School Handbook

Brief History of Scotch College

School Handbook

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In 1896, the Revd David Ross proposed to the Perth Presbytery of WA that a Scotch College be established. With financial help from Mr W Alexander the School was started in rented premises, the Shearer Memorial Hall in Beaufort Street. Known as the Alexander Scotch College, it was officially opened in February 1897 by the Acting Governor, under the Headmastership of Mr John Sharpe, MA, and with an initial roll of 28 pupils.

In 1904 Mr Sharpe resigned and Mr P C Anderson was appointed. In the same year, it became necessary to secure new School premises, and through the generosity of Mr J M Ferguson, the present Senior School property in Swanbourne was purchased. The new buildings were opened in February 1905 by the Right Hon Sir John Forrest and catered for 140 boys. The property to the north of Shenton Road was acquired during and after the First World War.

Mr P C Anderson and an active College Council guided the growth of Scotch through the difficult years that followed. By 1925 the roll had reached 250 but then came the Depression years and the numbers dropped to 190. The forties saw the enrolment climbing steadily and the 500 mark was reached in 1950. By 1977 it was up to 900. During this time there had been several changes of Headmasters. Mr P C Anderson retired in 1945 and the Senior Assistant, Mr G G Campbell, acted as Headmaster till Mr G Maxwell Keys took over in 1947. During his 22 years at Scotch the School increased in size and maintained a very high standard of scholarship, sport, and community service.

At the end of 1968 Dr Keys, as he then was, handed over to Mr D H Prest, who, after three years of active headmastership during which the Parents' Association was formed, became Principal of Wesley College Melbourne. His place was taken by Mr W R Dickinson, in 1972. The School enjoyed significant growth and development under the leadership of Mr Dickinson. By 1997 the numbers had reached 1030. In a 25 year period the School established Moray, an outdoor camp near Dwellingup, constructed a major teaching block, a resource and computing centre, a new dining hall, a physical education centre, and restored the main administration building. Mr Dickinson introduced a vertical House system that was the foundation of an outstanding pastoral care programme. His personal knowledge of boys and families helped to build a strong Scotch College community.
The Revd Andrew Syme commenced as Headmaster in January, 1998.

Since 1988 Mr Syme has restructured the school curriculum based on the International Baccalaureate and instituted a programme of teacher classroom observation and development. A new boarding complex was opened in 2003, a refurbished Upper Primary classroom block in 2005 and a multi-purpose Arts facility (known as the "Dickinson Centre" in 2007).

The School Coat of Arms

In 1897, the first Headmaster, Mr John Sharpe, called a meeting of the older scholars including Andrew Grieve, Livingston Shearer and Gordon Hill, to discuss the designing of a School Badge. That meeting decided the shape of the shield and the scroll, the School colours, maroon, blue and gold and the four symbols - the Cross of St Andrew (patron saint of Scotland), the Thistle (national flower of Scotland), the open Bible (religious tradition) and the Black Swan (symbol of Western Australia). The motto in Latin "Sicut patribus sit deus nobis" was chosen from the Old Testament (1 Kings Chapter 8 Verse 57) meaning, in English, "The Lord be with us as He was with our forefathers". These were the words of King Solomon to the people on the completion of the Temple.

In 1969, the Council submitted the traditional badge described above to Her Majesty's signet Lord Lyon King of Arms, for comment as to whether it conformed to heraldic rules of design (the Laws of Arms). When the reply came that in various respects it did not conform, the Council applied to him for suitable "Ensigns Armorial ". The newly designed coat of arms, the details of which are recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, (page 6 Vol 50) was received in 1970. It was published in the Reporter in 1971.