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Ascham School

For the English preparatory school at Eastbourne, see Ascham St Vincent's School.

Ascham School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for girls, located in Edgecliff, an Eastern Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Ascham School
Ascham's Edgecliff campus, in 2007
Address
Map
188 New South Head Road

Edgecliff
,
New South Wales
,
2027

Australia
Coordinates33°52′43″S 151°14′12″E / 33.87861°S 151.23667°E / -33.87861; 151.23667
Information
TypeIndependent, day and boarding
MottoLatin: Vi Et Animo
(With Heart and Soul)
Established1886; 138 years ago (1886)
HeadmasterAndrew Powell
Teaching staff127.1 FTE (2019)[1]
YearsK–12
GenderGirls
Enrolment1,181[1] (2019)
Campus typeUrban area
Colour(s)Navy blue, red and khaki
   
Affiliations
Websiteascham.nsw.edu.au

Established in 1886, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently has approximately 1000 students from Kindergarten to Year 12, including 100 boarders from Years 6 to 12.[2]

Ascham follows the 'Dalton Plan', an educational philosophy created by Helen Parkhurst in 1916. The 'Dalton Plan' aims to produce independent and confident leaders.[3]

Ascham is a member of the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA),[4] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia[5] the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),[6] the Australian Boarding Schools' Association,[7] and the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS).[8]

Ascham is operated as a not-for-profit company. All funds must be used to benefit the school. This function is administered by the school's Council of Governors who are elected by the school's members.

History

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Ascham school was established in 1886 by Marie Wallis, as a private, day and boarding school for girls, in a terrace house in Darling Point. The school moved to its current site following the acquisition of Glenrock estate in 1911. The school was named after Roger Ascham, tutor to Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1914 Kathleen Gilman Jones (1880–1942) came from South Africa to be a joint head mistress at the school. She went on to lead Melbourne Church of England Girls' Grammar School.[9]

The school adopted the 'Dalton Plan' as its method of teaching in 1922.[10]

Ascham became a company, Ascham School Limited, in 1937 under the direction of Headmistress Margaret Bailey. This transferred ownership of the school from herself to ensure the long-term succession of the school.[11] The next head who served the school for some time was Dorothy Whitehead.[12] She had served in the war rising to the rank of temporary Major. She continued with the Dalton Plan, before she left in 1961 to lead Firbank Girls' Grammar School.[12]

School crest

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The Ascham school crest was developed in 1911 by Ascham art teacher, Albert Collins. Symbols on the crest were explained in the school's Charivari magazine in December 1911: the dolphins symbolise energy, persistence and the ability to swim against, as well as with, the tide; the wings suggest aspiration and ambition; the lamp and book represent learning; and the combination of the acorn and eucalyptus seed mark the historical union of Britain and Australia.[13]

Campus

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Ascham is composed of three school areas designed to accommodate for the different stages of the students' educational development.

Infant School

The youngest students, from Preparatory to Year 2, are taught in the Hillingdon building which has its own hall, library, classrooms and recreation area. The students at Hillingdon are taught according to the Spalding Method.

Junior School

Students from Years 3 to 6 live in the Fiona building. Junior School students have access to a broad range of school subjects and co-curricular activities.

Senior School

The senior school is for students from Year 7 to Year 12. They are taught according to the Dalton Plan. This method gives the older students increased flexibility while placing on them the responsibility to learn and participate in the school's numerous academic and cultural opportunities. The campus hosts the Packer Theatre, a studio theatre, an indoor heated pool, a gymnasium, tennis courts, playing fields, IT facilities, art rooms, science laboratories and three libraries.

Exchange programme

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Ascham has exchange programmes with the following girls schools: St Mary's Calne, UK; City of London School for Girls in London; Havergal College in Toronto; Nightingale-Bamford School in New York; Northlands School in Buenos Aires; Durban Girls' College in Durban; Institut de la Tour in Paris, St. George's School, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Heads

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The following individuals have served as Head of School, or preceding title:

Ordinal Name Title Start date End date Time in office Notes
1 Marie Wallis Founding Principal 1886 1902 15–16 years [8]
2 Herbert J. Carter Principal 1902 1914 11–12 years [8]
3 Kathleen Gilman Jones Co-Principal 1914 1916 1–2 years
3 Margaret Bailey
− Headmistress 1916 1946 29–30 years [8]
4 Hilda Rayward Headmistress 1947 1948 0–1 years [8]
5 Dorothy Whitehead[12] Headmistress 1949 1961 11–12 years [14][8]
6 Merrilee Roberts Headmistress 1962 1972 9–10 years [14][8]
7 Rowena Danziger Headmistress 1973 2003 29–30 years [15][8]
8 Susan Preedy Headmistress 2004 2005 0–1 years [16][8]
− Rowena Danziger Acting Headmistress 2005 2005 0 years [17]
− Frances Booth Acting Headmistress 2005 2005 0 years [8]
9 Louise Robert-Smith Headmistress 2006 2012 5–6 years [18][8]
10 Helen Wright Headmistress 2013 2014 0–1 years [19][8]
11 Andrew Powell Head of School 2014 incumbent 9–10 years [19][8]

