Blue Mountains Grammar School
Encyclopedia
Blue Mountains Grammar School (BMGS), established in 1918, is an independent school
over two campuses, in Wentworth Falls
and Valley Heights
, New South Wales
, Australia
. Classes are run from Pre-Kindergarten/Transition to Year 12 (HSC). The school is an Anglican, co-educational day school
. There are approximately 900-1000 students currently enrolled over both campuses.
. It was a boarding school
and the property was known as "Homedale", located in Springwood in the lower mountains. The Founding Headmaster was E.K. Deane and the first pastoral House formed in the School bears his name. Ken Deane's reasons for founding the school are uncertain, but it is believed that it was developed for the purpose of giving an education to children boarders in the central west and north west of the state. From this grounding Deane built the school into a multi-classroom premises in Springwood, which throughout the 1920s saw successes in student numbers and education initiatives.
By 1930, however, the school faced considerable hurdles to keep going. An obvious decline in numbers occurred between 1930 and 1934, such that membership numbers, approximately 55 in 1929, had declined to 24 in the second term of 1932, Deane struggled to keep the school alive, and in desperation lowered boarding fees to a pound a day, and making ends meet by growing his own food. By 1933 enrolments had grown to 45, but there was a backlog of debt that was built up from the school during that troublesome period.
During the war years, the number of enrolments at the school kept up quite well, given that most parents wanted to send their children out of the Sydney area. This period also meant the end of Ken Deane's long career as headmaster of the school. Deane had seen the school turn from a one-classroom premises to a medium sized school with vibrant sporting, educative and community facilities. His son, John Deane, replaced him in 1945. John was confronted upon his arrival at the school with a burgeoning debt, as all of the schools assets had been laid in Ken Deane's name, with nothing in the bank. The second problem that John faced was staff that had been dismissed or were dismissed by John for violation of school conduct. Another problem was the condition of the school grounds; with a loan from the Bank of New South Wales, John had the windows reglazed, repainted and re-roofed school buildings, forming a revitalised school grounds that helped attract new students.
The move of the school to its current grounds in Wentworth Falls came with the purchase of 'Coorah' in 1951. In May 1951 John Deane wrote a letter to parents stating that the operations of the school would no longer be conducted in Springwood, but at the new site of the school in Wentworth Falls. About 80 students were transferred from the Springwood campus to the Wentworth Fall site.
With a variety of dedicated benefactors, and the commitment of staff, students, and parents to the growth of the school, Blue Mountains Grammar School underwent a period of strategic growth between 1953 and 1960. Now under the leadership of the Reverend Albert Pitt-Owen, it was promised that the school would be returned to sustainable enrolment numbers, but to do so required that Albert had the 'authority as well as responsibility'. 1953-1959 saw a significant period of development with land purchases, building, and a general rise in student numbers. In 1961, after the firm establishment of the Junior School, Albert Pitt-Owen signaled his intention to expand the establishment with a Senior school campus. In 1965 that Senior school moved from its initial location at 'Blue Horizon' to its current location at Coorah, Wentworth Falls.
The school now caters to over 1000 students, and is presided over by the current Headmaster, Trevor Barman. Uncertainty in the face of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 led to a small decline in numbers, but they remain stable.
The school also holds a Chapel service every Sunday run by the Reverend Ben Cosier for those off Catholic belief. After this service a Choir is also run by student Taylor Russel (Winner of 2009's Blue Mountain Choir Awards) from Midday onwards. This service is available for all and not just those off Catholic belief.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
over two campuses, in Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls, New South Wales
Wentworth Falls is a town in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales located 100 kilometres west of Sydney, and about 8 kilometres east of Katoomba, Australia on the Great Western Highway, with a Wentworth Falls railway station on the Main Western line. The town is situated at an elevation of...
and Valley Heights
Valley Heights, New South Wales
Valley Heights is a small township of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. It is approximately from Sydney and is located east of the township of Springwood...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Classes are run from Pre-Kindergarten/Transition to Year 12 (HSC). The school is an Anglican, co-educational day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
. There are approximately 900-1000 students currently enrolled over both campuses.
