SCEGGS Darlinghurst

Infobox Aust school private
name = SCEGGS Darlinghurst


motto = " _la. Luceat Lux Vestra"
(Matthew 5:16:"Let Your Light Shine")
established = 1895
type = Independent, Single-sex, Day school
denomination = Anglican
slogan =
key_people = Ms. Jenny Allum (Principal)
Miss. Edith Badham (Founder)
Ms. Sharon Cook (Chairman)
fees = AU$12,150–20,925 p.a (2007) [http://www.sceggs.nsw.edu.au/frontpages/Festival/07%20school%20fees%20raffle.pdf SCEGGS Darlinghurst: Festival on Forbes] (accessed:25-05-2007)]
city = Darlinghurst
state = New South Wales
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
coordinates = coord|33|52|33|S|151|13|6|E|display=inline,title
enrolment = ~890 (K–12)
num_employ = ~105cite web|url= http://www.sceggs.nsw.edu.au/frontpages/SCEGGS%20Annual%20Report%202007.pdf|title= SCEGGS Darlinghurst Annual Report 2007|accessdate= 2008-05-22 |year= 2008 |format= PDF|work= Front Pages|publisher= SCEGGS Darlinghurst]
revenue = AU$22,584,294 (2007)
colours = Navy Blue and White color box|#000080color box|#FFFFFF
homepage = [http://www.sceggs.nsw.edu.au www.sceggs.nsw.edu.au]

SCEGGS Darlinghurst is an independent, Anglican school for girls, located in Darlinghurst, an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Founded in 1895, as the Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School, the school's official name was replaced with SCEGGS Darlinghurst in 1995. The school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 890 students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Whilst predominantly a day school, SCEGGS offers a small number of boarding places at St Vincent's College, Potts Point.

SCEGGS is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),cite web |url=http://www.ahisa.com.au/Display.aspx?tabid=2230 |title=AHISA Schools|accessdate=2007-12-12 |year =2007 |month =November |work=New South Wales|publisher=Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),cite web |url=http://www.jshaa.asn.au/nsw/directory/index.asp |title=JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members |accessdate=2007-12-12 |year =2007 |work=New South Wales Branch|publisher=Junior School Heads' Association of Australia] the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA),cite web |url=http://www.agsa.org.au/members.php?PageID=11&Alpha=S |title=Member Schools |accessdate=2007-12-12 |year =2007 |work=Members|publisher=The Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia] and is a founding member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS).

In 2001, "The Sun-Herald" ranked SCEGGS Darlinghurst second in Australia's top ten girls' schools, based on the number of its alumni mentioned in the "Who's Who in Australia" (a listing of notable Australians).cite news| first = Frank| last = Walker| title = The ties that bind| url = http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=%22presbyterian+ladies+college%22&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=author&sf=headline&sf=text&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SHD01072295GNI6E8E6E| work = Sunday Life| publisher = The Sun-Herald| page = 16| date = 2001-07-22| accessdate = 2007-09-12] Ref_label|a|a|none

History

On the 17 July 1895, a Grammar School for Girls was officially opened in Sydney under the auspices of the Sydney Diocese of the Church of England. The Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School (or S.C.E.G.G.S.) commenced in a terrace house at 65 (now 55) Victoria Street, Darlinghurst with one pupil, Mary Watson, one teacher, Miss Janet Uther, and the Principal, Miss Edith Badham. Within a year, the school had increased to 50 pupils enrolled, and moved to "Chatsworth", a larger home in Macleay Street.By 1900, the school had 100 pupils, including a Kindergarten and junior school. "Barham" in Forbes Street, Darlinghurst was purchased and the school moved there in 1901. The curriculum at the time included English Language and Literature, Geography, Modern and Ancient History, Latin, Classical Greek, Mathematics, French Language and Literature, German or Italian, Needlework and Drilling. Classes in Botany, Geology or other scientific subjects, were also offered to pupils who reached a fair standard of proficiency in their ordinary subjects. Classes in Cookery and Dressmaking were held whenever there was sufficient demand.

S.C.E.G.G.S. continued to expand and several Branch Schools were opened - Bowral (1906–1929) relocating to Moss Vale (1930–1974), Hunters Hill (1912–1915), North Sydney (1911–1941) becoming Redlands (1945–1976), Wollongong (1955–1976) and Loquat Valley (1967–1976).

