- The Scots College
"For other schools with a similar name see
Scots College ."Infobox Aust school private
name = The Scots College
motto = " _la. Utinam Patribus Nostris Digni Simus"
(Latin :"O that we may be worthy of our forefathers")cite web|url = http://www.tsc.nsw.edu.au/index.cfm?id=3453|title = History of the College|accessdate = 2007-10-09|year = 2007|work = The College |publisher = The Scots College]
established = 1893cite web|url = http://www.boarding.org.au/site/school_detail.cfm?schID=135|title = The Scots College|accessdate = 2007-10-09|year = 2007|work = New South Wales Schools|publisher = Australian Boarding Schools Association]
type = Independent, Single-sex, Day and Boarding
denomination = Presbyterian
slogan = "Establishing the individual, developing the leader"cite web|url = http://www.tsc.nsw.edu.au/|title = Home|accessdate = 2007-10-09|year = 2007|publisher = The Scots College]
key_people = Dr Ian Lambert (Principal)
Rev Dr Archibald Gilchrist (Founder)
Rev. Conrad Nixon (Chaplain)
Mr Simon Fraser (Chairman)
fees = AU$13,020–23,404 p.a (Day)
AU$28,320–41,252 p.a (Boarding)cite web |url=http://www.tsc.nsw.edu.au/docs/user/1003.pdf |title=Particulars of Fees 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-18 |format=PDF |work=Fees |publisher=The Scots College]
city = Bellevue Hill
state =New South Wales
country =Australia flagicon|Australia
coordinates = coord|33|52|31|S|151|15|12|E|display=inline,title
enrolment = ~1,600 (K–12)cite web|url = http://www.tsc.nsw.edu.au/docs/user/891.pdf|title = Annual School Report 2006|accessdate = 2007-10-09|year = 2007|format = PDF|work = The College|publisher = The Scots College]
num_employ = ~205
revenue =
colours = Gold and Blue color box|#FFD700color box|#000080
homepage = [http://www.tsc.nsw.edu.au/ www.tsc.nsw.edu.au]The Scots College is an independent
Presbyterian day andboarding school for boys, located in Bellevue Hill, an eastern suburb of Sydney,New South Wales ,Australia .Established in 1896 at Brighton-Le-Sands, Scots has a non-selective enrolment policycite web|url = http://www.schoolchoice.com.au/find_a_school?cid=12345&pid=2702041|title = The Scots College|accessdate = 2007-10-09|year = 2007|work = New South Wales |publisher = School Choice] and currently caters for approximately 1600 students from
Kindergarten to Year 12, including 240 boarders from Years 4 to 12. Students attend Scots from all regions of the greatermetropolitan area and New South Wales country regions.The
college 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: New South Wales |accessdate=2007-10-09 |year =2007 |month =April |work=Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia] theJunior 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=2007-10-09 |year =2007 |work=Junior School Heads' Association of Australia] the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA), theHeadmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference ,cite web |url=http://www.hmc.org.uk/schools/international.htm |title=International Members |accessdate=2008-03-11 |work= HMC Schools |publisher= The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference] and is a founding member of theAthletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales (AAGPS).cite web|url = http://portals.studentnet.edu.au/sports/base.aspx??tabindex=10&tabid=162|title =AAGPS History|accessdate = 2007-10-09|year = 2007|work = Info|publisher = Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales]History
The college was formed in 1893 by three men, the Reverend Dr Archibald Gilchrist (formerly a
solicitor ), the Reverend Dr Wiliam Marcus "Dill" ("Fighting Mac") Macky and the Reverend Arthur Aspinall. Gilchrist devised the schoolmotto of "Utinam Patribus Nostris Digni Simus", which may betranslated fromLatin as "O that we may be worthy of our forefathers". The Reverend Arthur Aspinall, who became the first Principal, was minister to the ForbesParish from 1874 to 1887. An educated man himself, with a love oflearning , he saw the need to educate the sons of thepastoralists of the area. His dream was for a boarding school in Sydney to which these very isolatedfarming families could send theirchildren . Ms Lillyan MacDonald of the Church Records and Historical Society (Uniting Church in Australia , NSW Synod) writes: cquote2|From Dr Prentis I have learnt that a Forbes influence has pervaded Scots College for more than acentury through the sons of Forbes District farming families, especially the related families of Aspinall, Strahorn and Martel.|Lillyan MacDonald|Personal communicationThe
