'St Andrew's Cathedral School' is an
independent, non-selective,
Anglican day school located in the heart of the city of
Sydney,
New South Wales Australia. The school caters for approximately 1100 students from kindergarten to year 12, with boys only from K-9 and a
co-educational Senior College (years 10-12).
As the school was founded from the
Cathedral traditions, St Andrew's is legally supervised by the Cathedral Chapter which appoints and approves members of the School Council which was formed in 1979. The Council is responsible for administering the School's policies and formulating its mission and vision as well as appointing successive Heads of School.
St Andrew's Cathedral School is a member of the international Choir Schools' Association and
Independent Schools Association (ISA).
The school announced that it anticipates introducing the
International Baccalaureate program by around
20099.
History
Bishop Alfred Barry, Founder of St Andrew's Cathedral School
'St Andrew's Cathedral School' was founded by the third Bishop of Sydney, Dr
Alfred Barry. The School was opened on
14 July 1885 in the St Andrew's Schoolroom in
Pitt Street,
Sydney.
At the School opening, Bishop Barry stated that St Andrew's was established to provide ''the choristers with a high-class, free education on Church principles, in addition to a musical training''.
When it was opened, the School occupied the Old Baptist Church premises, on the corner of Bathurst and Kent Streets, where it remained until 1882. The School started with 27 boys, of whom 22 were choristers and although it was later nicknamed the "Choir School", provision was made for non-choristers to attend. Enrolments reached a total of 80 in 1892, but suddenly dropped to about 50 and remained at this number for many years.
St. Andrew's Church in Pitt Street (now Stafford House) was the next home of the School and remained so from 1892 to 1914 when it was moved to St. Phillip's Church Hill.
The School made several subsequent moves to the old Deanery (Church House) in 1917 and to the "Worker" Building in 1937. In 1961 the Cathedral Chapter and Standing Committee, after years of deliberation decided to commence Stage One of a vast master plan to redevelop the Cathedral Site. As a result Stage One of the "New School was built along Kent Street, from the Bathurst Street corner and adjoining the old "Worker Building.
Many changes and developments have taken place since then, and for the three and a half years from 1973 to August 1976, the School was housed temporarily in the CENEF Building, Kent Street.
On Friday, 13 August 1976, St. Andrew's Cathedral School returned to its original site and occupied the 7th and 8th floors of the St. Andrew's House.
[4]. The School has its own entrance off Kent Street and a dedicated School lift to Levels 7 and 8.
The School commenced outdoor education in
1982 using hired properties. During
1984, the School purchased a 100 acre rural property at Penrose, near
Moss Vale in the
NSW Southern Highlands for its own outdoor education campsite.
Bishop Barry Senior College, the School occupied Ground Floor and Levels 1 to 4
In
1991, the School established a senior secondary learning centre at 51 Druitt Street, Sydney, in close proximity to St Andrew's House. The Premier of NSW, Mr. Nick Greiner, officially opened the Bishop Barry Senior Secondary Centre.
In
1997 the School Council decided that St Andrew's students would be better prepared for post-school work, study and lifestyle choices if the School became co-educational in Years 10, 11 and 12. Accordingly in Term 1,
1999 the first 76 girls commenced in the Senior College. St Andrew's had become the only co-educational school in the City.
In
1999 the School's Student Business Club formed a working partnership with the
Sydney 2000 Paralympics Organising Committee (SPOC) to raise awareness of the Games. In addition the students conducted a range of events over a two year period that ultimately raised $100,000 to help stage the Sydney 2000
Paralympic Games[5].
In
2001, the School negotiated long term occupancy in St Andrew's House by signing a 120-year lease for its facilities.
The Reverend Canon Melville Cooper Newth
OBE, the 11th and longest-serving Headmaster of St Andrew’s Cathedral School, died peacefully on
21 October,
2004. He was aged 90. Canon Newth served the School as Headmaster for 38 years
[6].
2005 marks the School 120th years of education in the city. At the same time, Mr. Phillip Heath celebrate his 10th Anniversary year as the Head of School. Mr Heath started at St Andrew's Cathedral School on
May 8 1995.
St Andrew's House, the School occupied Levels 6 to 8 and Southern end of Ground Level
2005 also saw the School Council confirm the decision to vacate the Leadership and Enterprise Centre at 495 Kent Street (fondly known as "495").
