Perth Modern School
Encyclopedia
Perth Modern School is an academically-selective
co-educational public high school
located in Subiaco
, an inner city suburb of Perth
, Western Australia
.
The school, established in 1911, now caters for students with high academic ability.
Perth Modern School has a specialised music
programme for students in Years eight to twelve. The school also offers a specialised ballet
course through its Graduate College of Dance.
In 2010 The Age
reported that Perth Modern ranked equal fourth among Australian schools based on the number of alumni who had received a top Order of Australia
honour.
Fourteen Perth Modern graduates have won Rhodes Scholarships from the University of Western Australia.
. Both male and female students studied science and modern languages as part of their courses.
The sphinx
, representing wisdom
and knowledge
, was adopted as the school symbol; together with the motto
"Savoir c'est Pouvoir" ("Knowledge is Power").
In 1958 Perth Modern School ceased operating as an academic scholarship school and became a comprehensive high school. Academic standards, the traditions of the past and the establishment of the special Music Scholarship in 1968 continued to have significant influence on the school.
The decision by the State Government to return Perth Modern School to a fully selective government school has attracted record enrolment enquiries. Parents of students enrolled at Perth Modern School, and the wider community, have recognised that by gathering students of high ability in the one school encourages students to “be themselves” with like-minded peers allows opportunity for the development of higher-order thinking skills and meets the social, emotional and educational needs of gifted students. The gifted program is based on Professor Francous Gagne's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent.
Perth Modern School's West Building, built in 1911 in Federation Arts and Craft
style, was entered into the Heritage Council of Western Australia's Interim Register of Heritage Places in 1992 and the Permanent Register in 2001. Notable details of fine design and craftsmanship in the West Building include the stained glass transom windows and fanlights, executed in Art Nouveau
style, fitted to the north front of the building and inside the entrance foyer. The buildings were designed by the chief architect of the Public Works Department, Hillson Beasley.
The West Building was refurbished during the late 1980s. The refurbishment has won several awards and the building is now recognised as one of the premier venues for chamber music and general ensemble performance in Perth. The West Building is linked by a covered walkway to another Heritage Listed building which currently houses the Society and Environment classes.
Perth Modern School's East Building is listed as a fine example of Post-War International style
. The building is attached to the new Administration Building, which provides lift access to the first floor of the East Building.
Much of the school has undergone construction to expand its facilities between 2007 and 2009, the project being overseen by Roger Stubbs, former mayor of the City of Armadale.
. The music program at Perth Modern School encompasses the Kodály methodology
in its teachings. Most aural and theory concepts are taught with the aid of the philosophies of music by Zoltán Kodály
, in which hand signs are used as a way of representing musical notes by holding the hand in a certain position for each note.
The music program places an emphasis on singing. It is a requirement that all students in the programme are in at least one vocal ensemble. The school also has four wind orchestras, three standard orchestras (two string and one symphony) and two classical guitar
ensembles as well as various other instrumental groups, chamber choirs and jazz
ensembles.
Perth Modern is the host campus of the Western Australian Music Festival (ABODA), which is normally spread over two days; where schools, various orchestras and music groups from Western Australia come to perform to the public. The event is held in a competition format where groups are adjudicated by professional musicians who provide feedback through a detailed report.
With the move to a fully selective school, enrolments in the specialist music program have increased, with over 130 auditions for Year 8, 2011.
level.
The Fitness Centre equipment has been moved next to the new Phys. Ed. office, located in the old Design and Technology area. The former Fitness Centre was located in a heritage-listed building, behind the library. The Fitness Centre is open to students at lunchtime, recess and before school.
Selective school
A selective school is a school that admits students on the basis of some sort of selection criteria, usually academic. The term may have different connotations in different systems....
co-educational public high 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....
located in Subiaco
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
, an inner city suburb of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
The school, established in 1911, now caters for students with high academic ability.
Perth Modern School has a specialised music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
programme for students in Years eight to twelve. The school also offers a specialised ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
course through its Graduate College of Dance.
In 2010 The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
reported that Perth Modern ranked equal fourth among Australian schools based on the number of alumni who had received a top Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
honour.
Fourteen Perth Modern graduates have won Rhodes Scholarships from the University of Western Australia.
History
Perth Modern School was established as the first government senior secondary school in Western Australia in 1911, after lengthy representations to the State Government. Selection from 1912 was by scholarshipScholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. Both male and female students studied science and modern languages as part of their courses.
