The Scots College
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| The Scots College |
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| Motto | Utinam Patribus Nostris Digni Simus 'O that we may be worthy of our forefathers' |
| Established | 1893 |
| Type | Independent all-male secondary |
| Chairman | Mr Simon Fraser |
| Principal | Dr Ian Lambert |
| Founder | Rev Dr Archibald Gilchrist |
| Chaplain | Rev. Conrad Nixon |
| Students | 1600 |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Location | Bellevue Hill, Sydney, NSW Australia |
| Campus | 13 acres |
| Colours | Gold and Blue |
| Website | www.tsc.nsw.edu.au |
For other schools with a similar name see Scots College.
The Scots College (TSC or Scots) is an independent preschool to secondary school located on Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, Sydney, Australia (). A member of the GPS, the school currently enrols approximately 1600 students, of whom 235 are boarders.
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[edit] History
The College was formed in 1893 by Rev Dr Archibald Gilchrist, Rev Dr Dill Macky and Rev Arthur Aspinall, as part of the Presbyterian education system in New South Wales, to serve the needs of Scottish settlers. Gilchrist devised the school motto: "Utinam Patribus Nostris Digni Simus" (Latin: O that we may be worthy of our forefathers).
The College was originally established at Brighton le Sands near the shores of Botany Bay, before being moved to its current location in Bellevue Hill in 1895.
During World War II, the school and its student body relocated to a purpose-built campus at Bathurst, to the west of the Great Dividing Range. This was due to the proximity of the Bellevue Hill campus to the coast, and the fear of Japanese naval bombardment.
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.
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.
Most of the Council members are elected by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in New South Wales.
[edit] 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 new classrooms to the Prep their are now 12 portable classrooms, five boarding houses, a 25m pool, a gymnasium, grandstands, tennis courts, basketball courts (indoor and outdoor) and the school amphitheatre.
The general class buildings are the Centenary Centre (Music, PDHPE, languages, and economics/business), the Senior Studies Block (Science and Mathematics), Scots Main (English, Religious Studies, Design and Technology, Visual Arts) and the Stevenson Building (Stevenson Library, History and Geography).
The Stevenson Building also houses the Year 12 Common Room, the Black Watch Tuckshop-Cafe, the Prefects' Room, the College Shop, and the school's two main function rooms (the Founders' Room and the Old Boys' Union Room). Scots Main houses the Auditorium and main school administration, whilst the Centenary Centre contains the school's primay lecture room, the Coote Theatre.
The college quadrangle is currently under reconstruction to provide additional change rooms and wheelchair accessible facilities such as an elevator for the Scots Main. A new Mathematics/Science building is under planning and completion is expected at around Easter 2008.
[edit] The Pipes & Drums Band
As a living testament to its Scottish heritage, the school has a well-known pipe band: 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 the Southern Hemisphere. In 1931 the band was granted permission to wear the tartan of the Black Watch regiment. The band's royal patron was formerly the Queen Mother. Traditionally, the Scots Pipes and Drums Band leads the annual ANZAC Day parade through Sydney. At the 2006 Australian Pipe band Championships, the Drum Corp won the Juvenile Drum Corp title, and the band as a whole earned a respectable third place. These results are the Band's best placings at a National Championships. The current BandMaster is Ray Lee
[edit] Uniform
All Scots boys must wear the school uniform. The standard uniforms are winter and summer- winter is worn in terms 2 and 3, and summer in terms 1 and 4.
The winter uniform consists of dark grey pants with white shirt, College gold-and-blue diagonally striped tie, and navy blue blazer with gold cuffs, gold-banded pockets and gold rampant lion on breast pocket. Shoes must be black lace-ups, properly polished.
The summer uniform consists of long sleeve khaki shirt and shorts, with khaki knee-high socks and College gold-and-blue striped tie. As in winter, shoes must be polished black lace-ups.
Year Twelves may wear the College Year 12 Tie (navy blue with gold rampant lion in the centre). Prefects and House Prefects must wear the Prefects' Tie (Black Watch Tartan), and House Vice Captains may wear their house tie if they choose to do so.
Year 11s and 12s also have the option of wearing winter uniform in summer terms, if they choose to do so.
In the senior years (11/12) a colours coat is awarded to students who have excelled in particular areas of the college i.e. sport, co-curricular and academics. Students who have been granted colours are permitted to have a colours coat and their line of achievement embroidered on their coat.
The college colours coat is similar to the usual blazer, with exception to gold lining around the lapels and the college crest replaces the gold rampant lion on the left breast pocket. The line of achievement is in gold type.
[edit] Prefects and Student Leaders
Scots has 28 year 12 prefects. 12 of these are 'house prefects'- the equivalent of house captain, and are primarily responsible for the running of their houses rather than the school as a whole. Four prefects are assigned senior roles- Head Prefect, Deputy Head Prefect, Senior Day Boy Prefect, and Senior Boarder Prefect. The remaining twelve prefects are assigned a specific area of responsibility (or 'portfolio'). These portfolios include sport, co-curricular, the running of the prefect detention system, warcries, and others. Within each sport and co-curricular activity, a Captain is announced. This position is given to a student in year 12, and their role is similar to other school leadership positions except that it is for a specific area.
