Ravenswood School for Girls
Encyclopedia
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...
, Uniting Church, day
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...
and 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...
for girls, situated in Gordon
Gordon, New South Wales
Gordon is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Gordon is located north-west of the Sydney Central Business District and is the administrative centre for the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council...
, an Upper North Shore
North Shore (Sydney)
The North Shore is an informal term used to describe the primarily residential area of northern metropolitan Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The term usually refers to the suburbs located on the north shore of Sydney Harbour between Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove River, up to...
suburb of Sydney, 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...
.
Established in 1901 by Mabel Fidler (1871–1960), Ravenswood currently caters for approximately 990 students from Kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
to Year 12, including 20 boarders from Years 10 to 12. The school has been an IB World School since June 2004, and is authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
.
Ravenswood is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia
Junior School Heads Association of Australia
The Independent Primary School Heads of Australia formerly Junior School Heads Association of Australia , is an incorporated body representing the heads of independent primary schools in Australia....
(JSHAA), the Australian Boarding Schools' Association, the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia, and is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools , is an association for private girls' schools, based in North Ryde, in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(AHIGS).
History
Ravenswood was established with eight students on 28 January 1901, by the first Headmistress, Mabel Fidler, as a non-sectarian, privatePrivate school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, day school for girls with preparatory classes for boys. The first classes commenced in a schoolroom erected on the block adjacent to Fidler's home, "Ravenswood", in Henry Street, Gordon. The school remains on this site.
Fidler retired from Ravenswood in 1925, and the school was subsequently purchased by the Methodist Ladies' College, Burwood
MLC School
MLC School is an independent day school for girls, located in Burwood, Sydney. Founded in 1886, MLC admits students from pre-kinder age through to Year 12, and is a Uniting Church of Australia school.- History :...
, thus becoming a school of the Methodist Church. Subsequently, the school name was changed to Ravenswood Methodist Ladies' College. At this time, Ravenswood was the largest non-residential, private secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Sydney, with an enrolment of 180, and was highly regarded for the quality of its teaching and its achievements in sport. Ravenswood became a day and boarding school in 1935, with the enrolment of the first two boarders.
The 1960s saw the introduction of the school anthem, Kindle the Flame, and the current house system
House system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
, with four houses named after the Royal Houses of the British Monarchy: Stuart (House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
), Tudor (House of Tudor
Tudor dynasty
The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was a European royal house of Welsh origin that ruled the Kingdom of England and its realms, including the Lordship of Ireland, later the Kingdom of Ireland, from 1485 until 1603. Its first monarch was Henry Tudor, a descendant through his mother of a legitimised...
), Windsor (House of Windsor
House of Windsor
The House of Windsor is the royal house of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V by royal proclamation on the 17 July 1917, when he changed the name of his family from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor, due to the anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom...
) and York (House of York
House of York
The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three members of which became English kings in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the paternal line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented...
). In the 1970s, as the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
es came together to form the Uniting Church, the school name changed to its current form, Ravenswood School for Girls. The schools familiar blue and gold uniform was also introduced at this time.
In its Centenary Year in 2001, the school celebrated with the official opening of The Centenary Centre, by His Excellency the Honourable Sir William Deane, AC, KBE, Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
(1996–2001). In 2006, after considerable debate, the Ravenswood council announced that the school would be phasing out its boarding program over the next six to eight years, due to a steady decline in boarding enrolments over recent years. Further change was seen on 5 September 2007, with the introduction of a new school uniform
School uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
.
Principals
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| 1901 – 1925 | Miss Mabel Fidler, Founder |
| 1926 | Miss Ethelwyn Potts |
| 1927 – 1928 | Miss Clarice Ashworth |
| 1928 – 1931 | Miss Francis Craig |
| 1932 – 1961 | Miss Kathleen Crago |
| 1962 – 1986 | Miss Phyllis Evans |
| 1987 – 1992 | Miss Coral Dixon |
| 1993 – 2004 | Mrs Lorraine Smith |
| 2005 – Present | Ms Vicki Steer |
Campus
Ravenswood is located on its original site, a single campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
in suburban Gordon. The school has progressively expanded since 1901, with the acquisition of new properties and the addition and upgrading of facilities.
The school grounds feature quadrangle
Quadrangle (architecture)
In architecture, a quadrangle is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building. The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles may be found in other...
s and courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
s, a multi-purpose complex with heated swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, old gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium, Strength and Conditioning Centre and Athletics Field
Playing field
A playing field is a field used for playing sports or games. They are generally outdoors, but many large structures exist to enclose playing fields from bad weather. Generally, playing fields are wide expanses of grass, dirt or sand without many obstructions...
. The Ravenswood Centenary Centre, opened in 2001, includes a Performing Arts Theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, Music Centre and exhibition areas.
The newest addition the campus is the Mabel Fidler building by BVN Architecture
BVN Architecture
BVN Architecture, formerly Bligh Voller Nield, is an architecture firm based in Australia.Bligh Voller Nield was established during 1997 to 1999 with the merger of Bligh Voller Architects, Lawrence Nield and Partners Australia, Grose Bradley and Pels Innes Neilson and Kosloff...
which forms a new entry and centre for learning at Ravenswood School for Girls and functions as the central hub within the school environment. The building houses the Junior and Senior school libraries known as the resource hub.
Junior School students are catered for within the Junior School centre with a Resource Centre, playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
and play equipment area, adventure playground and adjacent Assembly Hall.