2006 was the centenary year of the Old Andreans' Association (OAA) which is the alumni organisation of St Andrew's Cathedral School. The OAA was originally the Old Boys' Union, with the name being changed with the entry of girls to the Senior College. The OAA was established by the School's third Headmaster, the Reverend Percy Simpson in 1906. The first president of the then Union was the Hon Mr Justice Webb, a judge of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW. He held office for over 40 years. In the last five years, the OAA has become an incorporated entity, and has improved its governance arrangements greatly. It continues to provide a means of maintaining contacts between Old Andreans and their school. Some other distinguished members of the OAA include Mr Ken Tribe AC, Lt-Gen John Grey AC as well as Simon Tedeschi, Sir
Charles Kingsford-Smith, composer John Antill and Paralympic swimmer Matt Levy.
On
13 March,
2006, Her Majesty
The Queen, His Royal Highness the
Duke of Edinburgh and the
Earl of Wessex, with representatives of
Commonwealth nations, and Australian community leaders were present at the
Commonwealth Day Observance in St Andrew’s Cathedral. The invitation came from
the Prime Minister and
Mrs Howard, and the
Dean and
Chapter of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.
The Choristers from St Andrew’s Cathedral School sang at the service, which was led by the Dean of Sydney, the Very Rev. Phillip Jensen, who designed and wrote the service, including special prayers. The Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev. Dr
Peter Jensen preached the sermon. The Prime Minister and the Premier of NSW read the Bible passages. The music at the service was under the direction of Ross Cobb, the School’s Master of Choristers.
[7]
The School was also privileged to be asked to carry flags of the 53 Commonwealth countries into the Cathedral before the service began
[8]. These students were chosen from the 250 people in the Senior College who volunteered for the task. In addition, the School Captains enjoyed the special treat of attending the refreshments at
Admiralty House representing the School.
On
22 September,
2006 a new entrance to the school was opened. The entrance was opened by former Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Sir
Marcus Loane,
KBE and attended by the Lord Mayor of Sydney,
Clover Moore, as well as many parents and friends of students. The entrance is directly opposite the west door to
St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney Square and is spacious and has a contemporary design. The school's address subsequently changed from 474 Kent Street, Sydney to Sydney Square, Sydney.
Heads of School
★ 1885 - 1892: The Rev A R Rivers, MA
★ 1893 - 1895: The Rev G D Shenton, MA
★ 1895 - 1907: The Rev P J Simpson, MA
★ 1907 - 1916: The Rev E N Wilton, BA
★ 1916 - 1918: The Rev R E Freeth, MA
★ 1918 - 1920: The Rev C H Lea, MA, ThSchol
★ 1920 - 1929: The Rev M Searcy, MA, ThL
★ 1930 - 1934: The Rev L N Sutton, MA, ThL
★ 1934 - 1938: The Rev M K Jones, MBE, BA, ThL
★ 1938 - 1941: The Rev S C S Begbie, ThL
★ 1941 - 1979: The Rev Canon M C Newth, OBE, BA, ThL, FACE
★ 1979 - 1995: Dr A K Beavis, BSc, DipEd, MEdAdmin, PhD, ARCM, AmusA, FACE
★ 1995 - Current: Mr P J Heath, BA(Hons), MA(Hons), DipEd, MACE, MACEA
Co-Education
In Term 1, 1999 the school introduced the first girls into the senior college, and 76 girls entered into years 10, 11 and 12.
During the 2006 speech night, the school revealed a plan to introduce full co-educational years from kindergarten through to the last year of school in 2008
[9], but at this present time there are only 6 girls currently enrolled in Middle School (by requests made privately to the school). The School will introduce twin classes (single-sex classes) in middle school (Years 7 to 9) for the key subjects of English, mathematics and science. All other subjects, including sport, and in all other years of the school, will be taught in mixed classes
[10].
In mid 2007, the designs for the new Middle School girls uniform were completed and on display.
House system
St Andrew's Cathedral School contains eight houses, each named after an English
cathedral or
abbey with a choir school.
The eight houses are:
★
Canterbury
★
Durham
★
Hereford
★
St Paul's
★
Salisbury
★
Westminster
★
Winchester
★
York.
Gawura campus
St Andrew's Cathedral School Gawura Campus Crest
On 23 April 2007, the School opened a school for Indigenous students, named "Gawura" (meaning "Whale"), on the rooftop of St Andrew's House campus. Gawura is the Australia's first independent campus for Indigenous children
[11].