Presbyterian Church was not happy with the proposal to start the school. Mr Aspinall became the guarantor, advancing the capital required, while the possibility of starting the school was still a matter of bitter contention within the Church hierarchy. Thus Scots opened as aprivate enterprise . Once the school was established and functioning, the Church Assembly saw no reason to continue to oppose the idea of the school. In 1906 Mr Aspinall sold the college to the Church for seven thousand pounds and so it became part of thePresbyterian education system in New South Wales.Lady Robinson's Beach
The college was originally established at
Lady Robinson Beach , now renamed Brighton-Le-Sands, near the shores ofBotany Bay . The initial school building was the modified, de-licenced "New Brighton Hotel" on The Grand Parade, near Bay Street. The renovations to thehotel were done by Mr Aspinall's brother,Albert Aspinall . The first Principal, the Rev Aspinall, remained in this position until hisretirement in 1913. The school was officially opened28 January 1893 by the Governor of New South Wales, the Right Honourable Victor Albert George, Earl of Jersey. Villiers Street, Rockdale was named in honour of this occasion. There were 25 boarders and ten day students.The period when the school opened was a time of depression. The first few years for the school were difficult. There were 55 boys enrolled at the school when, in 1895, (soon after a racecourse had opened nearby) the school moved to its current location in Bellevue Hill.
Early days at Bellevue Hill
The school occupied "St Killians", the former home of
Judge Josephson. Before he retired Mr Aspinall had added newbuilding s to the school and developedplaying field s. The school was still surrounded by many areas ofbushland which caughtfire on hotsummer days. Lessons would be cancelled so that the students could assist in the fire-fighting. Mr Aspinall was a stern Principal who dealt harshly with misdemeanours. Often his acerbic tongue and brilliant use of words produced ridicule more intimidating than any of his physicalpunishment s. But he was also capable of empathy. Some promising students were educated for free when economic constraints within afamily seemed likely to result in a student being withdrawn from the school.1914 to 1955
James Bee, a
New Zealand er, continued the growth and expansion of the college. When he retired in 1934 there were 450 enrolled students. This is quite remarkable considering that the 1930sGreat Depression was not yet over.Alexander Knox Anderson saw the Depression end only to be followed four years later by
World War II . During World War II, the school and its student body relocated to a purpose-built campus at Bathurst, to the west of theGreat Dividing Range . This was due to the proximity of the Bellevue Hill campus to the coast, and the fear of Japanese naval bombardment, a fear justified in May 1942 with the Japanese mini-subattack on Sydney Harbour .The Bathurst campus remained part of the school for a short period after the war, before splintering off and becoming the independent
The Scots School, Bathurst .1968
The 75th Anniversary celebrations were held 3-10 May. The 1200 students at the College and past students had much to celebrate for many former students had achieved success. In 1968 Dr Robert Naumann was
Professor ofNuclear Physics atPrinceton University in the United States of America. The Guest-of-Honour at the celebrations, the oldest known student in 1968, was Dr Ed Spark, a Dental Surgeon who had attended the school in 1894 at Lady Robinson Beach.Subsequent history
In 1979, a fire gutted most of the school's Main Building, resulting in a major reconstruction and renovation of school facilities.
In 1988, the school opened its outdoor education campus, 'Glengarry', in the Kangaroo Valley. Attending Glengarry is compulsory for all Year 9 boys, who live on-site in one of four dorms for six months. The year group is split into two intakes, that attend in terms 1 and 2, and terms 3 and 4 respectively.
