Cranbrook School, Sydney

Cranbrook School
Cranbrook School
Location
	Bellevue Hill and Rose Bay, New South Wales; Australia
Coordinates	33°52′15″S 151°15′9″E / 33.87083°S 151.25250°E
Information
Type	Independent early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school
Motto	Latin: Esse Quam Videri; (To be, rather than to seem to be)
Denomination	Anglican
Established	1918; 106 years ago
Founder	Frederick T. Perkins
President of Council	Vacant
Headmaster (Acting)	Michele Marquet
Deputy Headmaster/Head of Senior School	Bob Meakin
Head of Junior School	Michele Marquet
Director of Students/Deputy Head of Senior School	Peter Young
Chaplain	Roderick Farraway
Employees	c. 187
Years	Early learning and K–12
Gender	Boys (Co-Ed from 2026)
Enrolment	c. 1,680 (2021)
Colour(s)	Red, white and blue
Affiliations	International Coalition of Boys' Schools; Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia; Junior School Heads Association of Australia; Australian Boarding Schools' Association; Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference; Combined Associated Schools;
Alumni	Old Cranbrookians
Website	www.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

Cranbrook School is an independent Anglican day and boarding school, with multiple campuses in Sydney's eastern suburbs New South Wales, Australia for students from pre-school to year 12. The school was founded in 1918 with the Rev'd Frederick Thomas Perkins as the first headmaster. Cranbrook has a non-selective enrollment policy and currently caters for approximately 1,680^[4] students from early learning (4 years old) to Year 12 (18 years old),^[5] including 80 boarders from Years 7 to 12. Cranbrook is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA),^[6] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),^[7] the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA),^[8] and the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.^[9] It is a founding member of the Combined Associated Schools (CAS).^[10]^[11] and the Independent Sporting Association (ISA).

History

On 1 December 1917, the former private home and vice-regal residence, Cranbrook, was bought at auction by an agent for Samuel Hordern. He was the main financial benefactor of a group of businessmen and churchmen aiming to establish an Anglican boys' school in the Eastern Suburbs.^[12]

From December 1917 to June 1918, a provisional committee of twelve, comprising the founders and six additional men, prepared for the opening of the new school. They held meetings, ensured building renovations were completed, drew up the first articles of association and appointed the first Headmaster, Rev. F. T. Perkins.^[13]

On 6 June 1918, the provisional committee reformed itself as the first council of Cranbrook School and organised the official opening of the school for 22 July 1918.^[13]

In July 2022, parents of students were informed that the whole senior school would be fully co-ed by 2029 with girls in Years 7 and 11 being enrolled from 2026, and other years being slowly integrated year by year.^[14] This integration method was based on Barker College's co-ed integration in 2020.^[15] In March 2024, the school was featured in a Four Corners investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace and sexist student culture, led by some former teachers. The report also raised questions around Government funding for Cranbrook School and its level of accountability for this.^[16]

Headmasters

Ordinal	Headmaster	Qualifications	Years	Education	Other key positions held
1	Rev'd Frederick T. Perkins	MA	1918–1932	Townsville Grammar School St Paul's College, University of Sydney	Headmaster, Monaro Grammar School Headmaster, The Armidale School
2	Brigadier Iven G. Mackay	BA HonLLD	1933–1939	Newington College University of Sydney
3	Sir Brian W. Hone OBE	BA(Hons) MA FACE	1940–1951	Prince Alfred College University of Adelaide New College, Oxford	Master, Marlborough College Headmaster, Melbourne Grammar School Deputy Chancellor, Monash University
4	Gethyn Hewan	MA MACE	1951–1963	Marlborough College University of Cambridge Yale University	Master, Wellington College, Berkshire Master, Charterhouse School Master, Winchester College
5	Mark Bishop OBE	BSc ARACI FACE	1963–1985	Parramatta High School University of Sydney	Master, Marlborough College
6	Dr Bruce N. Carter AM	BA EdM EdD	1985–2000	Knox Grammar School University of Sydney Harvard University University of Toronto	Deputy Headmaster, Knox Grammar School Headmaster, Scotch Oakburn College Principal, Emanuel School
7	Jeremy J. S. Madin	BA(Hons) DipEd	2001–2012	Geelong Grammar School Australian National University University of Canberra	Lecturer in Education, University of Sydney Head of History and Boarding Housemaster, Canberra Grammar School Head of Timbertop Campus, Geelong Grammar School Headmaster, Christ Church Grammar School
8	Nicholas A. Sampson	MA PGCE	2012–2024	Gillingham School The Howard School, Kent Selwyn College, Cambridge Westminster College, Oxford	Headmaster, Sutton Valence School Headmaster, Geelong Grammar School Headmaster, Marlborough College
Acting HM	Michele Marquet	MEd	2024-	University Of NSW	Head Of Cranbrook Junior School 2014-

