Arthur Phillip High School

Arthur Phillip High School
File:APHS logo.png
Address
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°48′59.08″S 151°0′23.95″E
Information
Type	Coeducational public high school
Established	1875
Principal	Lynne Goodwin
Grades	7–12
Enrollment	1,490
Website	http://aphs.nsw.edu.au/

Arthur Phillip High School (APHS) is a coeducational public high school in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. The school was established in 1875 and is the oldest public school in its district. It took its present name in 1960, after Arthur Phillip, the first governor of the state of New South Wales and the founder of the city of Sydney.

In 2009 APHS had 1507 students across years 7–12 and 105 teaching staff.

The campus is located at the corner of Smith St & Macquarie St in Parramatta's central business district, extending across two sides of Macquarie Street. The 'front' of the school faces Smith Street as does its main entrance, though it is rarely used and is an artifact of a different structure which has now changed due to the school's numerous appendages. The school has a central courtyard around which the main classroom buildings are arranged, and additional sports grounds which have gradually decreased in size due to an increase in demountable classrooms.

There is a playing field across the road from the main school building, but it is largely covered with portable classrooms (17 as of July 2007). In 2002 the playing field was not covered with any classrooms at all, but slowly as student numbers have increased so have the demountable classrooms. The school also has a large multi-purpose hall with a stage, and three basketball (or netball) courts.

The school makes use of various forms of technology. The vast majority of classrooms contain a projector, which may be used by teachers at their discretion as a tool. The entire school has wireless Internet connectivity, and makes extensive use of Apple laptop computers (a plentiful supply of which is owned), in effect equipping most classrooms with computers as necessary.

History

APHS has a long history, dating back to the beginnings of the city of Sydney. At the front of the main side of its "split" campus the Old School House building, now a museum, is situated and contains photos and items pertaining to education in Australia's early colonial era and beyond. The Old School House is the oldest continually used educational building in Sydney.

Very early on APHS was a boys' school, but eventually became coeducational.

Lynne Goodwin has been principal of the school since 1996.

Academic record

Below is a summary of the school students' recent performance in the New South Wales Higher School Certificate.

Students scoring within the top few places in a HSC subject, and thus receiving a top state ranking for that subject, has occurred on several occasions. In recent history, a state ranking was achieved for: the Category B (VET) subject of Business Services in two separate HSC years, and also for the Mathematics Extension 1 (3-unit) examination in 2005.

2005

In the HSC for the year of 2005, 9 students achieved a UAI over 90, with the top student achieving a UAI of 99.00 and receiving a Premier's Award (which is awarded for receiving top bands for any 10 units of study, not necessarily including the compulsory minimum of 2 units of English). This same student receiving a Premier's Award achieved a state ranking of 10^th in the Mathematics Extension 1 (3-unit) HSC examination. For that same year, approximately 70 out of 214 (33%) year 12 students gained admission to a university course.

2006

In the HSC for the year of 2006, 10 students received a UAI greater than 90. The highest achieved UAI for this year was 99.65. No state rankings were achieved. No Premier's awards were achieved. Similarly to the previous year, approximately 70 students out of the year 12 grade gained admission to a university.

Sydney tabloid newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported on 10 October 2007, on the basis of figures obtained under freedom of information laws, that APHS ranked 3rd in Australia for the amount of unpaid leave taken by teachers in 2006. They curiously recorded 1,298 days-off in this limited type of leave measure alone, which was a significant feat for any school let alone one of as typical student and teacher numbers as APHS.

2007

In the HSC for the year of 2007, 16 students received a UAI greater than 90, with the top student receiving 98.55 and a Premier's award. Two state rankings were achieved independently of each other (and neither by highest UAI achiever): 17th for Business Studies, and 5th for Retail Operations. One Premier's award, as stated, was achieved. By considerable margins, the school students' HSC performance in 2007 was the best in at least the last 10 years, with a comparatively very high university acceptance rate, median UAI, and top-heaviness of UAIs. Approximately 40% of year 12 students gained admission to a university.

2008

In the HSC for the year of 2008, 14 students received a UAI greater than 90, with the top student receiving 98.40 UAI. Out of the entire cohort 75 students were accepted into university. A state ranking was also achieved: 3rd in English as a Second Language.

Alumni

Australian actress Kym Valentine, best known for her role as Libby Kennedy in the long running Australian soap opera Neighbours, attended the school before moving to Melbourne in order to pursue her acting career by taking the role of Libby.

External links

• Official website
• NSW Department of Education and Training (DET): Arthur Phillip High School