Toowoomba Grammar School 24 Margaret Street, Toowoomba Qld 4350 2012 ANNUAL REPORT PO Box 2900 Toowoomba Qld 4350 ABN: 86 510 299 250 – CRICOS REGISTRATION No. 00525D TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT Toowoomba Grammar School – Report to the Minister for Education, Training and i Employment 2012 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING and EMPLOYMENT Public Availability: A copy of the report is available on our webpage at www.twgs.qld.edu.au As well as on request to: Toowoomba Grammar School PO Box 2900 Toowoomba Qld 4350 Telephone: (07) 4687 2500 Facsimile: (07) 4687 2580 E-mail: [email protected] © Board of Trustees of the Toowoomba Grammar School 2012 ISSN 1837-848X Toowoomba Grammar School – Report to the Minister for Education, Training and ii Employment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. THE SCHOOL IN 2012 ......................................................................................... 1 2. LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................... 2 2.1 Legislation ...................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Establishment ................................................................................................. 2 2.3 Statutory Functions of the Board ................................................................... 3 2.4 Statutory Powers of the Board ....................................................................... 3 2.5 Location .......................................................................................................... 3 2.6 Governance ..................................................................................................... 3 2.6.1 Membership of the Board .................................................................... 3 2.6.2 Meetings of the Board ......................................................................... 4 2.6.3 Organisational Structure ...................................................................... 4 2.6.4 Executive Management ....................................................................... 4 2.7 Overseas Travel .............................................................................................. 5 2.7.1 Board of Trustees ............................................................................... 5 2.7.2 School Tours ...................................................................................... 5 2.8 Risk Management ........................................................................................... 6 2.9 Controlled Entities .......................................................................................... 7 2.10 Management Systems ..................................................................................... 7 3. TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL OPERATIONS .................................... 8 3.1 Economic Climate and Factors Affecting the School .................................... 8 3.1.1 Students ............................................................................................... 8 3.1.2 Staff ..................................................................................................... 8 3.1.3 The Australian Curriculum ................................................................ 10 Toowoomba Grammar School – Report to the Minister for Education, Training and iii Employment 3.1.4 Political Climate ................................................................................ 10 3.2 Special Interest Groups ................................................................................ 12 3.2.1 Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys’ Association Inc .............. 12 3.2.2 Parents’ and Friends’ Association Inc. .............................................. 12 4. STRATEGIC DIRECTION ................................................................................. 13 4.1 Learning and Understanding ........................................................................ 13 4.2 Relationships and Physical Development .................................................... 18 4.3 Society .......................................................................................................... 22 4.4 Finance and Infrastructure ............................................................................ 23 4.5 Future Direction ........................................................................................... 25 4.5.1 The State Government’s Decision to Transfer Year 7 to the Senior School ................................................................................................ 25 4.5.2 Strategic Directions ........................................................................... 25 5. APPENDICES ...................................................................................................... 26 Appendix 1 – Staff Organisational Chart ............................................................. 27 Appendix 2 – 2012 Annual Financial Statements ................................................ 29 Appendix 3 – Glossary ......................................................................................... 30 Toowoomba Grammar School – Report to the Minister for Education, Training and iv Employment ANNUAL REPORT TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY 2012 TO 31 DECEMBER 2012 1. THE SCHOOL IN 2012 We commenced the year with a total student enrolment of 1,137, comprising 831 in the Senior School (282 Boarders and 549 Dayboys) and a Junior School enrolment of 306 (10 Boarders and 296 Dayboys). This represented an overall increase of 49 students on the previous year. At the same time we welcomed fifteen new full-time teachers to the staff due to the expansion of student numbers and as replacements for those departing due to promotional appointments or inter or intrastate transfers. A significant number of new staff who joined our Junior School did so due to a continuation of our double streaming policy which created additional classes in Years 1, 3 and 4. This year will be justifiably remembered as an outstanding one for the School in both its academic and co-curricular endeavours. Whilst the School has maintained its extremely high academic standing in Queensland, it has achieved this in company with its ongoing and impressive student participation in its various cultural programmes. In addition, it has been widely acknowledged that major improvements have been demonstrated in our Great Public Schools (GPS) Competition sporting involvement. We believe that all of the other eight participating member schools have identified an awareness of the new sense of self-belief and determination which our boys are now demonstrating in their sporting endeavour. Associated with this increased sporting profile there has been a commensurate elevation in School Spirit shown by our boys, for they are clearly enjoying an increasing number of sporting successes across many sports. It is pleasing to note this improvement in our sporting involvement for it has been achieved in a manner that has been in no way detrimental to the School’s very high academic standards and achievements in other areas. In essence, Toowoomba Grammar School is now producing commendable successes across all areas of its endeavour. Most importantly we can assess the year as being highly successful simply by knowing that the relationships amongst the boys, and between the boys and the staff, have been most positive, respectful and co-operative. There has been a very good spirit in the School. Sadly, however, the enjoyment we have all had during the year was tragically marred on the first day of the September school holidays by the loss of a wonderful Year 12 student, Nicholas Muller. Nick lost his life in a motor vehicle accident and the entire school community joined as one, in sadness and grief, in an attempt to cope with the magnitude of our loss. This was particularly felt by Nicholas’s Year 12 cohort as they approached their final term of schooling. It is a tribute to the strength of the School community and the boys’ ability to offer compassion and support to one another that they could Toowoomba Grammar School – Report to the Minister for Education, Training and Employment 1 effectively, somehow, come to terms with their loss and deal with such sorrow. The condolences of the entire School community are extended to the Muller family. The first two weeks of the new academic year were continually wet and miserable. Round One of the GPS Cricket season was subsequently cancelled and an Australia Day celebratory excursion to the Gold Coast for the boarders was postponed. It really was déjà vu when, on Sunday 5th February 2012, the School was asked whether it had the capacity to house evacuees from a flooded St George township. Unfortunately, unlike during the flood of January 2011 when the boarders had yet to return to the School, on this occasion all of our boarding dormitories were fully utilised so emergency accommodation could not be offered. In addition to the arrival of the new students and staff, the new year saw the start of a major building programme which involved a significant extension to the Pavilion, the demolition of the Boyce Boarding Housemaster’s residence, the commencement and completion of the construction of the new Mackintosh Boarding House, the Margaret Street entrance fence constructed and the enhancement of the front promenade. Furthermore we witnessed the complete resurfacing of Mills Oval to rectify adverse drainage patterns,