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Fort Street High School

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Fort Street High School is a co-educational, academically selective, Public high school currently located at Petersham, an inner western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in 1849, it is the oldest government high school in Australia, and today, it remains a public school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training. Fort Street High School is renowned for the accomplishments that its graduates have achieved, and as a selective school, it draws students from across metropolitan Sydney and across the multicultural spectrum.

To avoid confusion due to the school's history of separation, amalgamation, and relocation, the present school is designated Fort Street High School, Petersham for official government purposes. The school's motto is "Faber est suae quisque fortunae", translated from Latin as "Every man is the maker of his own fortune", which is attributed to the Roman historian Sallust. Fort Street High School has a sister school, Suginami Sogo High School, in Tokyo, Japan.[1]

History

Collectable School Cigarette card featuring the Fort Street Boys' High colours & crest, c. 1920's.

The history of public education in Australia began when the Governor of New South Wales, Charles Augustus FitzRoy, established a Board of National Education on 8 January 1848 to implement a national system of education throughout the colony. The board decided to create two model schools, one for boys and one for girls. The site of Fort Street Model School was chosen as the old Military Hospital at Fort Phillip, on Sydney's Observatory Hill[2]. This school was not only intended to educate boys and girls, but also to serve as a model for other schools in the colony. The school's name is derived from the name of a street which ran into the grounds of the hospital and became part of the playground during its reconstruction. The street name is perpetuated in the small street in Petersham that leads to the present school. The school was officially established on 1 September 1849, when the conversion of the building was approved by the government. This original school building is visible today beside the southern approaches to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The establishment of Fort Street School marked the establishment of a non-denominational system of school, where the government undertook the education of its people, separate from religion.

In 1911, the school was split into one primary and two secondary schools: Fort Street Public School, Fort Street Boys' High School and Fort Street Girls' High School. Due to space limitations at Observatory Hill, in 1916, the Boy's school was moved to the school's present site, on Taverner's Hill, Petersham. The Girls' school remained at Observatory Hill until 1975, when the two schools were amalgamated to form the current co-educational school at Petersham. During that time, its grounds continued to be consumed by the growing city; for example, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which opened in 1932, took most of the playground. Fort Street Public School remains at Observatory Hill.

The school celebrated its sesquicentenary in 1999. Its student population is now a diverse one; students come from over 100 suburbs in Sydney, from places as far as Hornsby, the Blue Mountains, and Cabramatta. 539 of the 930 students have one of thirty different languages as their native tongue.[3] Students past and present are referred to as "Fortians".

Campus

The Wilkins building of the present Fort Street High School

Fort Street High School is currently located on Parramatta Road in Petersham, a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney. The school occupies almost the entire street block, and is surrounded by Parramatta Road, Palace Street, and Andreas Street.

The Petersham campus centres on the Romanesque style main building, now named the Wilkins Building after William Wilkins, who played an instrumental role in the formation of the education system in New South Wales in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The other buildings include the Kilgour building, the Memorial Hall and the newest additions, the Cohen and Rowe buildings, which were completed in 2004.

School facilities include a library, a gymnasium, an oval, two tennis courts, two basketball courts, two cricket practice nets, a canteen, and a performing arts block.

The school's original Observatory Hill campus is now used by the National Trust of Australia.

Curriculum

The curriculum at the school is divided into three parts[4]:

  • Stage 4 - Years 7 and 8
  • Stage 5 - Years 9 and 10
  • Stage 6 - Years 11 and 12

In Stages 4 & 5, English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, and Physical Education are compulsory courses. Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Design & Technology are compulsory in Stage 4. Additionally, students learn two different languages in Years 7 & 8. They may choose from French, German, Chinese, or Japanese.

Science class at Fort Street High School in 1930

In Stage 5, students are given a choice of three elective subjects, which include:

  • Languages
  • Elective History
  • Performing Arts (Music & Drama)
  • Industrial Technologies (ICT, Woodwork, Electronics)
  • Commerce

The Stage 6 course includes study for the Preliminary HSC and the Higher School Certificate. In order to satisfy requirements for the Higher School Certificate, each student must complete at least twelve units of study for the Preliminary course and at least ten units for the Higher School Certificate. The only compulsory subject is English. Students may also undertake VET courses, which may or may not contribute to their UAI in the HSC. A full list of Board-endorsed courses can be found at the Board of Studies' Website[1], and a full list of courses that the school offers can be found at the school's website[2].

