Sydney Boys High School

Crest image © Sydney Boys High </div> Sydney Boys High School is a secondary school in Sydney, Australia. The school has 1140 students, from Year 7 to 12, and is a selective school catering for the academically-gifted. The school is famous for being the foundation of the New South Wales government-sponsored secondary education system in 1883. It is also known to for its success in academics, especially the Higher School Certificate. In particular, it is known as the best debating school within NSW, now having won the Hume Barbour Trophy and the Karl Cramp Trophy more times than any other high school. It has educated many high-profile and influential individuals who have reached the top of their fields on the global level. Sydney Boys High has the school colours of sky blue and chocolate brown, shown most noticeably through its striped rugby jersey.

History

The school was founded in 1883, making it the first boys' state school in Sydney. In 1896, the school became a member of the AAGPS (Athletics Association of Greater Public Schools). The school is famous for its high profile and powerful alumni, the many ex-student organisations and the originator of the NSW government higher education program. It was originally located on Castlereagh Street in the city of Sydney. Later, it moved to Mary Ann Street, Ultimo. In 1928, the school moved to its current location at Moore Park, on the fringe of the inner city.

Departments

The school is made up of 11 departments, also known as faculties, each teaching one or a variety of related Board of Studies-endorsed subjects. The departments are:

• English (Subjects: English, Drama)
• Mathematics (Subjects: Mathematics)
• Science (Subjects: Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics)
• Creative Arts (Subjects: Visual Arts, Architecture, Photography, Music). Note: The Creative Arts department is split into two subdepartments operating under different regulations and in different parts of the school. One is the Visual Arts subdepartment, the other is the Music subdepartment.
• Social Sciences (Subjects: Geography, Commerce, Business Studies, Legal Studies, Economics)
• Languages other than English (Subjects: French, German, Chinese, Latin, Classical Greek, Hebrew)
• Personal development, Health and Physical Education
• Industrial arts (Subjects: Design & Technology, Technical Drawing, Computer Studies, Engineering, Software Design, IPT)
• History (Subjects: History, Wars through the Ages, Empires, Ancient History, Modern History, History Extension)
• Welfare (Subjects: Character Education)
• Careers (no subjects offered)

Enrolment policy

Due to the fact that Sydney Boys High School is a selective school, it only accepts 180 students in year 7 who have passed an academic ability test in year 6. There are also places for entry in years 8-12, as well as a reserve list system in those years for those who have not been offered a place in other years.

Notable former students

Former students of SHS who have achieved distinction in various fields include:

Science

• Professor John Cornforth — Nobel Laureate for Chemistry (1975)
• Lord Robert May of Oxford — President of the Royal Society
• Ronald N. Bracewell — Lewis M. Terman Professor of Electrical Engineering, Emeritus of the Space, Telecommunications and Radioscience Laboratory at Stanford University
• Sir Grafton Elliot Smith — Anatomist
• Sir Douglas Mawson — Antarctic Explorer

Politics/Law

• Sir Roden Cutler, VC — Former NSW state governor
• Sir Earle Page — Prime Minister (for 11 days)
• Paddy McGuinness — newspaper columnist
• Hon. James Spigelman — judge (currently Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales)
• James Wolfensohn — former President of the World Bank
• Professor David Flint — former head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority
• Sir John Pilger — acclaimed journalist and documentary film-maker
• Hon. Lionel Murphy — judge (Justice of the High Court of Australia for 11 years]]
• Hon. Marcus Einfeld — judge (Federal Court of Australia) and UNICEF's Ambassador for Children

Arts

• Russell Crowe — starred in Gladiator, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Cinderella Man
• Jack Thompson — starred in Star Wars Episode II, McLeod's Daughters
• Daniel MacPherson — starred in Neighbours, hosted The X-Factor
• Richard Bonynge — conductor of the Vancouver Opera

Business

• René Rivkin — Disgraced stockbroker

Sports

• Craig Wing — sportsperson (Utility - Sydney Roosters NRL club)
• Chris Whitaker — sportsperson (Halfback - Wallabies)
• Duncan McRae — sportsperson
• Mark Strebina — sportsperson played for the Waratahs and Wales
• Danny Weidler — sports journalist currently on The Footy Show

Sports

Sydney Boys High has also a wide range of sports offered to its students, one factor distinguishing it from other government schools, such as having their own rowing sheds. Almost every sport excluding table tennis, is played against other schools of the GPS.

GPS Sports offered in Summer include;

• Tennis
• Rowing
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Swimming
• Sailing

GPS Sports offered in Winter include;

• Athletics
• Cross Country
• Fencing
• Rugby Union
• Rifle Shooting
• Association Football
• Volleyball
• Debating
• Table Tennis

Demographics

In recent times, Sydney Boys High School is known for the high number of people who speak a first language other than English, particularly those of Chinese, Korean, Indian and Vietnamese backgrounds. Sydney Boys High School takes pride in its demographic diversity, with students from all backgrounds and many religions.

See also

• List of schools in New South Wales

External links

• The High Club Ltd.
• Sydney High School Lodge
• The Sydney High School Old Boys' Union Ladies Auxiliary
• Sydney High School Old Boys Union Inc.
• The Sydney High School Foundation Inc.
• Parents & Citizens Association
• Sydney Boys High School
• NSW Department of Education and Training: Sydney Boys High School
• Sydney Boys High School Debating
• Islamic Society of Sydney Boys High
• Sydney Boys Rifle Shooting
• Sydney Boys High Cricket
• Sydney Boys High Basketball
• Sydney Boys High Rugby
• Sydney Boys High History Department Website

Categories: Schools established in the 19th century | Schools in New South Wales