Applecross Senior High School

Applecross Senior High School is a public co-educational high day school, located in Ardross, a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia.

Applecross Senior High School
Applecross Senior High School in 2006
Location
Ardross, Perth, Western Australia Australia
Coordinates	32°01′46″S 115°50′05″E
Information
Type	Public co-educational high day school
Motto	Achieve
Established	1958
Educational authority	WA Department of Education
Principal	Paul Leech
Enrolment	1,602[1] (2019)
Campus type	Suburban
Colour(s)	Black, green, red and white
Website	www.applecross.wa.edu.au

Founded in 1958,[2] Applecross Senior High School has traditionally been one of the leading public high schools in Western Australia and consistently ranks academically within the top ten secondary schools in the state.[3][4][5] Applecross has produced two Rhodes Scholars.[6]

Applecross runs dedicated art, tennis and chess programs, and has traditionally been dominant in these areas.[7][8][9][10] It also runs Academic Extension classes, for those students talented in the areas of English, Maths, Science, Society and Environment, French and Japanese.

Like many WA high schools, Applecross is a partially selective high school with out of area students being accepted on a number of criteria.[11]

History

The school was opened in 1958 to service the rapidly growing south-of-the-river suburbs of the city of Perth. As of 2019 approximately 1,600 students from Years 7 to 12 attended the school.[1]

In 2009 the WA Government allocated $56 million for the re-development of the school. A competitive tender process was completed in April 2010. The original school 'H' block, science block, swimming pool, and the 1970s gymnasium were retained. All other existing buildings were removed. A new south wing on the site of the existing tennis courts was designed to house a new administration area, library, resource centre, science, home economics and health and physical education wings. A new design and technology centre was constructed to the east of the swimming pool and a new visual arts centre was located on the site of existing basketball courts. The gymnasium was converted into a performing arts centre, while the original ‘H’ block was refurbished for use by business/information technology, careers & vocational education, english, languages, mathematics, society & environment and student services.[12]

School crest

The school crest is a combination of a black swan holding a book, signifying the proximity to the Swan River, with a hand holding a scimitar, emerging from a five-pointed crown ("issuant from an eastern crown or, a dexter hand holding a scimitar, in fess all proper"), the crest of the Chief of the Matheson clan. Sir Alexander Matheson Bt of Lochalsh, a property developer who in 1897 initiated the subdivision of the suburb of Applecross, became Chief of the Clan in 1920 on the death of his brother, the 2nd Baronet.[13][14]

Academic ranking

The Year-12 cohort at Applecross perform consistently well in the WACE school rankings, and the school ranks well when compared to other schools in Western Australia.

WA school ATAR ranking

Year	Rank	Median ATAR	Eligible students	Students with ATAR	% students with ATAR	Notes
2017	25	86.15	229	158	69.00	[15]
2016	24	85.10	237	175	74.76	[16]

Year 12 student achievement data

Year	Rank[lower-roman 1]	% +75 in WACE[lower-roman 2]	Rank	% +65 in WACE[lower-roman 3]	% graduates[lower-roman 4]	Notes
2015	33	13.54	28	39.05	97.71	[17]
2014	>50	<10.03	40	34.94	100	[18]
2013	41	10.98	46	31.75	100	[19]
2012	>50	<9.88	45	35.64	100	[20]
2011	35	13.54	41	44.68	97.51	[21]
2010	33	13.22	48	43.61	98.47	[22]
2009	26	38.54 (>75% minimum of one subject)	25	44.39 (64.6% or more)	98.42	[23]

1. Ranking of school compared to other schools in the state
2. Based on the number of Stage 3 course enrolments in the school where a WACE course score of 75 or above was achieved
3. Based on the number of Stage 3 course enrolments in the school where a WACE course score of 65 or above was achieved
4. Percentage of Year 12 cohort that graduated with a WACE certificate

Beazley Medals

• 2014: Robert Rubery won the Beazley Medal for the top ranked Vocational Education & Training (VET) student.
• 1993: Bertrand Sze Yu Lee won the Beazley Medal for the top ranked TEE student.