Curriculum
In Years 11 and 12, students may choose to take either the Higher School Certificate (HSC) course or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Course (IB).According to The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
, Ravenswood students typically performed well in the 2007 HSC, with the school ranked the 18th best performing school in the state.
Debating
Ravenswood has a tradition of debating, and students are offered opportunities to participate at competitive or social levels. Ravenswood competes in two inter-school debating competitions: the Independent Schools Debating Association (ISDA) and the Schools Debating Network (SDN). Girls may also participate in an inter-house debating competition.Sport
Primary School students may partake in competitive sport through the Ravenswood's membership of the Independent primary schools Association of Australia (IPSHA). These competitions are usually held on Saturday mornings and include sports such as: Softball, Tennis, Netball, Cricket, Hockey, and Soccer.Secondary School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students compete against 28 other similar type schools in the Independent Girls' Schools Sporting Association
Independent Girls' Schools Sporting Association
The Independent Girls' Schools Sporting Association , was established in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in 1922 with five founding members, all of them independent Protestant girls' schools....
(IGSSA) competition. These competitions occur on Saturday mornings or in the form of carnivals and include sports such as: Softball, Swimming, Diving, Cricket, Tennis, Hockey, Soccer, and Gymnastics.
Students who perform well at JSHAA or IGSSA level may be invited to compete in NSW Combined Independent Schools' (CIS) competitions.
Community
The school has been noted for its contributions towards equality for women. In 2001, Ravenswood was the only school in Australia to be short listed for the Most Innovative Practice for the Advancement of Women Award. It is also one of a small number of companies to be nominated for an Employer of Choice for Women classification by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace AgencyEqual Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency is an Australian government agency. It is statutory authority located within the portfolio of the Australian Commonwealth Department of Families Housing Community Servcies and Indigenous Affairs .EOWA’s role is to administer the Equal...
(EOWA). Ravenswood has maintained this status in 2002 and 2003.
Notable alumni
Business- Jillian Broadbent - Reserve Bank of AustraliaReserve Bank of AustraliaThe Reserve Bank of Australia came into being on 14 January 1960 as Australia's central bank and banknote issuing authority, when the Reserve Bank Act 1959 removed the central banking functions from the Commonwealth Bank to it....
director - Meredith Hellicar - AMP Life Chairman and former Corrs Chambers Westgarth Chief Executive
- Mrs (Shirley) Frank Lowry - Wife of the Chairman of Westfield Group
Media, entertainment and the arts
- Julia Baird - SMH columnist and daughter of Bruce BairdBruce BairdBruce George Baird, AM , is a former Australian politician.-Early life:Baird was born in Sydney, and was educated at the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, holding a master's degree in business administration from the latter...
, Federal LiberalLiberal Party of AustraliaThe Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,... - Helen Rosalie (Ros) Bower - Community arts director
- Gretel KilleenGretel KilleenGretel Killeen is an Australian journalist and author. Killeen is well known for being the primary host of Big Brother Australia from its inception in 2001 until the 2007 season ....
- Author and Host of Big BrotherBig Brother (Australia)Big Brother Australia is the Australian version of the international Big Brother reality television series. Big Brother Australia was produced from 2001 and ran for 8 seasons before it was cancelled in 2008. It has been renewed in September 2011 for a 2012 season. All eight seasons were produced by... - Lisa PryorLisa PryorLisa Pryor is an Australian journalist and author. Born in Sydney in 1978, she was educated at Ravenswood, where she achieved a TER score of 100, and the University of Sydney, where she graduated in arts and law. She is a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald, where she has also...
- SMH columnist and author - Jade Hatcher - Ballroom Dancer
- Tammin SursokTammin SursokTammin Pamela Sursok is an Australian actress and musician of South African origin. She is best known for the role of Dani Sutherland on Home and Away, as Colleen Carlton on The Young and the Restless and as Siena in Disney Channel's Hannah Montana...
- Dani from Home and AwayHome and AwayHome and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television... - Brooke Corte - Sky News Business ChannelSky News Business ChannelSky News Business Channel is an Australian 24 hour cable and satellite business news channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television subscription platforms, owned by Australian News Channel Pty Ltd.-History:...
- Bridget Yorston - Fashion Designer 'Bec & Bridge'
Medicine and science
- Winifred Marion Petrie - Nurse and hospital proprietress
Politics, public service and the law
- Melanie Howard - Daughter of former Prime Minister of Australia John HowardJohn HowardJohn Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
- Juanita NielsenJuanita NielsenJuanita Joan Nielsen was an Australian publisher and heiress.She was born Juanita Joan Smith in New Lambton, NSW to parents: Neil Donovan Smith and Vilma Grace Smith nee Meares . Her parents separated soon after her birth and she was raised by her mother at Killara, Sydney...
- Publisher, anti-development campaigner, heiressBeneficiaryA beneficiary in the broadest sense is a natural person or other legal entity who receives money or other benefits from a benefactor. For example: The beneficiary of a life insurance policy, is the person who receives the payment of the amount of insurance after the death of the insured...
to the Mark FoysMark FoysMark Foys was a department store in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, founded by Francis Foy and his brother Mark Foy and named after their father Mark Foy ....
retail fortune. Disappeared in mysterious circumstances (believed kidnapped and murdered) from Kings CrossKings Cross, New South WalesKings Cross is an inner-city locality of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 2 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
, in 1975. Subject of films, Heatwave (1982) and The Killing of Angel Street (1981)