This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Paaerduag (talk | contribs) at 12:58, 14 August 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 12:58, 14 August 2006 by Paaerduag (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Template:Infobox Aust school The Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) is a non-denominational, independent boys' school located in the suburb of Spring Hill in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
History
School affairs
Brisbane Grammar School was originally founded in 1868 under the Grammar Schools Act passed by the Queensland Government in 1860. It was the second school established under this act in Queensland, Australia (the first being Ipswich Grammar School).
The original school, designed by Benjamin Backhouse, was on the site of Roma Street in Brisbane City. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, 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, state-of-the-art 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. A large indoor sports centre 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 multipurpose classrooms which functions 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 physical education, assemblies, etc. There is also some interaction with the Upper School, for example each Year Eight and Nine class is assigned a group of year 12 students to act as form seniors, who participate in class activities. The form seniors help and nurture the smaller boys with the transition from Middle School to Secondary School.
Sexual abuse
Brisbane Grammar School was the subject of public controversy when a large number of former students claimed that they had been abused by Kevin Lynch, a former staff member. Lynch was employed as a school counselor at Brisbane Grammar School during the 1970s and 1980s, and also at St Paul's during the same time. . The former students claimed that they were tortured with needles and required to perform sexual acts for Lynch, and they also alleged that they had told Brisbane Grammar School staff about Lynch's activities, but were ignored. In 1997, shortly after having been charged with the sexual abuse of students at Brisbane Grammar School and St Paul's, Lynch committed suicide. In 2003, the former students rejected out-of-court compensation from the school, and claimed compensation through the law firm Shine Roche McGowan.
Headmasters
- Thomas Harlin (1869-1876)
- Reginald Heber Roe (1876-1909)
- F S N Bousfield (1909-1927)
- S Stephenson (1928-1939)
- G Carson Cooling (1940-1947)
- H R Pigott (1948-1952)
- A E McLucas (1953-1956)
- H R Newell (1956 - 1964)
- Dr Max Howell (1965-1989)
- Dr Peter Lennox (1990-2005)
- Brian Short (2006- )
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.
Students are required to wear full school uniform at all times. Two school uniforms exist - one for the Middle and the other for the Upper School. The Middle School Uniform (Yrs 6 - 8) consists of a blue, short-sleeved shirt with the School Crest embroidered on the pocket, short grey trousers with long socks and the School Hat. In winter, the boys also a wear a grey pullover. Upper School boys (Yrs 9 - 12) wear, in summer, a blue, short-sleeved shirt (with no crest), a school tie (Seniors and Prefects wear a different tie) and long grey trousers. No hat is worn. In winter, a white shirt, navy blue pullover and school blazer replace the blue shirt.
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 on the main campus, is home to a multi-purpose double basketball court sports hall (which can also accommodate 3 vollevball 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, Brisbane Broncos, 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 which accommodate Cricket, Rugby and Soccer fixtures. The fields are also used during the school week in for training in winter activities. 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. There is also a dining area located within the grandstand.
Academics
The school offers education from years 6 through to 12. In recent years, almost 100% of graduating students have received a first-round offer to a tertiary institution. All boys who pass through the school qualify for an OP.
Extracurricular Sports and Activities
The school offers various extra curricular activities. These include Water polo, Rugby Union, Soccer, Tennis, Cricket, Basketball, Volleyball, Rowing, Sailing, Swimming, Track and Field, Cross Country, Fencing, and many more. Grammar also offers a range of cultural activities, including drama, music, chess, and debating. Students may play in an Orchestra, Concert Band, Stage Band or individual ensembles for a range of instruments in Brass, Woodwinds, Strings and Percussion if they so choose.
The school is a member of the Great Public Schools of Queensland Association (GPS), this membership provides the competitions in sports and several other endeavours. Most competitions are played out on Saturdays at any number of the schools' sporting facilities. On the main campus two playing fields, ten tennis courts, a gymnasium, two indoor basketball courts, three indoor volleyball courts and a swimming pool are on-site for sporting activities, whilst cricket, rugby and soccer fixtures are conducted at the Northgate campus. Sailing is conducted 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 and producing more Australian representatives than any other sport at the school. Current Australian players include Toby Jenkins (Athens Olympics), Jordan Votan and Ashley Burgess (U20 Australian Team)and Mitch McCann (U18 Australian Team). In 2006 BGS's Senior A debating team achieved a credible 2nd in the GPS competition after losing only one debate in the last round to GPS champions Gregory Terrace. Several team members achieved selection in the QLD team which won the National Titles. Of special note is Paterick Beagley who was selected to represent Australia in the world championship winning team in Wales in mid 2006.
Notes
- 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.
References
- Private Injury Lawyers Sexual Abuse Scandal
- Shine Roche McGowan Website Sexual Abuse Scandal
- Report of the Board of Inquiry into Past Handling of Complaints of Sexual Abuse in the Anglican Chruch Diocese of Brisbane, Sexual Abuse Scandal
- 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.
- Historical information 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.
External link
| Members of Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc. | |
|---|---|