Campuses

Cranbrook School is situated over five campuses; the Senior School (Years 7 to 12) are located on the main campus in suburban Bellevue Hill, while the Junior School, for students from Kindergarten to Year 6, is located in nearby Rose Bay. There are 2 pre-schools that Cranbrook offer: St Mark's in Darling Point and St Micheal's in Vaucluse. The final campus is Wolgan Valley. This campus is a residential education site with an emphasis on experiential learning. Wolgan Valley takes students away from the bubble of their every life, allowing the space for contemplation, reflection, conservation and wonder, free from the distraction of technology and city life.

House system

Cranbrook has a system of houses across the campuses. This system was created in order for students to socialise better between different year groups, where senior students would be acting as juniors' mentors within the House. In the Senior School there are currently 12 day-houses, with about 100 students in each. There are also two boarding houses with around 40 students each.^[17]

Curriculum

Whilst Cranbrook School is an open entry school, its focus on the individual means they have achieved exceptional academic results. Cranbrook is one of only a few independent school in Sydney to become an IB Continuum School. Starting from Pre-Schools, the school used the IB framework to teach the NSW curriculum through to Year 12. Cranbrook School offers the IB Diploma Programme as an alternative pathway to the HSC credential.

Co-curricular

Cranbrook has an extensive range of co-curricular activities from the Arts to the Sciences, Music to Sport, providing its students with the encouragement to support their individual interests.

Sport

Cranbrook School is a member of the Combined Associated Schools (CAS).

CAS premierships

Cranbrook School has won the following CAS premierships.^[18]

Athletics (7) – 1930, 1934, 1936, 1943, 1951, 1952, 1965
Basketball – 2007
Cricket (8) – 1935, 1989, 1998, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Cross Country (9) – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023
Rugby (13) – 1930, 1931, 1933, 1943, 1960, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1994, 2014
Swimming (8) – 1942, 1944, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1955, 1974, 1976

Notable alumni

Alumni of Cranbrook School are known as "Old Cranbrookians" and may elect to join the school's alumni association, the Old Cranbrookians' Association (OCA).^[19]

Cranbrook School’s alumni—from artists to entrepreneurs, Olympians to academics—reflect a School culture that has encouraged an openness to the outside world and an emphasis on breadth and balance—freeing individuals to explore, enjoy and fulfil their potential.

Controversies and criticisms

Anti-Semitic incidents

In 2022, there were reports that three students were the targets of anti-Semitic behaviour by fellow students. Later, video footage of a student doing a Nazi salute emerged.^[20] In September 2022, the school announced an internal review to look into it.^[21] Cranbrook has said it had built an improved and centralised incident behaviour register and strengthened its alliances with organisations including the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.^[22]

Mass resignation from school council

In November 2022, 10 of the 11 members of Cranbrook School’s council announced their resignation due to a deteriorating relationship between headmaster and school council president, as well as disagreement over plans to admit girls to the century-old boys’ school from 2026.^[23] Subsequently, on 25 November, former School Presidents, Helen Nugent AC and Roger Massy-Greene AM, formed an independent Nominations Committee to make recommendations to the current Council on nominations for new members of Council.^[24] 13 new Councillors were subsequently appointed.

Four Corners investigation and allegations of sexual harassment and toxic culture

In March 2024, the investigative journalism program Four Corners released an investigation about the alleged toxic and sexist "boys club" culture within the school's student body and leadership. Multiple former staff members and students were interviewed about sexual harassment of female staff. Former teaching staff described being sexually harassed, insulted, and threatened by students. A former teacher, who was blackmailed by a student saying he would claim she was abusing him if she did not send him sexual images, said that the incident was downplayed by Head of Senior School and Deputy Headmaster Bob Meakin, who allegedly stated that "because I'm young and, 'I'm just going to say it – attractive,' it's not [surprising] that I've received attention from the boys".^[25]^[26]

After the investigation was aired and published online, investigative journalist Louise Milligan stated that she, the ABC, and multiple other journalists had received several legal threats regarding the content of the investigation. Headmaster Nicholas Sampson was forced to resign by the school council later in the week after it was revealed that he had not disclosed information to the school council about a teacher who, early in his employment at Cranbrook, had sent explicit emails to a former student of his at another, previous school in which he described sexual fantasies about her and other female students he had previously taught. While the teacher was investigated by police and not found to have behaved criminally, Sampson had in 2015 been informed about the emails and, in addition to not informing the school council about them, appeared have glossed over the teacher's behaviour.