Notable alumni

• Dean Alston – Walkley Award winning newspaper cartoonist[24]
• Tony Ayres – film director[25]
• Marcus Beilby – Realist painter, winner of Sir John Sulman Prize[26]
• Darren Bennett – former Australian Rules football player and American football punter in the NFL[27]
• Jenny Boult (1951-2005) – author and poet, won 1981 Anne Elder Award for first book of poetry[28]
• Jim Gill AO – Chancellor of Curtin University, Western Australia, former: CEO of WA Water Corporation; WA Commissioner of Railways[29]
• Jillian Green – artist whose work is held in many major Western Australian institutions
• Jeanette Hacket AM – Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University, Western Australia (2006-2013)[30][31]
• Adele Horin (1951-2015) – Walkley Award-winning columnist and reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, previously international correspondent for the National Times.[32][33]
• Peter Lewis AM – former Australian Consul-General and Senior Trade Commissioner in San Francisco[34]
• Bill Louden – Deputy Vice-Chancellor (2009-2013) and Dean of Education (2006-2008) of University of Western Australia[35][36]
• Vince Lovegrove (1947-2012) – journalist, music manager, television producer, musician
• Tonya McCusker – classical dancer, wife of Governor of Western Australia[37]
• Vinay Menon – Rhodes Scholar 2012,[6] John Monash Scholar[38]
• Steve Pennells – journalist, 5-time Walkley Award winner including Gold Walkley in 2012, 18 WA Media Awards[39]
• Graeme Robertson – Rhodes Scholar 1971, former: Director of Muresk Institute of Curtin University; Director-General of WA Department of Agriculture[6][40]
• Diane Stone – professor in Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick, UK and Professor in Public Policy at Central European University in Budapest.[41][42]
• Lesley Vidovich – Winthrop Professor, Graduate School of Education, University of Western Australia[43]
• Reece Waldock – Director General of WA Department of Transport, Commissioner for Main Roads, CEO of Public Transport Authority of Western Australia. Former WA Commissioner of Railways[44]
• Steve Ward – boat builder; built 1983 12-metre class America's Cup winner Australia II, and challengers Australia, Australia III, Australia IV, Challenger 12 & South Australia.[45]
• Bruce Williams – Commissioner of Fair Work Australia, former Commissioner of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, Perth[46][47]

See also

• List of schools in the Perth metropolitan area

References

1. "Alphabetical List of Western Australian Schools" (pdf). WA Department of Education. Perth, WA: Government of Western Australia. 12 November 2019. p. 2. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
2. "Applecross Senior High School". Applecross Senior High School. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
3. Hiatt, Bethany (14 January 2019). "WA's top 10 public schools: Perth Modern School sets record for academic achievement". West Australian. Perth, WA. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
4. "Better Education '08 WA School Ranking". Better Education Pty Ltd. 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
5. "Better Education '09 WA School Ranking". Better Education Pty Ltd. 2010. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
6. "Western Australian Rhodes Scholars". Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
7. "Applecross special art student wins national gallery scholarship" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
8. "Chirag to represent Australia in Chess" (PDF). 20 September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
9. "Australian Schools Teams Championships, 10th - 11th December, 2005". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
10. "Applecross a tennis ace". Melville Times. 27 April 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
11. Applecross Senior High: Out of area application. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
12. "The Project". Applecross Senior High School. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
13. "Did you know..." (PDF). Fremantle Herald. 18 November 2017. p. 21. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
14. "Sir Alexander Matheson". Sunday Times. Perth, WA. 4 April 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
15. "WA School Ranking - 2017". Better Education. 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
16. "WA School Ranking - 2016". Better Education. 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
17. "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
18. "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
19. "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
20. "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
21. "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
22. "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
23. "Year 12 Student Achievement Data" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
24. "About Applecross Senior High". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
25. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0044016/
26. "Curriculum Vitae - Marcus Beilby". Archived from the original on 19 April 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
27. "Bennett, Darren Leslie". Chargers Stats. San Diego Chargers. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
28. "Boult, Jenny". Agent Details. AustLit. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
29. Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "GILL (Jim) James Ian". Who's Who in Business Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd.
30. "Campus News: Curtin helps celebrate anniversaries with scholarships". 6 March 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
31. "Curtin honours Vice-Chancellor Jeanette Hacket". News and Events. Curtin University of Technology. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
32. "Adele Horin". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 27 June 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
33. "Secular Humanism. A statement by Adele Horin". Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
34. "Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia" (pdf). Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
35. "Winthrop Professor Bill Louden". Retrieved 18 May 2010.
36. "Roll of Honour". Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
37. "McCusker Charitable Foundation". Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
38. Sinclair-Jones, Michael (14 November 2011). "Two UWA medical graduates in national top 10". Campus Daily. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
39. "Pennells claims Gold Walkley". Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
40. "Staff profile: Professor Graeme Robertson". Muresk Campus. Curtin University of Technology. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
41. Diane Stone Capturing the Political Imagination: Think Tanks and the Policy Process, Frank Cass, 1996
42. "Diane Stone". Retrieved 18 May 2010.
43. "Winthrop Professor Lesley Vidovich". Retrieved 20 September 2010.
44. "Reece Waldock appointed as Director-General WA Transport". 29 April 2010. Archived from the original on 15 May 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
45. "12 Meter Yachts - Australia". Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
46. "Williams made AIRC commissioner". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 July 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
47. "FWC Members". Fair Work Commission. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.

External links

• Applecross Senior High School Website