The King's School, Parramatta
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The King's School, Australia | |
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Junior School Heads Association of Australia | |
Website | www |
The King's School is an
The school hosts about 2,100 students from kindergarten to Year 12[6] and about 430 boarders from Years 5–12, making it one of the largest boarding schools in Australia. It is Australia's oldest boarding school.[7][8]
The school is affiliated with the
History
In January 1830, the archdeacon of New South Wales,
According to The King's School 1831–1981, on opening day, Monday, 13 February 1832, with a handful of pupils.[2] Forrest was paid a salary of £100 per annum, but it was inclusive of a land and housing grant. From fees of £28 and £8 per annum for boarders and day pupils respectively he was expected to maintain boarders and pay the salaries of his assistants, whose fees were £4 per annum for each pupil taught. According to an article in the Australian Historical Society Journal in 1903, enrolment reached over 100 pupils before the end of the first year.[2]
Military drill was established in 1855; in this era, the school experienced a protracted period of expansion in facilities and enrolments. The number of pupils increased to nearly 200, 150 of whom were boarders. As well as religious holidays, there were two official school holidays per year, including a mid-winter vacation from 15 June to 15 July, and a mid-summer vacation from 24 December to 31 January. In 1859 Armitage adopted school arms similar to those of
Headmaster LJ Trollope saw a drastic contraction in the number of pupils to just 10 by June 1864, resulting in the closure of the school.
Campus
Kings School Group (former) | |
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Ambrose Hallen | |
Architectural style(s) | Georgian Revival |
Owner | NSW Department of Health |
Official name | Heritage Office Building, Marsden Rehabilitation Centre, Laurel House, Old King's School, Old Kings School |
Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
Designated | 2 April 1999 |
Reference no. | 771 |
Type | Education |
Category | School – Private |
Builders | C. A. Millyard; W. Noller |
The King's School was originally in George Street, Parramatta, near the wharves on
Within the senior school, there are extensive facilities for arts, agriculture, PDHPE, industrial design, and technology. The school theatre was renovated in 2010, adding a second smaller theatre and drama classrooms. The school opened its new science centre in 2014, which includes classrooms and labs.
Sporting facilities include 15 playing fields used for both cricket and rugby union, 14 tennis courts, 12 basketball courts, 7 football fields, a 50-metre lap pool, a 25-metre swimming pool, a diving pool, a gym, and an indoor rifle range.
House system
Senior school
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/52/TKS_CLL.jpg/280px-TKS_CLL.jpg)
Until 2011, the school had 14 houses, for both day students and boarders. The boarding houses comprised Gowan Brae, Baker, Bishop Barker, Broughton, Forrest, Hake Harris, Macarthur and Waddy, and the day student houses Britten, Burkitt, Dalmas, Kurrle, Macquarie and Wickham. In that year, the school made a number of changes to its house system, which now consists of six day houses and five boarding houses.
Preparatory school
The preparatory school has four houses. They are designed to allow students the opportunity to adapt to the institutions of the school while remaining within a common peer group of similar age. King's also operates a co-educational preparatory boarding school, Tudor House, in Moss Vale, which is approximately 100 kilometers south west of the North Parramatta campus.
Uniform
The school uniform is the oldest military uniform still worn in Australia and is highly distinctive.[16] The uniform reflects the military history of the school. Students are required to adapt their uniform for various events and commemorations in the course of the school year.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/KingsPupils1931.jpg/280px-KingsPupils1931.jpg)
There are several patches and buttons which reflect rank and memberships. Historically, the school uniform was available to purchase from some department stores (
Co-curricular activities
Co-curricular activities offered by the school include debating, choir, theatre, bands and ensembles, sport, and the
The school produces at least one musical and two drama productions each year. Productions have included
Academic clubs
The headmaster, deputy headmaster, and other senior staff host intellectual clubs composed of high achieving students from year 11 and 12. The members of these clubs are selected on the basis of achievement in academics, leadership and character.