The sphinx
Sphinx
A sphinx is a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head or a cat head.The sphinx, in Greek tradition, has the haunches of a lion, the wings of a great bird, and the face of a woman. She is mythicised as treacherous and merciless...
, representing wisdom
Wisdom
Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions so that universal principles, reason and...
and knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...
, was adopted as the school symbol; together with the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
"Savoir c'est Pouvoir" ("Knowledge is Power").
In 1958 Perth Modern School ceased operating as an academic scholarship school and became a comprehensive high school. Academic standards, the traditions of the past and the establishment of the special Music Scholarship in 1968 continued to have significant influence on the school.
The decision by the State Government to return Perth Modern School to a fully selective government school has attracted record enrolment enquiries. Parents of students enrolled at Perth Modern School, and the wider community, have recognised that by gathering students of high ability in the one school encourages students to “be themselves” with like-minded peers allows opportunity for the development of higher-order thinking skills and meets the social, emotional and educational needs of gifted students. The gifted program is based on Professor Francous Gagne's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent.
Campus
The School is based around five main areas:- the original Perth Modern School (the West Building and Oval, but also incorporating the new, purpose-built Music Rooms)
- newer extensions (formerly the Joseph Parsons Memorial LibraryLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
now demolished and replaced), the East Building, Administration Building, old Canteen (place), GymGymThe word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium, Metal and Woodworking Rooms (now the Table Tennis room and Phys Ed Department office). - the Visual and Performing ArtsPerforming artsThe performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
Department (the old PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
Studio, FitnessPhysical fitnessPhysical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
Centre, BalletBalletBallet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
Studio, old Performing Arts TheatreTheatreTheatre 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...
and the Graduate College of DanceDanceDance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
) - the Thomas Street Building (originally the Thomas Street Primary School, established in 1904).
- new (2009) buildings, including the Library/Café, Art/Photography/Home Economics Building, Design and Technology Building and the new Performing Arts Theatre.
Perth Modern School's West Building, built in 1911 in Federation Arts and Craft
Australian non-residential architectural styles
Australian non-residential architectural styles are a set of Australian architectural styles that apply to buildings used for purposes other than residence and have been around only since the first colonial government buildings of early European settlement of Australia in 1788.Their distribution...
style, was entered into the Heritage Council of Western Australia's Interim Register of Heritage Places in 1992 and the Permanent Register in 2001. Notable details of fine design and craftsmanship in the West Building include the stained glass transom windows and fanlights, executed in Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
style, fitted to the north front of the building and inside the entrance foyer. The buildings were designed by the chief architect of the Public Works Department, Hillson Beasley.
The West Building was refurbished during the late 1980s. The refurbishment has won several awards and the building is now recognised as one of the premier venues for chamber music and general ensemble performance in Perth. The West Building is linked by a covered walkway to another Heritage Listed building which currently houses the Society and Environment classes.
Perth Modern School's East Building is listed as a fine example of Post-War International style
International style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
. The building is attached to the new Administration Building, which provides lift access to the first floor of the East Building.
Much of the school has undergone construction to expand its facilities between 2007 and 2009, the project being overseen by Roger Stubbs, former mayor of the City of Armadale.
Music
Perth Modern is one of two public schools in Perth with a special selective music program, the other being Churchlands Senior High SchoolChurchlands Senior High School
Churchlands Senior High School is a state co-educational school in Churchlands, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, approximately ten minutes from the central business district.- History :...
. The music program at Perth Modern School encompasses the Kodály methodology
Kodály Method
The Kodály Method, also referred to as the Kodály Concept, is an approach to music education developed in Hungary during the mid-twentieth century by Zoltán Kodály...
in its teachings. Most aural and theory concepts are taught with the aid of the philosophies of music by Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály
Zoltán Kodály was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is best known internationally as the creator of the Kodály Method.-Life:Born in Kecskemét, Kodály learned to play the violin as a child....
, in which hand signs are used as a way of representing musical notes by holding the hand in a certain position for each note.
The music program places an emphasis on singing. It is a requirement that all students in the programme are in at least one vocal ensemble. The school also has four wind orchestras, three standard orchestras (two string and one symphony) and two classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
ensembles as well as various other instrumental groups, chamber choirs and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
ensembles.
