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Newtown High School of the Performing Arts

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The Newtown High School of the Performing Arts (abbreviated as NHSPA) is a government-funded co-educational comprehensive and specialist secondary day school, located in the suburb of Newtown in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the very few performing arts and visual arts schools in Australia. All the students that attend the school are required to study drama, music, dance and visual arts subjects as part of the school's curriculum for the first year of secondary school, and one Performing or Visual Arts subject until year 11. The school participates in a number of events both on and off campus in all types of performing and visual arts as well as video, technical, costume and design.

Newtown High School of the Performing Arts
St George's Hall
Location
Map
King Street, Newtown,[2] inner-western region of Sydney, New South Wales

Australia
Coordinates33°53′58″S 151°10′43″E / 33.89948°S 151.17851°E / -33.89948; 151.17851
Information
Former names
  • Newtown Boys High School
  • Petersham Girls High School
TypeGovernment-funded co-educational comprehensive and specialist secondary day school
MottoEquality, creativity, excellence
Established1990; 34 years ago (1990)
Educational authorityNew South Wales Department of Education
SpecialistPerforming arts
PrincipalSharon Roberts[1]
Years7–12
Enrolmentc. 1,000
Color(s)Blue and red   
Websiteweb1.newtown-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/public_www/
Map

In 2016, Newtown became one of the first schools in Australia to adopt an 'inclusive' uniform policy. Although there remain separate 'boys' and 'girls' uniforms, students may wear whichever they prefer.[3][4]

The school is run by the New South Wales Department of Education. As of February 2020, the principal is Sharon Roberts.[1]

The school caters for approximately 1,000 students from Year 7 to Year 12.

History

The school was founded in 1990 as the first state selective high school for performing arts in New South Wales. NHSPA was formed from the merger of the nearby Petersham Girls High School and Newtown Boys High School on the latter's King Street site. Newtown's foundation principal was Robin Amm, formerly the principal at Petersham Girls.

The school remains open and accessible to the local population, however a larger percentage of prospective students from outside the local acceptance boundaries can audition to obtain a place at the school.[5]

Campus

 
Cafe next to one entrance to the school

The campus is located on King Street, Newtown and bounded by Newman and Whitehorse Streets. The campus has a large paved playground and a grass oval. The various faculties within the school are located in different areas ranging from A to H Blocks and the gymnasium (G block) located near the school oval. The school also has an operational theatre, known as the Studio Theatre, that it uses for its biannual Showcase concerts and other productions. The school also manages the adjacent St Georges Hall which is used for larger productions and school activities.

Students

Approximately 65 percent of the student body is recruited through a short audition process. Thirty pupils are in the music class, thirty in drama, and thirty in dance per year (with the exception of the class of 2023, with 40 per stream), although families living within the catchment area are prioritized in sending their children there. Students can audition to gain entry to the school for Years 7 and 11.

Student leadership

Prefect body

The Prefect body at NHSPA consists of Year 12 students who are elected by both their fellow students and teachers. Its primary role is act as role models for other students and represent the school at any public event. Two school captains (of any gender) lead the prefect body.

Curriculum

NHSPA offers these subjects for the HSC:[6]

Extracurricular activities

The most notable extracurricular activities available to the students of the high school are the ensembles and companies in the Music, Drama and Dance departments. These are:[7]

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Staff".
  2. ^ "School Contacts".
  3. ^ "Controversy after high school allows students to wear boys' or girls' uniform". SBS News. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. ^ Bagshaw, Francesca Wallace, Eryk (22 February 2016). "Newtown High School of the Performing Arts changes gender rules for uniforms". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Oliver, Mr A. "Auditions (Closed)".
  6. ^ Oliver, Mr A. "Curriculum 2016".
  7. ^ Oliver, Mr A. "Co-Curricula Activities".
  8. ^ "Rolling Stone story: 'The Last Page' Q+A with Sticky Fingers, March 2015". Andrew McMillen. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
 
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