Debating
The school competes with other schools' debate teams on a national and international basis. The Senior A team won the GPS on two occasions; winning outright in 1928, and tied first place with Sydney Grammar in 2007.
Cadet corps
Founded in 1868, the cadet corps vies with Newington College[19] as the oldest[20] in Australia. All students in Years 9 and 10 are required to undergo cadet training.
Music
The program is held in the sesquicentenary music building. The school has two pipe organs: a chapel organ in the memorial chapel and a large baroque pipe organ in Futter Hall.[21]
Curriculum
Year 7 students complete the mandatory 100-hour
Co-curricular program
The school has seven large Wind Bands, which form the core of the Wind, Brass and Percussion program. The Symphonic Band is the school's elite level band and is composed of musicians typically studying AMEB or Trinity Grade 7 and above. The Wind Orchestra is the middle ensemble within the senior school, whilst Gowan Brae Band is a special ensemble for year 7 students only, which receives extra attention and allows students to develop their talents intensively upon their arrival at King's. The marching band includes members of the Symphonic Band who are enrolled as cadets in The King's School cadet corps. In the Preparatory school, the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Junior Band complete the 3-12 wind bands program. The school also runs three stage bands, and numerous other jazz and chamber ensembles for Wind and Brass players. The King's School is particularly renowned for its 'Drumline', a percussion ensemble in the American tradition in which outstanding percussion students perform memorised precision drumming routines, in military-style formation.
The school has a chamber string orchestra for experienced players.
There is a non-auditioned choir for boys in the senior school, and the auditioned Schola Cantorum; both ensembles are in four vocal parts. In the preparatory school there are three choirs consisting of trebles and altos.
A number of small ensembles exist including piano trios, guitar ensembles, percussion ensembles, flute ensembles, clarinet quartet, saxophone quintet and a number of popular music bands.
Regular concerts and events
The Music Department conducts a number of regular events each year, including the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, Gala Concert, ensembles concerts, and studio recitals for individual performances. Most events are held in either the Recital Room (part of the Sesquicentenary music building) or Futter Hall.
Sport
Sport is compulsory for all students. Senior school students must participate in one of rugby union, association football, volleyball or cross country in winter, and rowing, cricket, basketball, tennis, athletics or swimming in summer. If personally selected by the sportsmaster, students may represent the school at shooting outside their regular sporting commitments. Students may participate in a sport in which they have achieved excellence (deemed by the sportsmaster). Cricket, rugby union, association football, basketball and tennis is also available at the preparatory school. The school engages in these sports as a member of the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales) with other schools:
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/KingsRowing1932.jpg/280px-KingsRowing1932.jpg)
Rugby union
The school was instrumental in the development of rugby union in Australia, playing in the first inter-school game against
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on 19 May 2016 that RSPCA Australia was investigating alleged cruelty to sheep after a video was posted on Facebook showing members of the school's teams tackling older rams around a paddock. The principal of the school likened it to "shearing".[25]
Rowing
In rowing, the school has won the GPS Head of the River 19 times, including in 2021 and 2022, and the Schoolboy VIII at the National Rowing Championships in 1982, 2001, and 2006. The school won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in 2001 and the Fawley Challenge Cup in 2006.
