Brisbane Grammar School
Template:Infobox Aust school private
Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is the oldest secondary boys school in Brisbane.[1]
Established in 1868 under the Grammar Schools Act which was passed by the Queensland Government in 1860, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 1424 students from Years 6 to 12,[1] including 135 boarders.[2]
Brisbane Grammar is affiliated with the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA),[2] the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[3] Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ),[4] and is a founding member of the Great Public Schools' Association Inc (GPS).[5]
History
Brisbane Grammar School was originally founded in 1868 under the Grammar Schools Act, which had been passed by the Queensland Government in 1860. It was the second school established under this act in Queensland, with the first being Ipswich Grammar School.
The original school, designed by Benjamin Backhouse, was on the site of Roma Street in Brisbane City. HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (1844–1900), second son of Queen Victoria, laid the foundation stone at the site on February 21 1868. In 1881, the school was moved a few hundred metres away to its current site on Gregory Terrace in Spring Hill to make way for the Roma Street Railway Station, which still stands today.
Following the opening of the boarding house in 1886, science laboratories were constructed in 1912. A new library and assembly hall were constructed in 1969 as a celebration of the school's centenary.
During the mid 1990s, the school commenced work on the off-campus Northgate ovals, which now consist of six fields that are used for cricket, rugby union and soccer fixtures. The M A Howell Indoor Sports Centre, named after prominent Headmaster Dr Maxwell Howell, was completed in 2000, and the old gymnasium was later renovated to become the new Centre for Art.
In 2002, the school underwent a major redevelopment with the construction of a new Middle School, which had its first intake of grade 6 and 7 students in 2003. This Middle School consists of a large block of multi-purpose classrooms, functioning as a complete school in itself, with its own teachers and independent timetables. Grade 6 and 7 students spend most of their time in the Middle School, although they do use the facilities of the "Upper School" for such activities as physical education and assemblies.
Headmasters
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| 1869 – 1876 | Thomas Harlin |
| 1876 – 1909 | Reginald Heber Roe |
| 1909 – 1927 | F S N Bousfield |
| 1928 – 1939 | S Stephenson |
| 1940 – 1947 | G Carson Cooling, Old Boy of Brisbane Grammar School |
| 1948 – 1952 | H R Pigott |
| 1953 – 1956 | A E McLucas |
| 1956 – 1963 | H R Newell, Old Boy of Brisbane Grammar School |
| 1964 – 1989 | Dr Max Howell |
| 1990 – 2005 | Dr Peter Lennox |
| 2006 – Present | Brian Short, Old Boy of Brisbane Grammar School. |
Academics
Curriculum
Brisbane Grammar School offers education from years 6 through to 12. The academic programme is tailored to suit the needs of its students. In recent years, around 95% of graduating students have received a first-round offer to a tertiary institution. The school offers mainstream subjects including English, Mathematics (A, B and C), Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science), History (Modern and Ancient), Geography, Economics, Physical Education, Music, Technology Studies, Art, Drama and Languages other than English (French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Latin).
In addition, the school focuses on a specific academic scope of learning aimed at educating life-skills required in the future. As of late, it has introduced updated technology to assist the students learning from school as well as home. The school also has six computer rooms equipped with 30 computers each, as well as laptop facilities in the Middle School. For the Middle School, Brisbane Grammar School offers the mainstream subjects.
Recent results
In recent years, 95% of graduating students have received a first-round offer to a tertiary institution.[6] In 2006, the school had its second best results since the introduction of the OP system, claiming 49 OP1s. The combined percentage, of OP 1-2 was 30.45% of the school, population which far execeeded the state's average of 5.2%. 68.31% of the students received between and OP1 and an OP7 (the state percentage being 25.4%). 91.8% of the cohort received an OP between 1 and 13. The median OP score was OP5.[1]
With respect to the school's 2008 results, more than one in four students (26.4%) of the cohort achieved an OP 1 or 2. The OP 1-7 result of 63.2% (State 27.4%) was well above the historical average and fourth best result ever and the OP 1-13 result was at 90.1% (State 60.9%) and was the third best result in the school's history.[2]
Extracurricular activities
Cultural Activities
Students are able to participate in an Orchestra, Concert Band, Stage Band, Choir or individual ensembles. Each year, the Music Department performs at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. The school also has a thriving Drama program presenting a range of plays and musicals. In additions opportunities in debating and public speaking are offered, with the school participating in Queensland Debating Union and Greater Public Schools annual competitions.
Additionally, Brisbane Grammar School has recently revamped its participation in enterprise education groups. With the newly reformed Economics and Enterprise Club, students are gaining exciting experiences through external competitions such as YAA, Ecoman and ABW.