Perth Modern is the host campus of the Western Australian Music Festival (ABODA), which is normally spread over two days; where schools, various orchestras and music groups from Western Australia come to perform to the public. The event is held in a competition format where groups are adjudicated by professional musicians who provide feedback through a detailed report.
With the move to a fully selective school, enrolments in the specialist music program have increased, with over 130 auditions for Year 8, 2011.
Dance
Perth Modern School hosts the Graduate College of Dance, from which a number of acclaimed high profile dancers have graduated. The Graduate College of Dance is one of Australia's leading vocational dance schools. In conjunction with the Department of Education and Perth Modern, the College prepares talented dancers aged 9 to 17 (year 5 to 12) for the dance profession. The College's comprehensive curriculum combines professional dance training with an academic education to tertiaryTertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage, third level, and post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, university-preparatory school...
level.
City Beach Residential College
Students coming from regional, rural, remote and international areas attending the school can board nearby, at City Beach Residential College, located in Bold Park next to the ISWA (the International School of Western Australia. It contains 72 beds and was funded by a grant from the government. Students have their own large rooms, in 6 bed units, each with 3 bathrooms, a kitchen and recreation area with TV.Latest additions
Five new buildings have been constructed as part of the redevelopment of Perth Modern School. These are the library/cafe, art/photography/home economics, design and technology, performing arts centre and administration building. When the library/cafe building was completed, the canteen and library were relocated to the new building, with the old canteen being closed down and the old library being demolished. These buildings were officially opened on the 26th of November 2009.The Fitness Centre equipment has been moved next to the new Phys. Ed. office, located in the old Design and Technology area. The former Fitness Centre was located in a heritage-listed building, behind the library. The Fitness Centre is open to students at lunchtime, recess and before school.
House system
In 2007 Perth Modern School introduced a new house system to provide competition and recognition of achievement. The houses are named after the first four school principals and are:- Brown House (Blue)
- Downing House (Yellow)
- Parsons House (Green)
- Sampson House (Red)
Notable alumni
Some notable ex-students of Perth Modern School include:- Caitlin BassettCaitlin BassettCaitlin Bassett is an Australian netball player in the ANZ Championship, playing for the West Coast Fever. Bassett previously played for the Perth Orioles in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy from 2005–07. In 2008, she played for one half of a game as a member of the Australian Diamonds team...
, member of the Australian Netball Team - Margaret BattyeMargaret BattyeMargaret Battye was a Western Australian lawyer who became influential in politics, business, and the legal advancement of women...
(1909–1949), lawyer and politician - Kim Edward BeazleyKim Edward BeazleyKim Edward Beazley, AO , known as Kim Beazley during his career, Australian politician, was Minister for Education in the government of Gough Whitlam and a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives for 32 years, from 1945 to 1977.Beazley, the youngest of seven children, was born in...
(1917–2007), politician, federal Minister for Education - Mathew "Cheeky" Cheetham, musician (DownsydeDownsydeDownsyde are an Australian hip hop group from Perth, Western Australia. The group is composed of six members, Optamus, Dazastah, Dyna-Mikes, DJ Armee, Cheeky, and Hi-Hat.- History :...
) - H.C. "Nugget" CoombsH. C. CoombsHerbert Cole H.C. "Nugget" Coombs was an Australian economist and public servant.-Early years:Coombs was born in Kalamunda, Western Australia, Australia, one of six children of a country railway station-master and a well-read mother.Coombs's political and economic views were formed by the Great...
(1906–1997), the first Governor of the 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....
, Hackett Scholar - Ross GarnautRoss GarnautRoss Gregory Garnaut AO is a Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Australian National University and both a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow and Professorial Fellow of Economics at The University of Melbourne....
, Professor of Economics at Australian National UniversityAustralian National UniversityThe Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students... - Rolf HarrisRolf HarrisRolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
, performer - Sir Paul HasluckPaul HasluckSir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck KG GCMG GCVO KStJ was an Australian historian, poet, public servant and politician, and the 17th Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
(1909–1993), 17th Governor-General of AustraliaGovernor-General of AustraliaThe 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... - Bob HawkeBob HawkeRobert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
, 23rd Prime Minister of Australia, Rhodes Scholar - John A. HayJohn A. HayJohn Anthony Hay, AC is a retired Australian academic.-Education:Hay has degrees in literature from the University of Western Australia and Cambridge University.-Academic positions:...