Former students

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Old Girls' Union

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The Ascham Old Girls' Union (AOGU) was founded in 1899 by former students of the school. It now[when?] has a membership of over 4,000 alumnae. The AOGU encourages involvement of all past students in the Ascham community and helps alumnae remain in contact with their classmates.[20] The AOGU also funds bursaries for the daughters and granddaughters of past students. The recipients of bursaries are means-tested and reviewed annually, and also carry an obligation to uphold the ideals and values of Ascham.[20] The AOGU released[when?] three publications per year to its members.[20]

Notable alumnae

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See also: Category:People educated at Ascham School

Arts

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Creative arts

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Literary arts

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Performing arts

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Business

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Education

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Medicine and the sciences

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Sport

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Ascham School, Edgecliff, NSW: School profile". My School. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  2. ^ "School Choice – Australia Choosing a School". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007.
  3. ^ "A Dalton Education".
  4. ^ "The Alliance of Girls Schools Australia - Member Schools". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
  5. ^ "Junior Schools Heads Association of Australia: JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  6. ^ "Association of Heads of Independent Schools of aus : NSW". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  7. ^ "Australian Boarding Staff Association Inc". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Association of Heads of Independent Girls Schools (AHIGS)". AHIGS. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007.
  9. ^ Mitchell, L. M. M., "Kathleen Annie Gilman Jones (1880–1942)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 4 November 2023
  10. ^ "The Dalton Plan at Ascham - Ascham School". www.ascham.nsw.edu.au. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Home". Ascham School. n.d.[self-published source?]
  12. ^ a b c Langmore, Diane, "Dorothy Eleanor Whitehead (1908–1976)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 6 May 2024
  13. ^ "The Ascham Tradition". Ascham School. n.d.[self-published source?]
  14. ^ a b "D-day for Ascham's head". 9 May 2002. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Off with their head". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Grande dame of Ascham back as headmistress resigns". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  17. ^ "Ascham without a headmistress again as Danziger bows out". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 March 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  18. ^ "Ascham lures headmistress with shining record on results". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 August 2005.
  19. ^ a b "Ascham headmistress Helen Wright leaves school after a year". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 January 2014.
  20. ^ a b c "Ascham Old Girls' Union".
  21. ^ Rutledge, Martha (1993). "Rosemary Beatrice (Bea) Bligh (1916–1973)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 13. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  22. ^ Tate, Audrey (1993). Australian Dictionary of Biography (Volume 13 ed.). Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0522845126. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  23. ^ Keenan, Catherine. "Being Mia". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  24. ^ Taffel, Jacqui. "Bursting with Joy: a treasure trove of stories from a life well lived". Wentworth Courier. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  25. ^ a b c d e f Gillezeau, Marguerite. "Drama in the early years" (PDF). Ascham Old Girls' Magazine (Summer 2015). Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  26. ^ "A genuine passion for truth and humour". Sydney Morning Herald. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Q&A with Ascham Old Girl journalists" (PDF). Ascham Old Girls' Magazine. Summer 2018 (Summer 2018). Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  28. ^ Taffel, Jacqui. "Bursting with Joy: a treasure trove of stories from a life well lived". Wentworth Courier. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  29. ^ Rees, Anne. "Breamer, Sylvia Poppy (1897–1943)". People Australia. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  30. ^ Simpson, Caroline Fairfax; Dupree, Annette Fielding-Jones; Ferguson, Betty Winn (1986), Ascham remembered, 1886–1986, Fine Arts Press, ISBN 978-0-86917-013-7
  31. ^ Scheuer, P. K. (17 June 1945). "Actress of 'down under' studio makes good here". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 165628126.
  32. ^ "Waddell, Leila Ida (1880–1932)". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2020 – via Obituaries Australia.
  33. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 27 June 1934
  34. ^ Ramsaye, Terry, ed. (1948). 1948–1948 International Film Almanac. California, USA: Quigley Publications. p. 416.
  35. ^ a b c "Queen's Birthday Honours for three impressive Old Girls". Ascham Old Girls Union. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  36. ^ Flood, Chris (4 December 2017). "Shemara Wikramanayake has 'never sold a Macquarie share in 30 years'". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  37. ^ "FRENCH EXAMINATIONS". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 August 1932. Retrieved 1 July 2020 – via Trove, National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "Psychiatrist Nan Waddy fought for humane treatment of mentally ill". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  39. ^ a b c d e f Gillezeau, Marguerite. "A history of sport at Ascham" (PDF). Ascham Old Girls' Magazine. Winter 2017 (Winter 2017): 15. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  40. ^ Barry, Skye. "The Two of Us—Holly and Paige Campbell (2014)" (PDF). Ascham Old Girls' Magazine. Winter 2017 (Winter 2017): 5–7. Retrieved 1 July 2020.

Further reading

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  • Simpson, Caroline Fairfax; Dupree, Annette Fielding-Jones; Ferguson, Betty Winn, eds. (1986). Ascham Remembered 1886–1986. Sydney: Fine Arts Press. ISBN 0-86917-013-9.
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