The episode included details of how a petition in 2021, by Chanel Contos received over 2,500 testimonies of sexual assault from high school students, with many testimonies referring to Cranbrook students, as well as students from other elite all-boys schools.^[27]^[28]

Government funding

Cranbrook received about $6.5 million in state and federal government funding in 2022.^[29] This is despite the school charging up to $46,000 per year for domestic students (not including boarding fees),^[30] paying their headmaster over $1 million per year,^[31] having $168 million in assets and running a $10 million profit as recently as 2019.^[32]

In 2021, Cranbrook spent more on works ($63.48 million) than the total public school capital expenditure of Tasmania and the Northern Territory combined ($62.4 million).^[33]

References

^ "Cranbrook School". Schools. Study in Australia. 2005. Retrieved 18 January 2008.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Cranbrook School". Member Directory. International Girls' Schools Coalition. 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
^ "Cranbrook School". School Directory. SchoolSeek. 2008. Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Cranbrook School NESA Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Cranbrook School. October 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
^ "Annual Report 2006" (PDF). Publications. Cranbrook School. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
^ "AHISA Schools". New South Wales. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
^ "JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members". New South Wales Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
^ "Cranbrook School". Schools. Australian Boarding Schools' Association. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
^ "International Members". HMC Schools. The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
^ "Combined Associated Schools". CAS. Cranbrook School. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
^ "ABC to air 'hit job' on Sydney's elite Cranbrook School". the australian.
^ Paterson, Kate (10 April 2018). "Demolition Report. Cranbrook School". Major Projects. Planning Portal. NSW Govt. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Cranbrook Centenary". cranbrookcentenary.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
^ Baker, Jordan (27 July 2022). "'Inevitable step forward': Cranbrook's high school to become fully co-ed". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
^ BarkerCollege.Website. "Barker is a fully coed school from Pre-K to Year 12". BarkerCollege.Website. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
^ Badham, Van (5 March 2024). "The ABC's Cranbrook school investigation shows why Australia needs to turn its back on single-sex cultures built on exclusion". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
^ "Houses - Cranbrook School". www.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
^ "Trophies Awarded – cas-web". Retrieved 17 September 2021.
^ "Old Cranbrookians'". About Us. Cranbrook School. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
^ "Cranbrook School delayed acting on Nazi salutes, anti-Semitism, families say". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
^ "'A moral duty': Cranbrook undertakes review after anti-Semitic reports". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
^ Healey, Bianca (16 January 2023). "NSW Board of Jewish Deputies CEO Darren Bark calls for statewide Holocaust education". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
^ "'Untenable': Cranbrook School councillors quit as internal feud escalates". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
^ "NEW MEMBERS OF CRANBROOK SCHOOL COUNCIL ANNOUNCED" (PDF). Cranbrook School. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
^ "Former female staff at Sydney's elite Cranbrook School warn of 'toxic' culture as it prepares to go co-ed". ABC.
^ Teachers blackmailed and bullied at one of Australia’s most exclusive boys’ schools | Four Corners, retrieved 5 March 2024
^ Zhou, Naaman; Visontay, Elias (22 February 2021). "Viral petition against student sexual assault a 'wake-up call', Sydney private school principals say". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
^ Nilsson, Anton (27 February 2021). "Prefect at private school calls for a change in attitudes in wake of petition about sex assault". 9News. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
^ "Cranbrook School under investigation by federal government". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
^ https://www.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Cranbrook-School-Fee-Schedule-2024-4-1.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ https://amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cranbrook-headmaster-resigns-following-irrevocable-breakdown-of-trust-20240308-p5fasr.html ^{[bare URL]}
^ https://amp.smh.com.au/national/australia-s-top-private-schools-are-growing-richer-and-faster-than-ever-20210615-p5814b.html ^{[bare URL]}
^ https://amp.smh.com.au/national/victoria/these-five-private-schools-spent-more-on-capital-works-than-3300-public-schools-20240221-p5f6pa.html ^{[bare URL]}

External links

Official website

[StudyinAust-1] "Cranbrook School". Schools. Study in Australia. 2005. Retrieved 18 January 2008.^{[permanent dead link]}

[ICBS-2] "Cranbrook School". Member Directory. International Girls' Schools Coalition. 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2008.

