Geelong High School

History

On February 8, 1910, 79 students, together with eight teachers and an acting headmaster, began classes in a couple of disused rooms at the Gordon Institute of TAFE. John William Gray was appointed headmaster in April 1910. Twelve months later, enrollment had increased to 150, and 12 rooms were being used at the Gordon. The school was renamed the Geelong High School and as such became Geelong's first state secondary school. The current site was selected and the new school, to accommodate 450 students, was completed in August 1915.

In 2005/06, the school underwent some major reconstruction, providing new woodwork and metalwork studios, science labs, computer pods and a new gymnasium and library, in addition to a learning centre with a computer pod, classrooms and a theatrette. The work was done to accommodate and assist Year 7 students in their learning.

Geelong High School has been identified as one of the 50 "most needy schools" in Victoria, in an audit conducted by the Victorian state government. This has led to students sending letters to MHR for Corio Richard Marles, as well as other politicians, writing of "teachers and students working in classrooms with cracked walls, substandard heating and no cooling", pleading for funding to fix and upgrade the school.

In 2014, the school received funding for a rebuild. Planning is undergoing during 2015/16 with construction expected to start early 2017. It should be completed by the end of 2019. The upgrade will involve the refurbishment of the school's Hall, construction of a new 2 story Year 7 building on the Year 7 area and construction of new Music and Dance Studio on site, during 2017. Demolition of rooms 3-8 to make way for the new Year 7 courtyard, refurbishment of the old Kroger Wing and adding a second story to this building during 2018. Refurbishment of the Vague Wing to create new Art rooms, refurbishment of the top floor of Winstanley for new Year 12 classrooms and demolition of the office building in 2019. Removal of all school portables in 2020. The refurbished CA Love Hall is expected to be completed by 2018. It will be used as temporary 6 classrooms while the Kroger Wing is refurbished, before being used as its intended purpose in 2019. The School currently consists of the following Buildings:

The main Kroger Wing, centre part built in 1915(rooms 1,2,9,11,11a,12,13 & 14) 1930's extension (rooms 3,4,5,6,7 8), Second story 1940's(rooms 10 & 10A, Staffroom) VCE study centre in the 1960s and the Admin office 1970's.

Winstanley Wing was built in the 1960s, originally housing Science and cooking rooms, it now has Cooking and Art rooms. It was refurbished in 2014. (Rooms 17, 18,19,21,22 & 23) R.J. Vague Wing was built in 1979 and refurbished in 2006. It contains the Library and Year 7 Learing Centre (rooms L1, L2, L3, L4, 26 & 27) The Science Wing and GYM, built in 2005, (rooms 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31) The Wood and Mrtalwork rooms built in 2004( rooms 32 and 33) Various different portable classrooms installed over the past 10 years. (Rooms 34' 35, 36, 36A, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 & 43)

Curriculum

Geelong High School operates a Year 7 program which is independent of the main curriculum structure. Year 7 students are situated in groups, each with two teachers who cover science and maths, and English and humanities. The program is designed to help students better manage their transition from primary into secondary education.

In 2003 the school introduced the ILP programme, in which students in Years 8–10 can choose their own subjects.

In 2008 the school commenced teaching the Japanese language to Year 7 students, later extended to all years. The language was introduced as a replacement for Korean as a LOTE subject, which had been taught since the mid-1990s but was removed from the school curriculum at the end of 2006. The school also offers German as a LOTE subject.

Geelong High school offers a number of senior study pathways for Year 10, 11 and 12 students, including Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Vocational Education and Training

VET, as part of the VCE program, combines a student's general studies with vocational ones in Year 10, 11 or 12. The aim is to give participating students an advantage when applying for full-time apprenticeships in trade areas. Geelong High School teaches in VET Information Technology as well as VET Dance.

School-based apprenticeships

Students in Years 10 and 11 have the opportunity to undertake part-time traineeships which include paid work placements and the opportunity to complete VET studies in each student's chosen area.

Drama

During 1994, the school purchased some former church buildings on the corner of Ryrie and Garden Streets, and converted them into what is now the Shenton Performing Arts Centre. This complex hosts a fully equipped theatre, in addition to music classrooms, dance studios and performance spaces.

Music

Geelong High School offers Classroom Music and an Instrumental Music program to its students. Classroom Music is offered through the ILP program.

Dance

The VET course Certificate II in Dance is offered to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to establish a career in dancing. As part of their assessment, all first and second year VET students annually perform their own group compositional ensemble piece in the Splash Dance festival showcase at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre. The school offers this course to all other students in Geelong.

Artist in residence

In 2002 the school was involved in the Artists in Schools program, under which an artist in residence helped students make their own books while also learning more about their city.

Sport

The sports the school offers include cricket, baseball, softball, tennis, volleyball, golf, football, hockey, soccer, basketball, netball, table tennis and badminton.

Student exchange

Geelong High School offers language studies in both German and Japanese, with an established exchange program in both of those languages, giving students the opportunity to visit and live with families in these respective countries for a period of time.

Notable alumni

Prof. John Walter Cherry - Theatre Director, Foundation Professor of Drama at Flinders University, and Professor of Theatre at Temple University

James Alexander Grant - author; Anglican priest; Fellow of Trinity College (University of Melbourne); dean of St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne

Geoff Howard - ALP state politician; MLA for Ballarat East September 1999; Parliamentary Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment 1999-2002; Parliamentary Secretary, Agriculture 2002-2006

Ronald Grant Lyon - architect and president of the Victorian Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, 1966–67

Rod MacKenzie - state politician; MLC for Geelong 1979-1992; President, Legislative Council 1985-88; Minister of Soldier Settlement April–December 1982; Minister of Forests and Minister of Lands 1982-83; Minister of Conservation, Forests and Lands 1983-85

Sir Walter Ramsay McNicoll - founding headmaster of Geelong High School; principal of Presbyterian Ladies' College, Goulburn, New South Wales.

Lee Troop - Olympic marathon runner.

Mark Wilson- bass player for Jet

Ian Trezise - Former ALP politician and member for Geelong.

Controversies

In 2006, the school became the subject of national focus after the banning of 'touching' and 'hugging' amongst students. The move was the subject of some criticism and was featured on shows such as Today Tonight, A Current Affair and Sunrise.^

In 2009, the discovery of broken asbestos-cement sheeting in the school hall was publicised in the local media. The problem has since been resolved.