9&tabid=161 Member Schools of the AAGPS] (Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools). It has a wide range of sports offered to its students, one factor distinguishing it from other government schools. Notable differences include the school's possession of rowing facilities, the [http://www.shsfoundation.org.au/outterside-centre.php Outterside Centre] at Abbotsford including a dormitory, boat sheds and two pontoons. Along with the sheds at Abbotsford, the school has playing–fields in Centennial Park punctuated by the [http://www.shsfoundation.org.au/fairland-pavilion.php Fairland pavilion] and fenced cricket ground, McKay Oval. Sydney Boys High also has facilities at the ANZAC Rifle Range, managed by the Sydney High School Rifle Club. Almost all sports offered are played against other schools of the GPS. Sydney Boys High also has a volleyball team that is ranked quite highly, winning both CHS and GPS in 2006 and coming 3rd in the Nationals at Melbourne. Other notable awards include winning the state CHS championships from 2005-2007, making it the second longest winning streak in the competition's history.

GPS sports offered in summer include:
* Rowing
* Tennis
* Water Polo
* Tennis
* Basketball
* Cricket
* Swimming
* Rifle Shooting

GPS sports offered in winter include:
* Athletics
* Rugby Union
* Cross Country
* Fencing
* Rifle Shooting
* Soccer
* Volleyball

Non-GPS sports:
* Table Tennis
* Sports Development (Fitness Sessions)
* Sailing

Notable alumni

For former students of SBHS who have achieved distinction or notability in various fields see "List of Old Boys of Sydney Boys High School"

Notes

* Who's Who of boys' school rankings: 1.Scotch College, Melbourne, 2.Melbourne Grammar School, 3.Melbourne High School, 4.Geelong Grammar School, 5.Sydney Boys High School, 6.Wesley College, 7.Shore, 8.Fort Street Boys' High, 9.North Sydney Boys High School, 10.Sydney Grammar School

References

See also

* List of Government schools in New South Wales
* List of selective high schools in New South Wales
* Sydney High School Rifle Club
*Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition

External links

* [http://www.sydneyboyshigh.com/ Sydney Boys High School]