Sport
The school offers a range of mainstream sporting activities, including rugby, soccer, tennis, cricket, gymnastics, swimming, rowing, sailing, chess and volleyball within the GPS association of schools, as well as many others such as water polo, fencing, Australian Rules Football and taekwon-do.
GPS membership
Brisbane Grammar School is a member of the Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc. (GPS). The school's membership enables its students to participate in sporting competitions as well as engage in endeavours such as debating. Most competitions are played out on Saturdays at any of the schools' sporting facilities. The main campus comprises four playing fields in addition to eight tennis courts. Many fixtures, including cricket, rugby and soccer, are conducted at the Northgate campus. Sailing is run on Sundays at RQYS, Manly, and the GPS championship is held at the end of the season. The school also competes in some non-GPS sports, such as Fencing and Water Polo. The school has had long standing success in water polo, winning the competition for 12 of the last 13 years.[citation needed]
Recent achievements
In 2006, BGS's Senior A debating team achieved 2nd in the GPS competition after losing only one debate in the last round to GPS champions St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace. [citation needed] Also in 2006, the School won six GPS titles (GPS Cross Country, GPS Volleyball, First VI Volleyball, First XI Soccer, GPS Sailing, and GPS Chess), four more titles than any other GPS school.
In March 2007, the school secured the O'Connor Cup by winning the 1st VIII race at the annual Brisbane GPS Head of the River. Furthermore, the 2007 Senior A Debating Team became the champions of the QDU state competition, with a team member making the Australian side.
In 2008, the Senior A team won the GPS premiership undefeated and 2 team members achieved selection in the QLD team[7].
Campus
Indoor sports centre
The M A Howell Indoor Sports Centre was officially opened by the then Governor of Queensland, Major General Peter Arnison on March 3 2000. The centre, which is situated on the main campus, is home to a multi-purpose double basketball court sports hall (which can also accommodate 3 volleyball courts, 6 badmington courts, 12 fencing pistes as well as indoor soccer), an aquatic centre with a 10-lane, 25m heated swimming pool, a gymnasium featuring a deep foam pit, parallel bars and rings and a spectator area with seating for 150 people during sporting events, as well as a weights room and theory rooms and amenities. This sports centre has hosted local and international sporting teams, such as the Queensland Reds, Australian Wallabies, Brisbane Broncos, New Zealand All Blacks, Australian cricket team, United States Swimming squad and the English Rugby team.
Northgate playing fields
Work commenced on the Northgate Playing Fields in the mid 1990s, which now have six ovals, accommodating cricket, rugby union, soccer and Australian Rules Football fixtures. The fields are also used during the school week, especially for winter activities training sessions. Canteen facilities are provided on game days. Adjacent to the main oval is a small stadium which caters for seating for one half of the field, which also contains a dining area. The playing fields were used by the Australian Cricket Team prior to the 2006/2007 Ashes campaign, where they trained with the school's First XI. [citation needed]
Normanby playing fields
Normanby, adjacent to the school grounds, habours tennis courts and minor track and field facilities. Students visit this facility for PE lessons as well as sports training sessions. It is separated from the main campus by a public footbridge.
Auditoriums and theatres
The school has 3 major auditoriums and a theatre: The Centenary Hall, The Great Hall, The Theatre and The Music Auditorium.
Centenary Hall accommodates the entire 1400 student body for weekly assemblies. The hall is also used for other events such as breakfasts, music concerts, debates, theatrical productions and year-level tests. The gallery above the hall can accommodate 2 year groups for lectures.
The Great Hall is one of the school's most historic buildings. The walls have various honour-boards commemorating academic, sporting and cultural achievements, as well as honouring the names of those who have served in wars. The stage is overlooked by a 10 by 3 metre stain-glass window, with Queen Victoria and her knights of the realm as a central feature. The hall provides venue for Form Year Asssemblies, Public speaking, debating and vocal performances. It is also used for dinner parties (such as the Old-Boys Association's reunions or the 'Mothers of Past Student'’ gatherings) and weddings for old-boys.
The Drama Theatre can seat approximately 300 and provides excellent acoustics for Theatrical productions. The school holds a Junior School Play and a Senior School Play once a year and a musical every 2 years.
The Music Auditorium is a venue used to highlight the school's large music program. During the year a varied program of choral, concert and stage band and orchestral concerts take place.
Moogerah Outdoor Education Centre
Brisbane Grammar School’s off-campus centre at Pepperina Hill, near Lake Moogerah, was opened in 1976 and is named the Moogerah Outdoor Education Centre (colloquially referred to as Moogerah). The school sends each form class from grades 8, 9 and 10 out to the campus to strengthen intra-class relationships and morale, as well as develop team-working and leadership skills. Class, "Form Seniors" also attend the camp to build the relationship between the senior, and younger students. The five day programme includes such activities as rock-climbing, bushwalking, orienteering, canoeing, and a camp-out in the bush at the foot of a mountain.
