Ascham School

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Independent girl' school in Edgecliff, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

title: "Ascham School" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["girls'-schools-in-new-south-wales", "boarding-schools-in-new-south-wales", "educational-institutions-established-in-1886", "private-primary-schools-in-sydney", "association-of-heads-of-independent-girls'-schools", "junior-school-heads-association-of-australia-member-schools", "1886-establishments-in-australia", "alliance-of-girls'-schools-australasia", "private-secondary-schools-in-sydney"] description: "Independent girl' school in Edgecliff, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascham_School" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Independent girl' school in Edgecliff, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox school"]

FieldValue
nameAscham School
imageEdgecliff Ascham 2.JPG
imagesize240
captionAscham's Edgecliff campus, in 2007
logoAschamschool.png
logo_size100px
motto
motto_translationWith Heart and Soul
established
typeIndependent, day and boarding
genderGirls
headmasterAndrew Powell
streetaddress188 New South Head Road
cityEdgecliff
stateNew South Wales
postcode2027
countryAustralia
coordinates
enrolment1,181
enrolment_as_of2019
gradesK–12
grades_labelYears
teaching_staff127.1 FTE (2019)
campus typeUrban area
affiliations
coloursNavy blue, red and khaki

| | homepage | | ::

|name = Ascham School |image = Edgecliff Ascham 2.JPG |imagesize = 240 |caption = Ascham's Edgecliff campus, in 2007 |logo = Aschamschool.png |logo_size = 100px |motto = |motto_translation = With Heart and Soul |established = |type = Independent, day and boarding |gender = Girls |educational_authority = |oversight = |district = |denomination = |slogan = |headmaster = Andrew Powell |street_address = |location = |streetaddress = 188 New South Head Road |city = Edgecliff |state = New South Wales |postcode = 2027 |country = Australia |coordinates = |enrolment = 1,181 |enrolment_as_of = 2019 |grades = K–12 |grades_label = Years |teaching_staff = 127.1 FTE (2019) |campus type = Urban area |campus size = |affiliations = |colours = Navy blue, red and khaki

|homepage = Ascham School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for girls, located in Edgecliff, an Eastern Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in 1886, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently has approximately 1000 students from Kindergarten to Year 12, including 100 boarders from Years 6 to 12.

Ascham follows the 'Dalton Plan', an educational philosophy created by Helen Parkhurst in 1916. The 'Dalton Plan' aims to produce independent and confident leaders.

Ascham is a member of the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), the Australian Boarding Schools' Association, and the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS).

Ascham is operated as a not-for-profit company. All funds must be used to benefit the school. This function is administered by the school's Council of Governors who are elected by the school's members.

History

Ascham school was established in 1886 by Marie Wallis, as a private, day and boarding school for girls, in a terrace house in Darling Point. The school moved to its current site following the acquisition of Glenrock estate in 1911. The school was named after Roger Ascham, tutor to Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1914 Kathleen Gilman Jones (1880–1942) came from South Africa to be a joint head mistress at the school. She went on to lead Melbourne Church of England Girls' Grammar School.

The school adopted the 'Dalton Plan' as its method of teaching in 1922.

Ascham became a company, Ascham School Limited, in 1937 under the direction of Headmistress Margaret Bailey. This transferred ownership of the school from herself to ensure the long-term succession of the school. The next head who served the school for some time was Dorothy Whitehead. She had served in the war rising to the rank of temporary Major. She continued with the Dalton Plan, before she left in 1961 to lead Firbank Girls' Grammar School.

School crest

The Ascham school crest was developed in 1911 by Ascham art teacher, Albert Collins. Symbols on the crest were explained in the school's Charivari magazine in December 1911: the dolphins symbolise energy, persistence and the ability to swim against, as well as with, the tide; the wings suggest aspiration and ambition; the lamp and book represent learning; and the combination of the acorn and eucalyptus seed mark the historical union of Britain and Australia.

Campus

Ascham is composed of three school areas designed to accommodate for the different stages of the students' educational development.

;Infant School The youngest students, from Preparatory to Year 2, are taught in the Hillingdon building which has its own hall, library, classrooms and recreation area. The students at Hillingdon are taught according to the Spalding Method.

;Junior School Students from Years 3 to 6 live in the Fiona building. Junior School students have access to a broad range of school subjects and co-curricular activities.

;Senior School The senior school is for students from Year 7 to Year 12. They are taught according to the Dalton Plan. This method gives the older students increased flexibility while placing on them the responsibility to learn and participate in the school's numerous academic and cultural opportunities. The campus hosts the Packer Theatre, a studio theatre, an indoor heated pool, a gymnasium, tennis courts, playing fields, IT facilities, art rooms, science laboratories and three libraries.

