The Scots PGC College
Encyclopedia
The Scots PGC College is an independent
, co-educational, Uniting Church, day
and boarding school
, located in Warwick
, Queensland
, Australia
.
The College currently caters for approximately 450 international and Australian students from Prep to year 12, including 180 boarders.
Located on two campus
es, the College is currently divided into three age-based 'Learning Precincts' - a Junior School, a Middle School and a Senior School. In 2008, a new Performing Arts Centre was opened to cater specifically for Drama and Music.
The Scots PGC College is a member of the Junior School Heads Association of Australia
and The Associated Schools
.
s for girls and boys in 1918 and 1919 respectively, by Messrs. B. T. DeConlay, R. J. Shilliday, and W. R. Black, to serve the needs of the large Scottish
population in the area and provide a solid Presbyterian
education.
The two separate schools were amalgamated in 1970, and this new co-educational school was named The Scots PGC College. Scots PGC became a school of the Uniting Church in 1977, following Church union.
1995 saw the College Council
move to adopt a new school badge
designed by Neil Bonnell (Principal from 1985 to 1994), and a new school motto
, "Always Aiming Higher". Prior to this the badges and mottos of both the original schools were used. The mottos were "Semper Petens Alta" ("Always Aiming Higher") for the boys, and "E Labore Dulcedo" ("Sweetness Out of Labour") for the girls.
is the basis of the College uniform
.
is unique in that it is based on four different clans:
Sporting competitions within the College are conducted in inter-clan (inter-house) format, in the three core sports of swimming, cross-country running and athletics. The inter-clan competition is also conducted in the majority of team sports played at the College.
and annual Highland Gathering.
Students may join the Pipe Band from the age of 9, with lessons available for interested students from year 3 onwards. The bands compete at various Highland Gatherings in the South-East corner of Queensland, as well as at State and National Championships.
In 2002, the Scots PGC Pipe Band opened the Australia versus Scotland
rugby union
test match at Ballymore
, and in May 2003 and 2007 opened the World Cup Polocrosse
at Morgan Park.
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...
, co-educational, 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...
, located in Warwick
Warwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, 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...
.
The College currently caters for approximately 450 international and Australian students from Prep to year 12, including 180 boarders.
Located on two campus
Campus
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...
es, the College is currently divided into three age-based 'Learning Precincts' - a Junior School, a Middle School and a Senior School. In 2008, a new Performing Arts Centre was opened to cater specifically for Drama and Music.
The Scots PGC College is a member of 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....
and The Associated Schools
The Associated Schools
The Associated Schools is an incorporated body involving fourteen co-educational independent Queensland secondary schools in a variety of sporting and cultural activities established in 1956 following the disbanded Metropolitan Secondary School Sports Association in 1955, which had been...
.
History
The Presbyterian Girls' College and The Scots College were established as boarding schoolBoarding 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...
s for girls and boys in 1918 and 1919 respectively, by Messrs. B. T. DeConlay, R. J. Shilliday, and W. R. Black, to serve the needs of the large Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
population in the area and provide a solid Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
education.
The two separate schools were amalgamated in 1970, and this new co-educational school was named The Scots PGC College. Scots PGC became a school of the Uniting Church in 1977, following Church union.
1995 saw the College Council
University Council
A University Council may be the executive body of a university's governance system, an advisory body to the University President, or something in between in authority....
move to adopt a new school badge
Badge
A badge is a device or fashion accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath , a sign of legitimate employment or student status, or as a simple...
designed by Neil Bonnell (Principal from 1985 to 1994), and a new school 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...
, "Always Aiming Higher". Prior to this the badges and mottos of both the original schools were used. The mottos were "Semper Petens Alta" ("Always Aiming Higher") for the boys, and "E Labore Dulcedo" ("Sweetness Out of Labour") for the girls.
Uniform
The Clan Cameron of Erracht TartanTartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
is the basis of the College 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...
.
Boarding houses
The boy boarders are divided into three boarding houses- Cunningham House (Currently consists of only Morris Wing, as Finlay Wing was destroyed during a fire in 2009)
- DeConlay House
- School House
House system
The school's house systemHouse 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...
is unique in that it is based on four different clans:
- Cameron - Red
- Leslie - Purple
- Macinnes - Yellow
- Mackay - Green
Sporting competitions within the College are conducted in inter-clan (inter-house) format, in the three core sports of swimming, cross-country running and athletics. The inter-clan competition is also conducted in the majority of team sports played at the College.
Pipe band
In line with its Scottish heritage, the College has a pipe bandPipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
and annual Highland Gathering.
Students may join the Pipe Band from the age of 9, with lessons available for interested students from year 3 onwards. The bands compete at various Highland Gatherings in the South-East corner of Queensland, as well as at State and National Championships.
In 2002, the Scots PGC Pipe Band opened the Australia versus Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
test match at Ballymore
Ballymore
Ballymore may refer to:*Ballymore , an Irish property company*Ballymore, County Cork, village on Great Island, Cork Harbour, Ireland*Ballymore, County Donegal, Ireland*Ballymore, County Westmeath, Ireland*Ballymore, County Wexford, Ireland...
, and in May 2003 and 2007 opened the World Cup Polocrosse
Polocrosse
Polocrosse it is a team sport that is played all over the world. It is a combination of polo and lacrosse. It is played outside, on a field , on horseback. Each rider uses a cane stick to which is attached a racquet head with a loose, thread net, in which the ball is carried. The ball is made of...
at Morgan Park.
Notable alumni
- Kenneth Henry Campbell - Chairman of Ken Campbell and Associates Pty Limited, Brisbane; Former Asia/Pacific Governor of the International Federation of AdvertisingAdvertisingAdvertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
Agencies, Managing Director of the Australian Advertising AgencyAdvertising agencyAn advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
Pty Ltd
See also
- List of schools in Queensland
- List of boarding schools
- Education in AustraliaEducation in AustraliaEducation in Australia is primarily the responsibility of the states and territories. Each state or territory government provides funding and regulates the public and private schools within its governing area. The federal government helps fund the public universities, but is not involved in setting...
- List of pipe bands