The centre is also used for various other school activities: Writer’s camps, Musical composition camps, scientist-in-residence camps, sport training and fieldwork in senior courses. The rowers, in the past while the lake was at a higher capacity, have utilised the camp’s boatshed on the lake’s edge for training.
The Lilley Centre
The most recent construction project of the school is a centre located on the College Road side of the main campus (named after old boy Charles Lilley), and will house several classrooms equipped with learning technologies, a library, a lecture room and a 'seniors' study room. The centre is due for completion at the start of the 2010 school year.
School colours and uniform
The School has adopted two sets of colours. The first was introduced by Thomas Harlin, Headmaster 1869–1876. They are red and gold and are now associated with academia. Reginald Heber Roe, Headmaster 1876–1909, introduced the sporting colours of Oxford and Cambridge Blue which are now seen as the main representative colours of the school. They still hold a particularly special relationship with sporting activities, represented by various school chants and war cries that mention the Light Dark Blue.
Paedophile compensation controversy
In 2003, the school was involved in controversy when it attempted to recover damages from its insurer following students' claims that they had been sexually abused by Kevin Lynch, school counsellor between the 1976 and 1988.[8][9]
Some 70 former students sued the school, alleging Lynch sexually abused them during counselling sessions. Rejecting out-of-court settlements, some of the victims claimed compensation in the Supreme Court of Queensland. Two former students had allegedly lodged complaints about Lynch's conduct with then headmaster of the school, Maxwell Howell, in the early 1980s and the issue was quietly investigated, however Grammar was unaware the details had to be passed on to its insurer.[8] For failing to notify its insurer of the complaints made of Lynch, the school thus became liable for $AUD1.17 million in legal fees and compensation.[8]
Lynch was charged in January 1997 over the abuses perpetrated at both St Paul's School (where he was subsequently employed) and Brisbane Grammar. Lynch committed suicide on January 23 1997, the day after being charged. [8][10]
Notable alumni
- Robin Dods, eminent architect
Rhodes Scholars
| Year[11] | Name[11] |
|---|---|
| 1904 | ROE, Arthur S. |
| 1905 | LESLIE, Norman |
| 1908 | CASTLEHOW, Stanley |
| 1909 | BROWN, Leonard G |
| 1911 | DENHAM, Harold K. |
| 1914 | ROW, Allan W.L. |
| 1915 | RADCLIFFE, John N. |
| 1918 | PATERSON, Frederick W. |
| 1919 | GRENNING, Victor |
| 1927 | HIRSCHFELD, F. Konrad S. |
| 1928 | LAVERY, John H. |
| 1930 | KERR, Cecil E. |
| 1939 | NEWMAN, James K. |
| 1958 | BAXTER, Thomas |
| 1960 | HILDEBRAND, Clive P. |
| 1967 | FENWICK, John M. |
| 1978 | WETHERALL, Peter J. |
| 1981 | MARKWELL, Donald |
| 1982 | ROSE, David M. |
| 1992 | BOTSMAN, Daniel V. |
| 2006 | LUKE, Nicholas (Class of '99) |
| 2007 | GOSS, Ryan A.(Class of '99) |
References
- ^ a b "Schools Reporting 2006" (PDF). Staff & Students. Brisbane Grammar School. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ a b "Brisbane Grammar School". Schools. Australian Boarding Schools' Association. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ "AHISA Schools". Queensland. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Brisbane Grammar, School". School Search. Independent Schools Queensland. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ "GPS Schools". Sport and Music. Brisbane State High School. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ Academic notes Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7 2006; Report detailing academic results of the 2004 Senior cohort Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- ^ http://www.brisbanegrammar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=148&Itemid=57 Boys Grammar Debaters Selected For State Team Official BGS Website Retrieved November 3, 2008
- ^ a b c d David Murray, School pays sex victims, Courier Mail, November 05, 2006 Cite error: The named reference "couriermail" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Board of Enquiry report, Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, April 22, 2003
- ^ Survivor Link
- ^ a b "Queensland Rhodes Scholars" (doc). Rhodes Scholarship. University of Queensland. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- Academic notes Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- Report detailing academic results of the 2004 Senior cohort Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- Development dates Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- Description of school population Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- School colours information Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- Extra curricular information Official BGS website. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- Historical information State Library of Queensland. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- Article that comments on the Brisbane Broncos training at Northgate The Courier Mail. Retrieved January 7 2006.
- 2006 OP information Official BGS website Retrieved February 8 2007
- http://www.afi.org.au/
- 2008 Academic ResultsOfficial BGS website. Retrieved March 6 2009