Glengarry has faced controversy due to its potentially hazardous outdoor curriculum. It has had a total of two fatalities, both occurring to Scots College students during Parent/Son hikes. [ [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21638152-5006010,00.html College sued after boy drowned | The Daily Telegraph ] ]
Most of the
Council members are elected by the General Assembly of thePresbyterian Church of Australia in New South Wales .Principals
Facilities
The campus consists of three ovals (Kirkland Oval; Fairfax Oval, which is used primarily by the Pipes and Drums as a
parade ground, and Scots Main), four general class buildings and due to newclassroom s to the Prep there are now 12 portable classrooms, five boarding houses, a 25 mSwimming pool , agym nasium,grandstand s,tennis court s,basketball court s (indoor and outdoor) and the schoolamphitheatre .The general class buildings are the Centenary Centre (
Music ,language s, andeconomics /business ), the Senior Studies Block (Science , PDHPE andMathematics ), Scots Main (English,Religious Studies ,Design and Technology ,Visual Arts ) and the Stevenson Building (StevensonLibrary ,History andGeography ).The Stevenson Building also houses the Year 12
Common room , theBlack Watch Tuckshop-Cafe, thePrefect s' Room, the College Shop, and the school's two main function rooms (the Founders' Room and the Old Boys' Union Room). Scots Main houses theAuditorium and main school administration, whilst the Centenary Centre contains the school's primaryLecture room, the CooteTheatre and various music facilities andmusical instrument s.The college
quadrangle has recently finished reconstruction to provide additional change rooms andwheelchair accessible facilities such as anelevator for the Main Building. A new Mathematics/Science building is under planning and completion is expected at aroundEaster 2008. In 2007 the new "Ginahgulla" classrooms were completed. These classrooms house years five and six located at the Senior campus, Victoria Rd.Pipes and drums
As a testament to its Scottish heritage, the school has a well-known
pipe band : The Scots College Pipes & Drums Band, established in 1900. The original band consisted of five members - boys who had joined the cadets as pipers. There are now over 230 boys in the band, making it the largest in theSouthern Hemisphere .fact|date=February 2008 In 1931 the band was granted permission to wear the tartan of theBlack Watch regiment. The band's royal patron was formerly the Queen Mother. Traditionally, the Scots Pipes and Drums Band leads the annualANZAC Day parade through Sydney. At the 2006 Australian Pipe band Championships, the Drum Corps won the Juvenile Drum Corp title, and the band as a whole earned a respectable third place.fact|date=February 2008 These results are the Band's best placings at a National Championships.Sport
Sport has traditionally played a large role in the college and is an important part of the curriculum. The college competes in the AAGPS competition and has had notable success across a number of sports. Scots GPS premierships occurred in the following years:
* Athletics (Senior): 1894, 1936, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1958, 1959, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1975
*Basketball (1sts): 1985, 1986, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004
*Cricket (1sts): 1943(u), 1954 (u), 1948, 1953, 1957, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1984 and 1989
*Rugby union (1sts): 1948, 1949, 1959, 1978, 1987 and 1993
* Rowing (1st VIII): 1946, 1962, 1965 and 1979
* Rowing (1st IV): 1946, 1971 and 1978
*Swimming (Senior): 2002 and 2004
*Rifle Shooting (1sts): 1938, 1939, 1980, 1981 and 1983 [www.aagps.nsw.edu.au and "Scots to the Fore" a history of The Scots College (authors: Sherington and Prentis)]Scots.NET and Scoogle
In 2000, Scots introduced Scots.NET, a set of dynamically controlled sites allowing students to access resources and research materials online, on the college's latest twin ISDN connection.
Scots.NET now also incorporates all day-to-day school administration functions, including rolls, detentions,
homework merits and demerits, behavioural reports, school report releases, discipline records, subject selection, student timetables, assessment marks, attendance records, subject resources, SCOOGLE (an advanced subject forum server based on a combination ofOpen Source course management technologies, allowing students and teachers to communicate easily online and transfer documents and information), and software not usually available at home. In addition to student accounts, Scots.NET also features parental accounts. These allow students' parents to gain access to school publications (such as the "The Clansman"newsletter , which has recently ceased to appear in any but electronic form; academic and pastoral reports; assessment marks; academic documentation; school publications; and so forth. A feature of Scots.NET is that students and parents are able to access Scots.NET from any computer withinternet access.As part of this shift towards electronic learning, Scots has digital projectors, speaker systems and
DVD /VCR systems in the majority of its classrooms and halls, in order to better facilitate media presentations by staff and students.In 2006 Scoogle, a more upgraded version of Scots.NET became available and was trialed in some courses primarily as a homework receive/upload system. In 2007 Scots.net was taken down from the internet and Scoogle was fully integrated and being used in every course for assessment information, task uploads, study resources, a basic
instant messenger for teacher-student communications which did not fully materialise, and also still having all the older features of the outdated Scots.NET under the new system.House system
As with most Australian schools, The Scots College utilises a
house system . Scots has 13 student houses, of which 5 are boarding houses. Each year the houses participate in multiple academic and sporting competitions, spread across the school year, and are awarded points according to their placings. This point system determines the winner of the House Championship each year (announced at a finalassembly ). The day boy houses contain between 90 and 95 students each, whilst the boarding houses have between 50 and 65 apiece.Boarding houses
The school's five
boarding house s are named Macintyre, Kirkland, Aspinall, Fairfax and Royle.Macintyre House is located by the Macintyre tennis courts and contains the College
clinic . The house contains all the Year 7 boarders who go to other boarding houses after Year 7 and does not compete in any house competitions.Kirkland House is located next to the gym, and its jersey blue and white. Motto: Strength of character through character and good sense.