Exchange programme

Ascham has exchange programmes with the following girls schools: St Mary's Calne, UK; City of London School for Girls in London; Havergal College in Toronto; Nightingale-Bamford School in New York; Northlands School in Buenos Aires; Durban Girls' College in Durban; Institut de la Tour in Paris, St. George's School, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Heads

The following individuals have served as Head of School, or preceding title: ::data[format=table]

OrdinalNameTitleStart dateEnd dateTime in officeNotes
Marie WallisFounding Principal18861902years
Herbert J. CarterPrincipal19021914years
Kathleen Gilman JonesCo-Principal19141916years
Margaret Bailey
Headmistress19161946years
Hilda RaywardHeadmistress19471948years
last=Langmorefirst=Dianetitle=Dorothy Eleanor Whitehead (1908–1976)work=Australian Dictionary of Biographyurl=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/whitehead-dorothy-eleanor-12016access-date=2024-05-06
Merrilee RobertsHeadmistress19621972years
Rowena DanzigerHeadmistress19732003years
Susan PreedyHeadmistress20042005years
Rowena DanzigerActing Headmistress20052005years
Frances BoothActing Headmistress20052005years
Louise Robert-SmithHeadmistress20062012years
Helen WrightHeadmistress20132014yearsurl=http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/ascham--headmistress-helen-wright-leaves-school-after-a-year-20140122-318ap.html
Andrew PowellHead of School2014incumbentyears
::

Former students

Old Girls' Union

The Ascham Old Girls' Union (AOGU) was founded in 1899 by former students of the school. It now has a membership of over 4,000 alumnae. The AOGU encourages involvement of all past students in the Ascham community and helps alumnae remain in contact with their classmates. The AOGU also funds bursaries for the daughters and granddaughters of past students. The recipients of bursaries are means-tested and reviewed annually, and also carry an obligation to uphold the ideals and values of Ascham. The AOGU released three publications per year to its members.

Notable alumnae

Arts

Creative arts

Literary arts

Performing arts

Business

Education

Medicine and the sciences

  • Nan Waddy (1915–2015), psychiatrist and mental health advocate

Sport

  • Nikki Bishop (1973– ), equestrian event rider who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics
  • Gillian Campbell (1960– ), rower who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
  • Paige Campbell (1996– ), steeplechase athlete
  • Lavinia Chrystal (1989– ), skier who competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics
  • Christine Davy (1934– ), skier who competed at the 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics
  • Kitty Mackay Hodgson (1915–1974), swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics
  • Vicki Roycroft (1953– ), equestrian rider who competed at the 1984, 1988, and 1996 Summer Olympics

References

References

  1. (2019). "Ascham School, Edgecliff, NSW: School profile". [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]].
  2. "School Choice – Australia Choosing a School".
  3. "A Dalton Education".
  4. "The Alliance of Girls Schools Australia - Member Schools".
  5. "Junior Schools Heads Association of Australia: JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members".
  6. "Association of Heads of Independent Schools of aus : NSW".
  7. "Australian Boarding Staff Association Inc".
  8. "Association of Heads of Independent Girls Schools (AHIGS)". AHIGS.
  9. Mitchell, L. M. M.. "Kathleen Annie Gilman Jones (1880–1942)". National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  10. (2021-10-28). "The Dalton Plan at Ascham - Ascham School".
  11. (n.d.}}{{self-published inline). "Home". Ascham School.
  12. (n.d.}}{{self-published inline). "The Ascham Tradition". Ascham School.
  13. Langmore, Diane. "Dorothy Eleanor Whitehead (1908–1976)". National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  14. (23 April 2005). "Off with their head". Sydney Morning Herald.
  15. (2005-02-24). "Grande dame of Ascham back as headmistress resigns". Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. (2005-03-08). "Ascham without a headmistress again as Danziger bows out". Sydney Morning Herald.
  17. (29 August 2005). "Ascham lures headmistress with shining record on results". Sydney Morning Herald.
  18. (22 January 2014). "Ascham headmistress Helen Wright leaves school after a year". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  19. "Ascham Old Girls' Union".
  20. Rutledge, Martha. (1993). "Rosemary Beatrice (Bea) Bligh (1916–1973)".
  21. (1993). "Australian Dictionary of Biography". Melbourne University Press.
  22. "Being Mia".
  23. "Bursting with Joy: a treasure trove of stories from a life well lived". [[Wentworth Courier]].
  24. (1 June 2013). "A genuine passion for truth and humour". Sydney Morning Herald.
  25. "Q&A with Ascham Old Girl journalists". Ascham Old Girls' Magazine.
  26. "Bursting with Joy: a treasure trove of stories from a life well lived". Wentworth Courier.
  27. "Breamer, Sylvia Poppy (1897–1943)".
  28. "Drama in the early years". Ascham Old Girls' Magazine.
  29. (1986). "Ascham remembered, 1886–1986". Fine Arts Press.
  30. Scheuer, P. K.. (17 June 1945). "Actress of 'down under' studio makes good here". Los Angeles Times.
  31. "Waddell, Leila Ida (1880–1932)". Sydney Morning Herald.
  32. [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17091330 ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 27 June 1934]
  33. (1948). "1948–1948 International Film Almanac". Quigley Publications.
  34. (9 June 2020). "Queen's Birthday Honours for three impressive Old Girls". Ascham Old Girls Union.
  35. Flood, Chris. (4 December 2017). "Shemara Wikramanayake has 'never sold a Macquarie share in 30 years'". [[Australian Financial Review]].
  36. (1 August 1932). "FRENCH EXAMINATIONS.". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
  37. (13 October 2015). "Psychiatrist Nan Waddy fought for humane treatment of mentally ill". Sydney Morning Herald.
  38. "A history of sport at Ascham". Ascham Old Girls' Magazine.
  39. "The Two of Us—Holly and Paige Campbell (2014)". Ascham Old Girls' Magazine.

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girls'-schools-in-new-south-walesboarding-schools-in-new-south-waleseducational-institutions-established-in-1886private-primary-schools-in-sydneyassociation-of-heads-of-independent-girls'-schoolsjunior-school-heads-association-of-australia-member-schools1886-establishments-in-australiaalliance-of-girls'-schools-australasiaprivate-secondary-schools-in-sydney