, Vice-Chancellor, University of Queensland, Hackett Scholar - Janet Holmes à CourtJanet Holmes à CourtJanet Holmes à Court, AC, HFAIB is an Australian businesswoman, and one of Australia's wealthiest women. She is the Chairman of one of Australia's largest private companies, Heytesbury Pty Ltd, having turned around its fortunes after the death of her husband Robert Holmes à Court in 1990...
, philanthropist - Anthony JonesAnthony JonesAnthony Jones may refer to:*Anthony Jones , British photographer*Anthony Jones , Australian footballer*Anthony Jones , American football player...
, AFL Footballer Fremantle Football ClubFremantle Football ClubThe Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
, 2007 Sandover Medalist Claremont Football ClubClaremont Football ClubThe Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold.... - Betty JudgeBetty JudgeBetty Judge-Beazley is a former Australian athletics champion at 880 yards. She coached the Olympic champion Shirley Strickland and is the mother of Kim Beazley, a former deputy Prime Minister of Australia.-Athletics career:...
, athlete - Malcolm McCuskerMalcolm McCuskerMalcolm James McCusker, AO, CVO, QC is an Australian philanthropist and barrister who is the current Governor of Western Australia.-Life and career:...
QC, 31st Governor of Western AustraliaGovernor of Western AustraliaThe Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;... - Ken MichaelKen MichaelKenneth Comninos Michael, AC was the 32nd Governor of Western Australia, succeeding Lieutenant-General John Sanderson.His vice-regal appointment was announced on 6 June 2005 by the then Premier Geoff Gallop and he was sworn in at Government House, Perth on 18 January 2006 by the Chief Justice of...
, 30th Governor of Western AustraliaGovernor of Western AustraliaThe Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
, former Chancellor of University of Western AustraliaUniversity of Western AustraliaThe University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the... - Paul Ridge (aka DraphtDraphtDrapht is an Australian hip hop singer from Perth, Western Australia. Drapht is a member of the Syllaboliks crew, which comprises fellow Australian hip hop artists from Perth.-Biography:...
), musician - Sir Fred SchonellFred SchonellSir Fred Schonell was an Australian educationist, and vice-chancellor of the University of Queensland from 1960 to 1969....
(1900–1969), Vice-Chancellor of University of Queensland, Hackett Scholar - Alan SeymourAlan SeymourAlan Seymour , is an Australian playwright and author. He was educated at Perth Modern School, leaving at 15 after failing to complete the Junior Certificate. He found work as a radio announcer in a commercial radio station 6PM. During his two years there he wrote a number of short radio plays that...
, playwright and author, wrote One Day of the Year - Joe Starke (1911–2006), member of the League of NationsLeague of NationsThe League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
secretariat, Professor of Law at Australian National UniversityAustralian National UniversityThe Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, Rhodes Scholar - John StoneJohn Stone (Australian politician)John Owen Stone is a former Australian politician. He served as Secretary to the Treasury between 1979 and 1984,and as a Senator for Queensland representing the National Party from 1987 to 1990.-Biography:John Stone was born in 1929...
, Secretary to the Treasury, senator for Queensland, Rhodes Scholar - Eric John Underwood (1905–1980), prominent research scientist, Dean of Agriculture at University of Western AustraliaUniversity of Western AustraliaThe University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, Hackett Scholar - Daryl WilliamsDaryl WilliamsDaryl Robert Williams AM QC , Australianpolitician, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1993 to October 2004, representing the Division of Tangney, Western Australia.-Biography:...
, federal Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Communications, Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholars, UWA List
- K R Allen 1926
- Keith Leo Cooper 1927
- A E C Smith 1928
- John La Nauze 1931
- Joseph Starke (formerly Staricoff)1932
- A E Finn 1933
- E L Barr 1937
- Harry Ross Anderson 1938
- Edmund Ernest Jarvis 1939
- John StoneJohn Stone (Australian politician)John Owen Stone is a former Australian politician. He served as Secretary to the Treasury between 1979 and 1984,and as a Senator for Queensland representing the National Party from 1987 to 1990.-Biography:John Stone was born in 1929...
1951 - John Robert Hall 1952
- Bob HawkeBob HawkeRobert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
1953 - Brian de Garis 1962
- Daryl WilliamsDaryl WilliamsDaryl Robert Williams AM QC , Australianpolitician, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1993 to October 2004, representing the Division of Tangney, Western Australia.-Biography:...
1965