Aspinall House is located between the Chapel and the dining hall, its house jersey is mostly white with a little dark green and it is named after former principle Arthur Aspinall. Motto: Honour before honours.
Fairfax house is situated on the hill above Kirkland oval and the Ginagulla classrooms. Because it is on a hill the boys in the house sometimes call it "The House on the Hill". Motto: Steadfast and United.
Royle house is located across the road from Macintyre house and the Macintyre tennis courts, and its house
jersey is dark green and blue. Motto: Not merely for ourselves.Day houses
In addition to the boarding houses, the school has 8 day boy houses- James Bee, Fraser, Anderson, Macky, Bruce, Armstrong, Gilchrist and Brandt. They are listed here by age:
*James Bee House is one of the two oldest day boy houses, formed in 1936 and named after Mr. James Bee, headmaster for twenty years (1914-1934). The house badge is based on his initials. In recent years, James Bee has consistently come second to Gilchrist House, with the exception of 2002 in which it secured the House Championship over its traditional rival. James Bee House has "Red Nose Day" as its charity and has raised around $80000 for this worthwhile charity over the last 8 years. Colours: Black. Motto: "Opera Optima" ("Best Effort").
*Armstrong House was formed in 1936 as a day boy house. It is named after Dr. G. Armstrong, a founding College Councillor and Deputy College Chairman. Its crest is the College's rampant lion and the letter A in gold on a red background. Colours: Red and Gold. Motto: "Striving for Excellence".
*Anderson House was formed in 1947, and named after Mr. A.K. Anderson, Headmaster from 1935 to 1955. The crest is based on the New South Wales floral emblem, theWaratah . Colours: Yellow, Red and White. Motto: "Truth, Courage, Compassion".
*Brandt House was also formed in 1947. It is named for Rev. D.F. Brandt, Chairman of the College Council from 1927 to 1936. The house crest displays four sections displaying acastle , thelion rampant, an open book and the house initials. Colours: Royal Blue. Motto: "Fortune favours the brave". Charity: Cancer Council of Australia
*Gilchrist House was formed in 1986. It was named after the Rev. Dr. A. Gilchrist, one of the most influential College Founders. In recent years, Gilchrist has been consistent winner of the House Championship (excepting a 2002 victory to James Bee and a 2000 victory to Bruce). The badge and motto are based on those of the Gilchrist Clan. Colours: Red, Green and White. Motto: "Fortis et Fidus" ("Brave and Faithful") Charity: Diabetes Australia
*Bruce House was formed in 1986 and named after Rev. Dr. D. Bruce (Chairman of the College Council from 1902 to 1905. The house selected a new badge in 1991, based on the belt that traditionally surroundsScottish clan badges with the College's rampant lion in the centre. Colours: Royal Blue and White. Motto: "Strength and Unity". Charity: Red kite
*Fraser House was also formed in 1986. It was named after Mr H.J. Fraser, Chairman of the College Council from 1969 to 1977. The crest and motto are based on those of the Fraser clan, with the buck's head in the centre. Colours: Light Green and White. Motto: "Je Suis Pret" ("I'm Ready!") Charity: Bandaged Bear Day
*Macky House, like Bruce, Fraser and Gilchrist, was founded in 1986. It was named after Rev. Dr. W.M.D. Macky, one of the founders and the first Chairman of the College Council (1893-1901). The open book andsword -bearing arm of the crest are based on the house motto. Colours: Blue, Green and White. Motto: "With Strong Arm and Mind". Charity: Jeans for Genes DayNotable alumni
Former students of The Scots College are known as Old Boys, or alternatively Old Scotsmen, and may elect to join the school's