Filming location
The junior boarding house 'Gowan Brae' was used as a filming location in the 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby movie. The boarding house was the Louisville home where the younger Gatsby meets Daisy before the war.[26]-->
Controversy
Bullying and sexual misconduct
In 2010, a former student sued the school after he alleged that he was subjected to sexual assaults and daily beatings by fellow students. Two decades after the incidents, the former student is in institutional care, suffering from a psychiatric illness that he claims is caused by the negligence of the school. The school denied the allegations.[27]
In 2011, a teacher was arrested for possession of images of child abuse. They were not of students from the school.[28]
In 2014, students filmed and uploaded an incident where a student rubbed their genitals on another boy's face. The Child Abuse Squad investigated the incident and a student was expelled.[29]
In 2016, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that the school had helped an alleged abuser move to another private school by withdrawing from the school rather than being expelled or suspended, making it easier to transfer to another school.[30] The royal commission found that the alleged abuser had ejaculated onto the victim's sleeping bag during a school camp which led to months of bullying and the school had not reported the incident to the police.[31] The headmaster, Timothy Hawkes, had told the parents of the victim that the boy "bore some of the blame" for subsequent bullying.[32]
That same year, at a Royal Commission Hearing, a man came forward about how he was sexually abused, assaulted, bullied, and choked in the 1970s. The witness, who was 11 years old at the time, said he was abused in the first week he arrived at the school, and called
Animal cruelty
In 2016, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation obtained footage of the school's rugby team crash-tackling sheep in a farm paddock. The headmaster at the time, Timothy Hawkes, defended the incident, stating that it was a "rugby camp training exercise not dissimilar to shearing".[34] RSPCA Australia attended the school to investigate the incident.[35]
On 29 March 2023, near the start of the annual
COVID-19
In July 2021, a staff member was reported to the police for violating public health orders and attending an anti-lockdown protest, including posting about the experience to social media.[42] The staff member was suspended from the school.[43]
In October 2021, the school was the only school in NSW to refuse a mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic. The headmaster Tony George stated that "NSW Education Department guidelines are primarily intended for NSW public schools", but as the school is independent, it only had a legal obligation to follow public health orders.[44]
Jobkeeper
The school came under fire for claiming the
School spending
In 2022, the school came under scrutiny over the school's spending and lack of transparency, after it approved a trip to fly business class for the school's headmaster Tony George, deputy and both of their wives to fly to watch the King's First VIII race in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.[46] It was later revealed that the school had also approved a plan to build a plunge pool for the headmaster's residence.[47] The business class flghts were forced to be repaid after an investigation revealed that it breached the Education Act, and was an improper use of funds.[48]
Group chats
In March 2010, a student posted racist comments about Aboriginal Australians onto Facebook, with other students replying to the comment expressing support. The school took down the comments and the students were made to write essays explaining why their comments were offensive.[49]
In April 2023, students were found to have sent racist and antisemitic messages on a private online group chat named "Studies of Religion" on WhatsApp and Instagram in September 2022. A spokesperson for The King's School stated that immediate action took place as soon as the school was made aware of the incident.[50][51]
Other controversies
In 2018, the principals of 34 Sydney Anglican diocese schools, including Kings, wrote to Prime Minister Scott Morrison opposing the overhaul of anti-discrimination laws that would protect gay teachers. The letter argued that the current exemptions under the Sex Discrimination Act are the only significant legal protections faith-based schools have to employ staff who support their ethos. The letter warned of unintended consequences if the exemptions were removed and called for religious freedom to be codified in legislation.[52]
Notable alumni
See also
- Old King's School, Parramatta
- List of non-government schools in New South Wales
- List of boarding schools in Australia
- GPS Schools
- Tudor House School
- G30 Schools
References
- ^ "Mission Statement and Goals 2003–2007" (PDF). Headmaster's Welcome. The King's School. 2003. p. 2. Retrieved 9 October 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c "A short history of The King's School, Parramatta". Australian Historical Society. 1903. Retrieved 22 October 2007.
- ^ "The King's School – The School Executive in detail". The King's School. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ a b "MySchool". MySchool Profile – ACARA. ACARA. Retrieved 11 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "The King's School". australianboardingschools.com.au. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "School profile | My School". myschool.edu.au. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- ^ a b "The King's School". New South Wales Schools. Australian Boarding Schools Association. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ^ "Greetings from the Headmaster". Headmaster's Office. The King's School. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ^ "International Members". HMC Schools. The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "AHISA Schools: New South Wales". Association of Heads of independent schools of Australia. April 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ^ "JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members". Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ^ "AAGPS History". Info. Athletic Association of the Greater Public Schools of New South Wales. 2007. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- Melbourne University Press. p. 49. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
- .