Students in Gawura studies Aboriginal language and culture, basic numeracy and literacy skills and all students are sponsored by members of the community, funded mostly through World Vision-style sponsorships
[12].
During the planning stage, the school search for no fewer than 12 different sites in the Redfern area to built the Gawura campus
[13], however, the school faced opposition from some members of the Redfern's community
11.
Uniform
The school uniform is well known by people who reside or work in the Sydney CBD due to its notable inclusion of
high-heels for female students - the only such school to allow this in the Sydney metropolitan area.
Cathedral Choir
The Cathedral Choir can trace its origins to the consecration of
St. Andrew's Cathedral in 1868 and this establishes this group as one of the oldest continuously active choirs in
Australia. The choir comprises choristers and choral scholars from 'St Andrew's Cathedral School' as well as a group of men, known as lay clerks who sing the lower parts.
The Choir of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, rehearsing while on tour, at Canterbury Cathedral in 2005
Through overseas tours and recordings St Andrew's Cathedral Choir has won an international reputation and has accepted invitations to deputise for the resident choirs in such places as
St Paul's Cathedral,
London,
York Minster and many other important centres of
Anglican worship. In 2002 the choristers appeared before
HM the Queen at a Golden Jubilee concert in
St. George's Chapel,
Windsor Castle and also made a significant contribution to the
ANZAC day service in
Westminster Abbey.
A number of choristers participated in the 2004 music tour to the
USA although this tour differed from previous UK music tours because of the liturgy expectation in cathedrals visited by the School. In addition a number of cathedrals, including the
Washington National Cathedral, offered mixed gender chorales so numerous female singers from St Andrew's also contributed to church choral music at these locations.
In 2005, St Andrew's Cathedral Choir has been invited to deputise for the choirs of
Westminster Abbey and
Canterbury Cathedral, sing at All Souls' Langham Place and also in Holy Trinity Pro Cathedral in Brussels from
27 March 2005 to
16 April 2005.
The choir has made several recordings and the latest CDs are 'Fairest Lord Jesus' and Choral Evensong. The latter was produced from a service broadcast throughout Britain on
BBC Radio 3 at the time of the
Sydney Olympics.
During the school terms the choir sings at the morning Sunday service at 10.30am and at Evensong on Thursdays at 5.30pm. The choristers also sing a service of Morning Prayer (Matins) each Wednesday at 8.00am
[14], sometimes augmented to full choir status by the inclusion of the lower parts.
Since April 2005, the Girls' Vocal Ensemble sings Matins on Tuesday mornings
[15].
Michael Deasey, the Master of Choristers was appointed to this post in 1981 following extensive experience in Canada. He has given organ recitals and conducted choirs in many countries throughout the world and has been a featured organ recitalist at
Westminster Abbey. Deasey resigned his position as Master of Choristers in July 2005
[16], and Ross Cobb was appointed as his successor
[17]. During the transitional period part-time directors included Samuel Blanch, Greg Platt, and Huw Belling.
Co-curricular
Drama
As well as teaching elective drama to students, the school hosts and puts on many engaging drama events including plays, festivals and other theatre productions.
School Musicals
The school put on its first major musical production with
West Side Story in 2003, which was performed in Sydney's Footbridge Theatre. The musical was directed by the Head of School, Phillip Heath, with the school's Head of the Music Department Chris Belshaw acting as musical director. It was performed over three days, with three evening performances and one matinée performance.
This was followed up in 2005 with
Godspell, performed in
St. Andrew's Cathedral. The building was judged to be ideal for the material, although several technical difficulties had to be overcome, and viewing angles were limited.
The school's 2006 performance of
Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance was performed at the Seymour Centre in its Everest Theatre. 'Pirates' attracted an average of 500 people to each of its four performances.
The school's most complex challenge has been its 2007 production of
Les Misérables. Unable to perform it in a professional theatre due to performance rights issues, the school elected to perform it in the Chapter House adjoining St. Andrew's Cathedral. Due to its limited capacity of only 250-odd seats, the school chose to double the number of performances - eight over two weeks (Thurdsay, Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday Matinées).
Music
The School has a large number of its students involved in musical ensembles and curriculum music classes, as well as having a large amount of students who play and learn instruments. In 2001 there was an orchestral and choral tour to Italy and England, in 2002 a music tour to
England and
Ireland, and in 2004 a music tour to the
United States of America.