alumni association , The Scots College Old Boys' Union (OBU). The OBU was formed in 1900, and today supports the school with financial assistance, whilst working to facilitate communication and interaction between the College and its Old Boys through events and activities, such as alumni and sporting reunions. Reunions are also held in various states of Australia and overseas.cite web|url= http://www.tsc.nsw.edu.au/index.cfm?id=2202|title= About Old Boys|accessdate= 2008-04-13|year= 2007|work= Old Boys|publisher= The Scots College]Amongst the schools notable alumni are Dr. Peter Jensen, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney,cite web
url = http://your.sydneyanglicans.net/senior_clergy/archbishop_jensen/profile/|title = Archbishop Peter Jensen: Profile|accessdate = 2007-09-24|year = 2007|work = Senior Clergy|publisher = Sydney Anglican Network] Admiral Sir David James Martin AO, formerGovernor of New South Wales ,cite web|url = http://www.warmemorialsnsw.asn.au/traditions/martin_eulogy_slattery.cfm|title = 15 April 1933 - 10 August 1990 Eulogy Tendered by His Worship the Mayor [Dubbo] . Alderman T A Slattery |accessdate = 2007-09-24|last = Slattery|first = T.A |year = 1990|work = Service of Thanksgiving and Memorial for the life of Rear Admiral Sir David James Martin KCMG. AO |publisher = Register of War Memorials in New South Wales] Hon. Peter McCallum Dowding S.C., formerPremier of Western Australia ,cite web|url = http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/content/news/media/2002/media38.aspx|title = Peter M'Callum Dowding|accessdate = 2007-09-24|date = 2002-11-13|work = Appointment of Senior Counsel by the Hon David K Malcolm AC CitWA Chief Justice of Western Australia |publisher = Supreme Court of Western Australia] and Graeme Milbourne Clark AC AO, pioneer of the multiple-channelcochlear implant .cite encyclopedia| editor = Suzannah Pearce| encyclopedia = Who's Who in Australia Live!| title = CLARK Graeme Milbourne| accessdate = 2007-09-23| date = 2006-11-17| year = 2007| publisher = Crown Content Pty Ltd| location = North Melbourne, Vic]Associated schools
There are currently only three other Presbyterian schools in New South Wales:
*Scots'sister school , thePresbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney in Croydon
*ThePresbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale
*The Scots School, BathurstReferences
Further reading
* Sherington, G. and Prentis, M. 1993. "Scots to the Fore: A History of The Scots College Sydney 1893-1993.". Hale & Iremonger, Sydney. ISBN 0868065005.
*Andrew, Phillipa A (1997) "Built To Last: the stories of John and Thomas Aspinall and their descendants". Privately Published. :ISBN/ISSN 0 646 34463 3: available in the library of "The Society of Australian Genealogists", Sydney, State Library of New South Wales and in the library of The Scots College.
*Church Records and Historical Society (Uniting Church of Australia, NSW Synod), Parramatta
*Garrett, J and Farr, L W (1964) "Camden College: A Centenary History"
*Geeves, Phillip and Jervis, J (1986) "Rockdale: its beginning and development" Revised Edition
*Historical Society of New South Wales
*Joy, William (29 April 1968) "Daily Telegraph", Sydney: "How three fighting Scots founded a great school" (commemorating the 75th anniversary of the school)-includes photo of Rev Aspinall and his wife
*Munro May (1961) "In Old Aspinall's Day"
*Prentis, Malcolm "A Biographical Register of Presbyterian Ministers in NSW, 1866-1885", "Church Heritage" Vol 6 No3
*Prentis, M and Sherrington, G (1994) "History of Scots College"
*White, C A "The Challenge of the Years" Plate 29 "The Scots College"See also
*
List of non-government schools in New South Wales
*List of boarding schools
*History of Brighton-le-Sands, New South Wales
*List of pipe bands
*Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition External links
* [http://www.tsc.nsw.edu.au/index.cfm The Scots College website]
* [http://webdev.tsc.nsw.edu.au/cricket/senior/ ScotsCricket.com.au, the Scots cricket website]
* [http://www.aagps.nsw.edu.au/ AAGPS Website]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/students-nearly-beaten-to-death/2006/04/12/1144521363918.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1| Students nearly beaten to death: SMHApril 12 2006 ]
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