[SchoolSeek-3] "Cranbrook School". School Directory. SchoolSeek. 2008. Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.

[NESAReport-4] "Cranbrook School NESA Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Cranbrook School. October 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.

[AnnualReport-5] "Annual Report 2006" (PDF). Publications. Cranbrook School. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.

[AHISA-6] "AHISA Schools". New South Wales. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. January 2008. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.

[jshaa-7] "JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members". New South Wales Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.

[ABSA-8] "Cranbrook School". Schools. Australian Boarding Schools' Association. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2008.

[HMC-9] "International Members". HMC Schools. The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.

[CAS-10] "Combined Associated Schools". CAS. Cranbrook School. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2008.

[11] "ABC to air 'hit job' on Sydney's elite Cranbrook School". the australian.

[12] Paterson, Kate (10 April 2018). "Demolition Report. Cranbrook School". Major Projects. Planning Portal. NSW Govt. Retrieved 19 August 2022.

[Cranbrook_Centenary-13] "Cranbrook Centenary". cranbrookcentenary.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2022.

[isf-14] Baker, Jordan (27 July 2022). "'Inevitable step forward': Cranbrook's high school to become fully co-ed". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2024.

[15] BarkerCollege.Website. "Barker is a fully coed school from Pre-K to Year 12". BarkerCollege.Website. Retrieved 29 May 2024.

[16] Badham, Van (5 March 2024). "The ABC's Cranbrook school investigation shows why Australia needs to turn its back on single-sex cultures built on exclusion". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 March 2024.

[17] "Houses - Cranbrook School". www.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 20 February 2023.

[18] "Trophies Awarded – cas-web". Retrieved 17 September 2021.

[OCA-19] "Old Cranbrookians'". About Us. Cranbrook School. Retrieved 28 January 2008.

[20] "Cranbrook School delayed acting on Nazi salutes, anti-Semitism, families say". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 November 2022.

[21] "'A moral duty': Cranbrook undertakes review after anti-Semitic reports". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 November 2022.

[22] Healey, Bianca (16 January 2023). "NSW Board of Jewish Deputies CEO Darren Bark calls for statewide Holocaust education". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 February 2023.

[23] "'Untenable': Cranbrook School councillors quit as internal feud escalates". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2022.

[24] "NEW MEMBERS OF CRANBROOK SCHOOL COUNCIL ANNOUNCED" (PDF). Cranbrook School. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.

[25] "Former female staff at Sydney's elite Cranbrook School warn of 'toxic' culture as it prepares to go co-ed". ABC.

[26] Teachers blackmailed and bullied at one of Australia’s most exclusive boys’ schools | Four Corners, retrieved 5 March 2024

[vpa-27] Zhou, Naaman; Visontay, Elias (22 February 2021). "Viral petition against student sexual assault a 'wake-up call', Sydney private school principals say". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 March 2024.

[pap-28] Nilsson, Anton (27 February 2021). "Prefect at private school calls for a change in attitudes in wake of petition about sex assault". 9News. Retrieved 10 March 2024.

[csui-29] "Cranbrook School under investigation by federal government". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2024.

[30] ttps://www.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Cranbrook-School-Fee-Schedule-2024-4-1.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[31] ttps://amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cranbrook-headmaster-resigns-following-irrevocable-breakdown-of-trust-20240308-p5fasr.html ^{[bare URL]}

[32] ttps://amp.smh.com.au/national/australia-s-top-private-schools-are-growing-richer-and-faster-than-ever-20210615-p5814b.html ^{[bare URL]}

[33] ttps://amp.smh.com.au/national/victoria/these-five-private-schools-spent-more-on-capital-works-than-3300-public-schools-20240221-p5f6pa.html ^{[bare URL]}

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Cranbrook School, Sydney

History

Headmasters

Campuses

House system

Curriculum

Co-curricular

Sport

CAS premierships

Notable alumni

Controversies and criticisms

Anti-Semitic incidents

Mass resignation from school council

Four Corners investigation and allegations of sexual harassment and toxic culture

Government funding

See also

References

Further reading

External links

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