Fort Street High also offers a wide range of sports as part of its formal and co-curricular programs. Year 7 - 11 students experience sports through the Physical Education program, and Years 8 - 12 participate in Zone and knockout sport. Students who are not involved in competition undertake in Year 8 skill-based sport, and in Years 9 - 11 recreational sports. Sports offered include Hockey, Rugby Union, Aerobics, Basketball, Ice Skating, Netball, Soccer, Cricket, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Baseball, and Touch Football. Each year, students acieve excellent results at both national and regional events.[5]

The Instrumental Music Program is the largest co-curricular program in the school involving over 250 students[6]. The large bands include the:

  • Wind Ensemble
  • Wind Orchestra
  • Concert Band
  • Training Band
  • Symphony Orchestra
  • Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Training Strings
  • Vocal Ensemble

And the extension bands:

  • Stage Band
  • Big Band
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Percussion Ensemble
  • String Ensemble

Student representation

The student body is represented by the Student Representative Council (SRC). Four males and four female students from each year are elected by their peers at the end of the third term of each year, excepting Year 7 Represntatives. The SRC is responsible for the annual Valentine's Day Roses and a Year 7 welcome dance, and are exploring more active fundraising for charity.[7]

The Fortians Union

The Fortians Union was formed by the amalgamation of the Old Boys' Union and the Fort Street Old Girls' Union. The Union's aims are:

  • To promote amongst its members social fellowship
  • To render assistance to the Fort Street High School
  • To encourage general appreciation of the traditions of Fort Street

The Union holds an annual dinner on the third Friday of October, and encourages all former sutdents to hold their reunions at this event, usually at a city venue. This event is the main fundraiser for the Union.[8]

Any person who has been a Fort Street Student for a year is elegible to join the Union.

School traditions

School assemblies are held at the Memorial Hall

The school is organised into four Houses, to which each student is assigned. The Houses are named after prominent alumni, two male and two female, and representing different areas of endeavour: Barton, Mawson, Kennedy, and Preston.

Since 1899, the school has published the Fortian magazine, now published yearly. The name later came to refer to all students of the schools past and present[9]. An extensive alumni network is maintained through the Fortians Union, which publishes Faber Est, a monthly newsletter.

An annual Speech Day is held near the beginning of each year at which student achievements are recognised and awards are presented. An address is given by a prominent alumnus/alumna. In the past, Speech Day events have been held at various venues including the school's Memorial Hall and the Sydney Opera House[9]. In recent years, however, the ceremony has always been held at Sydney Town Hall.

Throughout its history, the various Fort Street schools have had a large number of school songs. At present, at assemblies, the simply-named the School Song is sung, as well as Gaudeamus Igitur. In recent years, a number of past school songs, such as Fort Street's Name Rings Around the World have also been revived, and are sung at the annual Speech Day.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Fort Street High School include:

Politics and law

Business and industry

Science and academia

Rhodes Scholars

Arts and media

Sports

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.suginamisogo-h.metro.tokyo.jp/simaikou/Sealing_Ceremony.htm
  2. ^ http://www.fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/main.html
  3. ^ http://www.fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/about/enrolments/index.html
  4. ^ http://www.fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/about/curriculum/index.html
  5. ^ http://www.fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/about/sport/index.html
  6. ^ http://www.fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/community/imp/index.html
  7. ^ http://www.fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/community/src/index.html
  8. ^ http://www.fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/community/fortiansunion/index.html
  9. ^ a b Horan (1999)
  10. ^ p. 173, Monash Biographical Dictionary of 20th century Australia, eds. John Arnold and Deirdre Morris, Reed Reference Publishing, Port Melbourne, 1994, ISBN 1-875589-19-8.
  11. ^ "Sydney student wins NSW Rhodes Scholarship" — University of Sydney, (retrieved 28 October 2006)
  12. ^ "NSW Rhodes Scholars" — University of Sydney list, (retrieved 29 June 2006)
  13. ^ http://www.harrymmiller.com.au/Deborah_Hutton.html?id=202
  14. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/josh-pyke/2007/04/09/1175970989534.html

Further reading

  • Horan, Ronald S. (1999). Maroon and Silver - Fort Street Sesquicentenary 1849-1999. Sydney: Honeysett Press. ISBN 0-9587276-2-7. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Horan, Ronald S. (1990). Fort Street. Sydney: Geographics. ISBN 0-9592229-4-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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