In 1974, financial difficulties arose due to the comptroller of the Anglican diocesan schools misappropriating school funds, threatening the school with closure. Within two years, contributions from the school community and the Sydney Diocese ensured that the original school, S.C.E.G.G.S. Darlinghurst, was not closed but continued to operate. Moss Vale was forced to close in 1974, and two years later, Redlands, Wollongong and Loquat Valley became schools independent from S.C.E.G.G.S. Darlinghurst, and have been governed by their own boards ever since.

A company, S.C.E.G.G.S. Darlinghurst Ltd, was formed in 1976, under a Board of Directors, to govern the school. On the school's Centenary in 1995, the school name was changed from Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School, Darlinghurst (S.C.E.G.G.S.) to SCEGGS Darlinghurst.

Principals

Campus

SCEGGS Darlinghurst has expanded from a terrace house in 1895 to a campus incorporating a chapel, primary school, classroom blocks, assembly hall, science and library block, auditorium, sports hall, senior study building, Great Hall and performing arts centre. From 1965 to 1983, a preparatory school was operated at Bellevue Hill for boys and girls up to Kindergarten age.cite web|url= http://www.sceggs.nsw.edu.au/SCEGGS/About/012005.1883.html|title= The History of SCEGGS|accessdate= 2008-03-16 |last= Matthews|first= Linda |date= 2007-03-12|work= General Information|publisher= SCEGGS Darlinghurst]

House system

The house system was introduced in 1926 by Miss Wilkinson to help generate school spirit and sporting enthusiasm,encourage good conduct and to provide girls with opportunities for taking on responsibility. House competitions are held in various sports, in music, drama, science and debating.

;BadhamNamed after Miss Edith Badham, first Headmistress (1895-1920) and founder and first President of the Old Girl's Union. Colours: Red and Gold. ;BartonNamed after Sir Edmund Barton, first Prime Minister of Australia (1901-1903), Justice of the High Court (1903-1920) and father of Jean "Muffie" Barton, pupil 1895-1899. Colours: Red and White.

;BeckNamed after Rev Canon Ernest Beck, member of the School Council (1895-1906) and second school chaplain (1901-1928). Colours: Blue and Gold.

;ChristianNamed after Mrs Lily Christian, Member of the School Council(1897-1919) and mother of Lily Mary Christian, pupil 1895-1896. Colours: Red and Black.

;DockerNamed after Mr Wilfred Law Docker, first treasurer of the School Council (1895-1919). Colours: Blue and Black.

;LangleyNamed after Archbishop John Douse Langley, first Secretary of the School Council (1894-1927) and Bishop of Bendigo (1907-1919). Colours: Green and Gold.

Notable alumnae

;Media, entertainment and the arts
* Gillian Armstrong - Film director
* Blanche d'Alpuget - biographer; Bob Hawke's 2nd wife
* Anne Davies - "Sydney Morning Herald" journalist and MEAA heavy
* Tania Davis - Musician
* Claudia Karvan - Actress
* Julie McCrossin - MC/Comedian
* Pamela Stephenson - comedian, therapist and Mrs Billy Connoly
* Sally Bowrey - TV Presenter / Producer, The Weather Channel

;Medicine and science
*Dr Joan Freeman - Nuclear Physicist
*Vera Ramaciotti - philanthropist (established the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation for biomedical research)

;Politics, public service and the law
* Dr Liz Kernohan - Liberal politician
* Kay Patterson - Liberal senator and former Health Minister

;Sport
* Margaret Elaine Dovey - champion swimmer, social worker and Gough Whitlam's wife.

Notes

* Who's Who of girls' school rankings: 1.PLC Melbourne, 2.SCEGGS Darlinghurst, 3.MLC Melbourne, 4.PLC Sydney, 5.Melbourne Girls Grammar School, 6.Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, 7.North Sydney Girls High School, 8.Sydney Girls High School, 9.MLC Sydney, 10.University High School, Melbourne

References

See also

* List of non-government schools in New South Wales

External links

* [http://www.sceggs.nsw.edu.au/ SCEGGS website]
* [http://www.ahigs.nsw.edu.au/ The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools]
* [http://www.anglican.org.au/ Anglican Church of Australia]