History
BMGS was founded in 1917 as Blue Mountains Grammar Church of England Boys Grammar School, in SpringwoodSpringwood, New South Wales
Springwood is a town in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. Springwood is located 72 kilometres west of Sydney in the local government area of the City of Blue Mountains. At the 2006 census, Springwood had a population of 8,210 people. It is largely Anglo-Celtic.Springwood is near the...
. It was a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
and the property was known as "Homedale", located in Springwood in the lower mountains. The Founding Headmaster was E.K. Deane and the first pastoral House formed in the School bears his name. Ken Deane's reasons for founding the school are uncertain, but it is believed that it was developed for the purpose of giving an education to children boarders in the central west and north west of the state. From this grounding Deane built the school into a multi-classroom premises in Springwood, which throughout the 1920s saw successes in student numbers and education initiatives.
By 1930, however, the school faced considerable hurdles to keep going. An obvious decline in numbers occurred between 1930 and 1934, such that membership numbers, approximately 55 in 1929, had declined to 24 in the second term of 1932, Deane struggled to keep the school alive, and in desperation lowered boarding fees to a pound a day, and making ends meet by growing his own food. By 1933 enrolments had grown to 45, but there was a backlog of debt that was built up from the school during that troublesome period.
During the war years, the number of enrolments at the school kept up quite well, given that most parents wanted to send their children out of the Sydney area. This period also meant the end of Ken Deane's long career as headmaster of the school. Deane had seen the school turn from a one-classroom premises to a medium sized school with vibrant sporting, educative and community facilities. His son, John Deane, replaced him in 1945. John was confronted upon his arrival at the school with a burgeoning debt, as all of the schools assets had been laid in Ken Deane's name, with nothing in the bank. The second problem that John faced was staff that had been dismissed or were dismissed by John for violation of school conduct. Another problem was the condition of the school grounds; with a loan from the Bank of New South Wales, John had the windows reglazed, repainted and re-roofed school buildings, forming a revitalised school grounds that helped attract new students.
The move of the school to its current grounds in Wentworth Falls came with the purchase of 'Coorah' in 1951. In May 1951 John Deane wrote a letter to parents stating that the operations of the school would no longer be conducted in Springwood, but at the new site of the school in Wentworth Falls. About 80 students were transferred from the Springwood campus to the Wentworth Fall site.
With a variety of dedicated benefactors, and the commitment of staff, students, and parents to the growth of the school, Blue Mountains Grammar School underwent a period of strategic growth between 1953 and 1960. Now under the leadership of the Reverend Albert Pitt-Owen, it was promised that the school would be returned to sustainable enrolment numbers, but to do so required that Albert had the 'authority as well as responsibility'. 1953-1959 saw a significant period of development with land purchases, building, and a general rise in student numbers. In 1961, after the firm establishment of the Junior School, Albert Pitt-Owen signaled his intention to expand the establishment with a Senior school campus. In 1965 that Senior school moved from its initial location at 'Blue Horizon' to its current location at Coorah, Wentworth Falls.
The school now caters to over 1000 students, and is presided over by the current Headmaster, Trevor Barman. Uncertainty in the face of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 led to a small decline in numbers, but they remain stable.
The school also holds a Chapel service every Sunday run by the Reverend Ben Cosier for those off Catholic belief. After this service a Choir is also run by student Taylor Russel (Winner of 2009's Blue Mountain Choir Awards) from Midday onwards. This service is available for all and not just those off Catholic belief.