[edit] Scots.NET
In 2000, Scots introduced Scots.NET, a set of dynamically controlled sites allowing students to access vast 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 of Open 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 Flying Scotsman 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 with internet 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.
[edit] The 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 final assembly). The day boy houses contain between 90 and 95 students each, whilst the boarding houses have between 50 and 65 apiece.
[edit] Boarding Houses
The boarding houses are Fairfax, Royle, Kirkland, Aspinall and Macintyre.
Macintyre House was built in 1919 and founded in 1920, and was named after the Very Rev. R.G. D.K.M. Macintyre C.M.G, O.B.E., Chairman of the College Council from 1907 to 1920. It converted to transition boarding house (where all Year 7 boarders live for a year before moving to their senior houses) in 1991. Its crest is based on the College's Rampant Lion.
Colours: Light Blue
Motto: Una ni Temur: 'Together We Shall Strive'
Housemaster: Mr. B. van Gelderen
Aspinall House, the oldest house, was founded in 1895 when the school moved to the present Bellevue Hill site from Lady Robinson's Beach, where it had been situated since founding in 1893. Originally named St. Killians (the name of the building before it became a school house), the house changed its name in 1913 as a tribute to one of the school founders and the first headmaster, the Rev. Arthur Ashworth Aspinall.
Colours: Dark Green and White
Motto: Honor ante Honores: 'Honour Before Honours'
Housemaster: Mr. G. Chambers
Kirkland House was built in 1925 and founded in 1926, taking its name from Mr J. Kirkland, Chairman of the College Council between 1906 and 1907, and then again from 1922 to 1927.
Colours: Navy Blue and White
Motto: Gravitas per Studium et Prudentiam: 'Strength of Character through Effort and Good Sense'
Housemaster: Mr. P. Barlow
Fairfax House was formed in 1950. Built in 1858 by John Fairfax (founder of the Sydney Morning Herald) and named Ginahgulla, the building and surrounding land was purchased from the Fairfax Estate in 1949.
Colours: Light and Dark Blue
Motto: Firmitas et Unitas: 'Steadfast and United'
Housemaster: Mr. P. Cooney
Royle House was founded in 1938 when the Dr. N.D. Royle lent his house in Kambala Road to boarders. After four years it relocated to a house in Cranbrook Lane. This was demolished in 1981 and replaced by the new Royle House, a concrete and brick construction with mission brown and white exterior, a 'theme' which continues through the interior of the building.
Colours: Green and Gold
Motto: Non Nobis Soilum: 'Not Merely for Ourselves'
Housemaster: Mr. P. Graham
[edit] Day Boy 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 well over $30000 for this worthwhile charity over the last 4 years. Despite being created in the same year as Armstrong it was running before Armstrong was told their would be a house named after him. James Bee also won the first Athletics carnival it was ever in
Colours: Black
Motto: Opera Optima: 'Best Effort'
Housemaster: Mrs. S. Roxburgh
Armstrong House, like James Bee, 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'
Housemaster: Mr C. Pelly
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, the waratah.
Colours: Yellow, Red and White
Motto: 'Truth, Courage, Compassion'
Housemaster: Miss Klarissa Graves
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 a castle, the lion rampant, an open book and the house initials.
Colours: Royal Blue
Housemaster: Mr D. Martin has replaced Mr. F. George. Mr Martin is the Schools 1st XI Soccer coach and head of Business Studies.
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), The badge and motto are based on those of the Gilchrist Clan.
Colours: Red, Green and White
Motto: Fortis et Fidus: 'Brave and Faithful'
Housemaster: Mr. D. Scardino
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 surrounds Scottish clan badges with the College's rampant lion in the centre.
Colours: Royal Blue and White
Motto: 'Strength and Unity'
Housemaster: Mrs. N. Radice
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!'
Housemaster: Mrs. C. Winter
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 and sword-bearing arm of the crest are based on the house motto.
Colours: Blue, Green and White
Motto: 'With Strong Arm and Mind'
Housemaster: Ms. C. Pech
[edit] Notable Alumni 'Old Boys'
Former Students of The Scots College are known as Old Boys. For notable Alumni of Scots, see List of notable Old Boys of The Scots College (Sydney).
[edit] Associated Schools
Neighbouring Schools
Nearby schools include Cranbrook School Sydney, Kambala Girls School and Kincoppal-Rose Bay.
Presbyterian Schools
The other Presbyterian school in Sydney is The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney at Croydon (Scots' sister school). Formerly a Presbyterian school, Knox Grammar School is now associated with the Uniting Church.
Great Public Schools (GPS) As a member of the AAGPS, Scots engages in most of its sporting and other interschool competitions with the other GPS Schools.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Scots College website
- ScotsCricket.com.au, the Scots cricket website
- AAGPS Website
- nearly beaten to death: SMH April 12, 2006 (David Braithwaite)
The Armidale School • Shore School • Sydney Grammar School • Sydney Boys High School • St Ignatius' College
St. Joseph's College • The King's School • Newington College • The Scots College
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Categories: Presbyterian Church of Australia | Presbyterian schools | Educational institutions established in 1893 | History of Scotland | Schools in New South Wales | Boarding schools in Australia | Education in Sydney | Private schools in New South Wales | Schools in Sydney | Members of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