- ^ "The King's School". New South Wales. School Choice. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ^ Hawkes, Timothy (2007). "Celebrating 175 Years" (PDF). King's Herald. No. 1. Parramatta, NSW: The King's School (published 9 February 2007). p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007..
- ^ Ham, Melinda (26 October 2014). "What the blazers: private school uniform costs add up". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ kings.edu.au. "The King's School, North Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia". The King's School - Academic Excellence with Character Development. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Australian Army Cadets
- ^ "The Military at Parramatta". Archived from the original on 17 October 2007.
- ^ "Kings School Parramatta". The Organ Music Society of Sydney. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ^ "Rugby Football History". Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ Kruger, Andre. "The Southern Cross". Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ "British & Irish Lions Match Archive". Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ Lorna Knowles (19 May 2016). "King's School in Sydney investigated for animal cruelty after ABC obtains 'horrific' sheep-tackling video". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ Maddox, Garry (3 June 2013). "Great Scott: Sydney is Gatsby scene-stealer". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
For the Louisville home where the younger Gatsby meets Daisy before the war, the filmmakers shot at Gowan Brae, which houses junior boarders at The King's School in Parramatta.
- ^ "Man sues school over alleged beatings". amp.smh.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Ralston, Saffron Howden, Nick (14 June 2011). "Teacher among 11 charged over child porn". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Police investigate sexual contact claims at The King's School's at North Parramatta as alleged ringleader expelled". The Daily Telegraph. 30 August 2014.
- ^ "Kings head helped alleged abuser transfer to another school". ABC News. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ Fife-Yeomans, Janet (18 October 2017). "Abuse at exclusive schools revealed by royal commission". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Browne, Rachel (20 October 2016). "Alleged abuse victim told he 'bore some blame' for bullying, royal commission hears". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Former student details harrowing abuse at exclusive King's School in Sydney". ABC News. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "'Horrific' sheep-tackling video prompts investigation into Sydney school". ABC News. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ Pearlman, Jonathan (20 May 2016). "Anger as King's School's rugby teams filmed tackling sheep at farm". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ McMillan, Isabel. "Private school students investigated over allegedly killing a goanna".
- ^ "Prestigious Sydney school students investigated over killing of goanna". www.9news.com.au. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ Keoghan, Sarah (21 April 2023). "Police probe after King's School students allegedly kill goanna". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: King's headmaster breaks silence on animal cruelty case". 2GB. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ "'Difficult' time for students accused of killing goanna, headmaster says". www.9news.com.au. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ Harris, Lucy Carroll, Christopher (25 April 2023). "King's School headmaster calls out 'frenzy of public shaming' over goanna death". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Fitzsimmons, Jordan Baker, Caitlin (27 July 2021). "The King's School reports teacher for attending lockdown protest". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "King's School staff member who attended anti-lockdown protest reported to police, suspended". ABC News. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ Baker, Jordan (26 October 2021). "Masks required for high school students - except those at The King's School". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Millions in JobKeeper went to private schools that grew their surpluses". ABC News. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ Carroll, Jordan Baker, Lucy (21 June 2022). "King's School defends regatta trip, says business class trips with spouses are standard". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Baker, Lucy Carroll, Jordan (24 June 2022). "Plan for plunge pool at headmaster's residence at King's fuels tension". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Carroll, Lucy (10 August 2023). "Business class flights to be repaid following probe into King's School regatta trip". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Students punished over racist comments on net". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Cuneo, Clementine; Stewart, Elliott (27 April 2023). "Sex acts, racial slurs: Disturbing online chats at top Sydney school".
- ^ Staff, Ajn. "Antisemitic slurs exposed at top private Sydney school". www.australianjewishnews.com. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "Anglican principals warn over protections for gay teachers". SBS Language. Retrieved 27 April 2023.