Departments
Teaching at Blue Mountains Grammar is divided into 11 different departments as follows:- English
- Mathematics
- Humanities
- Science
- Languages other than English (LOTE)
- Music
- Art and Design (AD)
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
- Religious and Values Education (RAVE)
- Technology
HSC courses
Blue Mountains Grammar School offers courses taught at solely at the school, courses taught in conjunction with TAFE known as VET courses (Vocational Education and Training) and courses by correspondence taught with the aid of the school teachers.- General Mathematics
- Mathematics 2 Unit
- Mathematics 1 Unit Extension 1
- Mathematics 1 Unit Extension 2
- English Standard 2 Unit
- English Advanced 2 Unit
- English 1 Unit Extension 1
- English 1 Unit Extension 2
- Chemistry 2 Unit
- Physics 2 Unit
- Biology 2 Unit
- Phil-Osophy 2 Unit
- Earth and Environmental Science 2 Unit
- Modern History 2 Unit
- Ancient History 2 Unit
- History 1 Unit Extension 1
- Geography 2 Unit
- Legal Studies 2 Unit
- Economics 2 Unit
- Industrial Technology 2 Unit
- Business Studies 2 Unit
- Wilderness Education 2 Unit
- Engineering Studies 2 Unit
- Design and Technology 2 Unit
- Visual Arts 2 Unit
- Information Processes and Technology 2 Unit
- French Beginners 2 Unit
- French Continuers 2 Unit
- French 1 Unit Extension 1
- Japanese Beginners 2 Unit
- Japanese Continuers 2 Unit
- Any other language taken by correspondence
- Personal Development/Health/Physical Education
- Community and Family Studies
- Studies of Religion 1 Unit
- Studies of Religion 2 Unit
- Music 1 2 Unit
- Music 2 2 Unit
- Music 1 Unit Extension 1
- Drama 2 Unit
- Construction (VET)
- Hospitality (VET)
- Tourism (VET)
- Information Technology and Services (VET)
- Any other course taken by correspondence
Notable alumni
- Andrew DentonAndrew DentonAndrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
, Australian comedian and television presenter - Jack ThompsonJack Thompson (actor)Jack Thompson, AM is an Australian actor and one of the major figures of Australian cinema. He was educated at University of Queensland, before embarking on his acting career. In 2002, he was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society...
, Australian actor - Sue-Ann PostSue-Ann PostSue-Ann Post is an Australian comedienne and writer.Self described as "Australia’s favourite six foot, lesbian, ex-Mormon, diabetic, comedian and writer", Post has performed as a stand up comedian internationally and throughout Australia since 1991.She has written an autobiography A Bit of a...
, Australian comedienne and writer - Peter HarveyPeter HarveyPeter Harvey is an award-winning Australian television journalist.He has been with the Nine Network since 1975 and currently he presents the mailbag segment on 60 Minutes as well as being a reporter on Nine News and a regular contributor on Today.Harvey studied his journalism cadetship with the...
, Australian journalist - John Cunningham, Consul General for Barbados and Chairman of Caribbean Airlines
- John Deane, Headmaster of Blue Mountains Grammar School and educator at The Scots College
Houses
There are six houses in Blue Mountains Grammar. They are listed in alphabetical order, with their colour and animal (which appears on the house crest) in brackets.- Deane (blue; phoenix) - After E.K & J Deane (former headmasters)
- Hughes (maroon; griffin) - After Mr Hughes (commitment to BMGS through continued philanthropy)
- Kelley (white; ram) - After Mr W. Kelley (honorary service to BMGS in a range of positions on the School Council and on the Conservatorium Management Committee, a reflection of his great love of music)
- MacLaurin (black; lion) - After the MacLaurin family (benefactors of BMGS).
- Pitt (green; serpent) - After the Pitt family (in 1889, Mr & Mrs Robert Matcham Pitt built "Coorah", which is now the centerpiece of the Senior Campus of BMGS)
- Ziele (red; bull) - pronounced zee-lee - After Dr S. Ziele (a philanthropist with a wide range of charitable interests, as well as a benefactor of BMGS)