[18] As well as touring, the school holds many in-school musical events, including the mid year concert ''Showcase''.
Mock trial
St Andrew's has for the last few years had considerable success in the Mock Trial Competition, organised and operated by the Law Society of New South Wales, participated in by both public and non-government schools throughout NSW. In 2004, the team came Runners-Up to Mereweather High School, and in 2005 the school team comprised of Year 11 students went on to become winners of the competition. In 2006, an elite selection of that team took part in an International Mock Trial Competition against the UK National Mock Trial team Ysgol Tregib, Cardiff, United Kingdom
[19], and once again was victorious.
Sport
The school also participates in a large number of sporting type events not only within the school but also against other schools state wide, and occasionally outside the state.
Notable alumni
Academic
★ Lt Gen John Grey AC - Chancellor of
James Cook University
★ Michael Young - Chair of the Council of the
Roehampton University, London
[20]
Aviation
★
Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith
Politics and Law
★
Jim Longley - Former NSW Minister for Community Services, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister for the Ageing (1993-1995)
★ Alan Mayo Webb - Industrial Commission Judge (1932-1956)
[21]
★ Richard William Murden, AO - Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly (Lib) (1953-1959)
[22]
Entertainment and the Arts
★
John Henry Antill - Musician
★ Jonathan Vincent Bligh - Conductor of
Adelaider Liedertafel[23]
★ Nigel Foote - Musican & Songwriter
[24]
★ Alexander Gavrylyuk - Musician, Winner of the Arthur Rubinstein 11th Piano Master Competition
★
Nicholas Gledhill - Film and stage actor
★
Julian Hamilton - Musican
★
Tim Harding - Television celebrity
★ Jack Lumsdaine - Composer
[25]
★
Simon Tedeschi - Pianist
★
Professor Barry Tuckwell, AC, OBE - Musician
★ Nicole Vasilakis - Violinist
Sport
★
Rod Macqueen - Former
Wallabies coach
★
Matthew Levy - Former Paralympian (Swimming)
References
1. St Andrew's School Fees 2007 (accessed:24-04-2007)
2. SACS Website:Into the future (accessed:24-04-2006)
3. St Andrew's Cathedral School Annual Report For 2006 (accessed:16-08-2007)
4. St Andrew's Cathedral School-History(accessed:24-06-2007)
5. St Andrew's Student Business Club "Students on Par" Project(accessed:20-06-2007)
6. Dedicated cathedral school servant passes away(accessed:20-06-2007)
7. Her Majesty heads for cathedral(accessed:20-06-2007)
8. Cathedral crowds cheer Queen(accessed:20-06-2007)
9. St Andrew’s Cathedral School to go fully co-ed(accessed:20-06-2007)
10. Co-ed no longer makes the grade(accessed:21-08-2007)
11. Headmaster aims to inspire with new Indigenous school campus(accessed:21-06-2007)
12. School opens separate campus for Aborigines(accessed:23-06-2006)
13. School fights anti-black bias(accessed:21-06-2007)
14. St Andrew's Cathedral - Music(accessed:21-06-2007)
15. While the boys are away, the girls will … sing(accessed:20-06-2007)
16. Efforts for King acknowledged by country(accessed:20-06-2007)
17. Cobb follows call to cathedral(accessed:20-06-2007)
18. Students enjoy sweet sound of US success(accessed:20-06-2007)
19. Mock Trial Battle of the Legal Eagles(accessed:19-06-2007)
20. Roehampton University - New Chair of School Council(accessed:10-08-2007)
21. State Record NSW - Alan Mayo Webb (accessed:09-09-2007)
22. Parliament of NSW - Mr Richard William MURDEN(accessed:10-08-2007)
23. Adelaider Liedertafel - Conductor(accessed:14-08-2007)
24. The Folk Singer Label - Nigel Foote - Detailed Biography(accessed:10-08-2007)
25. Music Australia - Jack Lumsdaine(accessed:12-08-2007)
See also
★
List of Non-Government schools in New South Wales
External links
★
St Andrew's Cathedral School Website
★
St Andrew's Cathedral School - Gawura Campus
★
St Andrew's Cathedral School Old Andreans Association
★
SACS Gifts from the heart Website
★
St Andrew's Institute:CityEd
★
St Andrew's Cathedral Website
★
St Andrew's Cathedral Choir Website
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