Mansfield State High School
Mansfield State High School is an independent public,[3] co-educational secondary school of approximately 3300 students located in Mansfield, a suburb in Brisbane, Australia. The school was established and opened in 1974. In recent years, the school has become prominent in the south-side region for its academic performance,[4] as well as its specific programs including the French immersion, Music and Information Technology programs.
Mansfield State High School | |
---|---|
Location | |
, Australia | |
Coordinates | 27°32′42″S 153°06′22″E |
Information | |
Type | Independent public, co-educational, secondary |
Motto | Steadfast |
Established | 1974 |
Principal | Karen Tanks |
Enrolment | 3338 (2022) [1][2] |
Campus | Mansfield, Queensland |
Colour(s) | Teal, navy blue and white |
Website | mansfieldshs |
Campus
The school has a sole campus in Mansfield, adjacent to Mansfield State Primary School.
A new building, C Block, was constructed in late 2014 to accommodate the introduction of 300 Year 7 students, who have joined the secondary school in a statewide effort to bring Queensland's education system in line with other Australian states. The new building features over 40 new classrooms, including computer labs, graphics classrooms and science laboratories.
A second J Block has been added and was ready for students in the early weeks of Term One, 2020. SC block (Science Center) has been built, as well as a new sports hall (SP, Sports Center). The construction for a new assembly hall is also complete.[5]
As of writing, Mansfield State High School is the second largest secondary school in Queensland.[6]
The school boasts two functional canteens, one coffee shop and an after school sports kiosk. It also has a well-managed and organised catering service which provides all food to personal development days, functions, and other after school activities requiring food, in particular music concerts.
Academics
In 1990, six students received the highest possible Tertiary Entrance (TE) score possible – 990.[7]
In 2013, 15 Year 12 students at Mansfield State High School attained an OP 1.[8]
In 2015, the school produced an average NAPLAN score of 602, the highest in the south-side patch, outperforming the Anglican Church Grammar School (598) and the Brisbane Boys' College (591). 31% of graduates in 2015 received an OP 1–5.[9]
In 2021, the school results were again outstanding. The results reflect the hard work from the students, staff, and parents and are definitely worth celebrating. 7 Grade 12 students received 100/100 over all 5 subjects, a further 11 achieved 99/100 over 5 subjects. 30 students achieved 25/25 in external exams in different subjects. 1 student achieved 50/50 in General Maths, 13 achieving 49/50. 10 Students achieved an ATAR greater than 99.5. 45% of students received an ATAR greater than 90.0.
Mansfield's curriculum covers a range of disciplines including: Music; Mathematics; Film, Television and New Media; Science; English; Computer Technologies/Studies; Manual Arts; Health and Physical Education; LOTE (French or Japanese); Business Enterprise; Art; Home Economics and SOSE (Study Of Society and Environment).[10][11]
Enrolment Numbers
As of the 9th of February 2023 there are over 3400 students at MSHS with 90% of them being in catchment.[12]
Grade by Grade
Year 7: 559;
Year 8: 560;
Year 9: 610;
Year 10: 576;
Year 11: 505;
Year 12: 528
Music
Ensembles
The school's premier ensemble, Concert Band, has won the Queensland Music Festival for several years, and in 2006, made it to the Grand Final of Fanfare (a Queensland music competition). In the past, the band has been requested for performances such as the Commonwealth Games Torch Relay, Anzac Day ceremonies, as well as private events. In 2013, under the direction of choral conductor Margaret Long, the school's Chorale performed in the biannual Education Queensland Choral Fanfare Gala Concert (representing the Queensland Metropolitan Region)[13] In 2015, the senior choir, Chorale, participated in the Creative Generation State Schools on stage production as a feature choir ensemble.[14]
Musical
The school produces a musical biannually.[15]
Principals
The previous principal, Murray Kay, joined the school in 1990, the same year that the school's French Immersion program commenced.
In 2011, James Sloman became the principal after Kay retired in 2010. In 2014, Sloman oversaw the school's transition to an independent public school,[16] before leaving.
In 2015, Karen Tanks became the principal after occupying the same role at Rochedale State High School for the previous five years.[17] In 2018, she controversially oversaw a "clean shaven" policy for school photographs.[18]
Sport
Many Mansfield sport teams have competed in Metropolitan Finals, and the school has also produced students and graduates who represented Australia in international events. One Mansfield alumni, Matthew Mitcham, was gold medal-winning Olympic diver.[19]
Houses
Mansfield students and teaching staff are allocated a house in which they remain for their entire enrollment period at the school. This allocation is organised by the first letter of their family name. The four houses' names are dedicated to people renowned for their effort in world peace:[20]
- Hammarskjöld (after Dag Hammarskjöld, gold, family names A–D)
- Gandhi (after Mahatma Gandhi, blue, E–K)
- Schweitzer (after Albert Schweitzer, green, L–P)
- U Thant (after U Thant, red, Q–Z)
Notable alumni
The members of the successful bands The Jungle Giants and Violent Soho attended Mansfield State High School.
Mansfield has also had four divers attend the school, now all representing Australia at an international level; Loudy Wiggins[21] (Bronze Medalist at Sydney), Matthew Mitcham, Sharleen Stratton[22] (Gold Medalist) and Scott Robertson.[23]
References
- "Mansfield State High School mySchool Statistics". Mansfield State High School.
- Tanks, Karen (22 February 2022). "Principal's report at General Meeting #1 of MSHS P&C". No. #1. Parents & Citizens Association. Mansfield State High School.
- "List of Queensland Independent Public Schools 2013-14-15". Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- "Mansfield SHS Facts & Rankings". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- The State of Queensland (Department of Education) (2020). "Facilities". Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- "Mansfield State High School receives $60M boost for facilities". 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- Gubby, Rachael (1990), "Principal smiles as he hands out six of the best", The Courier-Mail
- Clarke, Harry. "Mansfield State High School achieves great result, with 15 students scoring OP1 in 2013". Courier Mail. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- McCosker, Ruth (3 February 2016). "Survey of Southside Schools". Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- "Junior subjects". Mansfield State High School. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- "Senior subjects". Mansfield State High School. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- Tanks, Karen (22 February 2022). "Principle's report at General Meeting #1 of MSHS P&C". No. #1. Parents & Citizens Association. Mansfield State High School.
- "Top choirs perform in concert". Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- "Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage 2015 participating schools". Creative Generation State Schools Onstage. Department of Education and Training. 28 July 2015.
- "Extra-curricular". Mansfield State High School. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- "James Sloman – MBBC media release". Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- "Newsletter" (PDF). 9 December 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- Mitchell-Whittington, Amy (23 May 2018). "Brisbane school under fire after shave order results in boy cutting himself". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- Alston, Josh (5 December 2012). "Reinvented Matthew Mitcham coming home for nationals". The Courier Mail. Quest Newspapers. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- "Interhouse Sport". mansfieldshs.eq.edu.au. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- "Mansfield SHS Newsletter 11 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- "Stratton hits gold". Wynnum Herald (1 ed.). Brisbane, Australia. 2 February 2005. p. 074. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- "Divers leap ahead of competition". The Southern Star (1 ed.). Brisbane, Australia. 13 April 2005. p. 001. Retrieved 1 October 2015.