Guildford Grammar School

School in Western Australia
the school in Western Australia

Guildford Grammar School, informally known as Guildford Grammar, Guildford or GGS, is an independent Anglican coeducational primary and secondary day and boarding school, located in Guildford, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Initially established as a single sex school for boys, in 2019, the School became co educational from Kindergarten to Year 6, and in Years 7, 8 and 11 in the Senior School; in Years 9 10 and 12, the School catered for boys only. Since 2019, the School has been fully co educational. Boarding facilities for Senior School girls were introduced from 2020. The school is a member of the Public Schools Association and the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia. The Anglican grammar school traces its origins back to 1896 when it was established by Charles Harper. In 1900, the school moved from the Harper family home to its current site near the banks of the Swan River, approximately from the centre of the City of Perth on of property. The East Guildford campus consists of a senior school for Year 7 to 12, a preparatory school for kindergarten to Year 6, sporting grounds and boarding facilities for 150 students.

Guildford Grammar School traces its foundations to 1896, when Charles Harper, an influential Western Australian, established in the billiard room of his house (Woodbridge House) a school (under the guidance of Frank Bennett, the first headmaster) which was to cater to the educational needs of his children and those from the surrounding district. Harper's vision was to create a school based on the English public school system, whilst also attempting to accommodate the different culture of the modern colonial society. In 1900, the school moved to its current site. Together with Christian Brothers College (Aquinas), The High School (Hale School) and The Alexander Scotch College (Scotch), the school established the Public Schools Association (PSA) in 1905. It is now co educational and also includes boarders. These boarders are accommodated in the Graham Malcolm Junior Hall of Residence. In March 1942, the staff and students of the senior school were evacuated to Fairbridge Farm School near Pinjarra for 18 months as a precaution during World War II.

The dedication of the school chapel to Saint Mary and Saint George took place on 25 March 1914. The dedication was the inspiration for the current coat of arms, which replaced the cross and coronet of the Harper family. The arms consist of the red cross of St George on a white shield below the three fleur de lys of St Mary against a dark blue field. "Go Forward", the school motto which succeeded the Harpers' Coelum ipsum petimus, appears in a scroll under the arms.

Guildford Grammar School is located on a campus on the banks of the Swan River and stands among trees and lawns. The campus has a number of buildings and sporting facilities necessary for the day to day educational needs of the students. Some of these buildings are of historical significance—including the chapel, which is listed with the Heritage Council of Western Australia. Most of the buildings and sporting fields are named after significant people in the school's foundation and history. In 2005, the school embarked on a major redevelopment project, named the One Campus Project, the first major project to be undertaken at the school in 15 years. This project includes the redevelopment of the school's playing fields and property bordering the Great Eastern Highway. The project was expected to cost in excess of $5.5 million and included the construction of a new hockey pitch, a second football oval, 12 new acrylic surface tennis courts, a new sports pavilion and the reconstruction of Roberts Oval.

The Federation Gothic styled school chapel (the Chapel of St Mary and St George), first suggested by headmaster Canon P. U. Henn (after whom Henn's House was named) and funded by Cecil Oliverson, after whom the school gymnasium is named. It is heritage listed and contains a large amount of English Oak wood. It currently houses a Bible (the Windsor Bible) gifted to the school by Queen Elizabeth II as a replacement for the Bible gifted by King George V which was destroyed in a fire in 1980.

Guildford offers an extracurricular program for students. The school also has boarding facilities for students who live in rural areas of Western Australia as well as international students. The major components of the program are sports, music, the arts and cadets. The cadet program at Guildford dates back to 1904. The program is governed by the state and federal arms of the Australian Army Cadet Corps and is supported by the A SQD Tenth Light Horse. Guildford participates in the national Tournament of Minds competition and has produced 15 teams composed of seven boys from Years 8 to 10 in 2007 and annually produces about 12 teams. Guildford has had success within this competition, regularly going into state finals and making the nationals in 2005, ranking fourth nationally in 2005 and being the top team for maths and engineering in Western Australia.

Students can learn a music instrument during class time in the senior school. There are ensembles for students to join including the senior choir and guitar ensemble. Music is compulsory for all students from Kindergarten to year 6, with the option of continuing to TEE music in year 12. Senior school students have the opportunity to learn under experienced musicians. The drama program at the school is based largely around the school production; recent productions include: Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables and Amadeus. Heath Ledger, a prominent actor, attended Guildford Grammar School, where he had his first acting experiences, starring in a school production as Peter Pan at age 13. Debating and public speaking are components of the co curricular program at the school. Guildford Grammar School competes in Western Australian inter school debating competition, which is run by the Western Australian debating league.

Guildford Grammar School was a founding member of the Public Schools Association (PSA) in 1905, and the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) in 1968. The school competes in inter school sports within both organisations. Guildford won the Alcock Cup (Football 2015) and the Darlot Cup (Cricket 2018).

Alumni of Guildford Grammar School are called "Old Guildfordians". Alumni may elect to join the Old Guildfordians Association, formerly the 'Old Boys' Association, an incorporated organisation established in 1905, which represents the former students of the school. The association exists to provide fellowship to former students, parents and staff and to support the school – especially in the provision of scholarships and financial assistance to families in need. The Old Guildfordians Mundaring Hockey Club is an incorporated men's and women's hockey club based in the Guildford/Mundaring area. The club competes in various grades of the HockeyWA competition, from minkey (junior hockey) to senior's hockey. The club plays its home games at Lilac Hill Park, using the available facilities and clubrooms available. It is not a requirement of the club to have left school; in fact many of the clubs members haven't left school.