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 known for its academic performance,[4] as well as its specific programs including the French immersion, Music, Technology, Learning Support and Life Skills programs.
| Mansfield State High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
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| , Australia | |
| Coordinates | 27°32′42″S 153°06′22″E / 27.54500°S 153.10611°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
editThe school is located adjacent to Mansfield State Primary School in the suburb of Mansfield.
A new building, P block, was constructed in late 2023 to increase capacity for arts, engineering and graphics subjects. The bottom floor of this building also acts as a car park for teachers and the outside acts as a drop off and pick up area for students. This has created controversy amongst the community for damaging traffic flow due to right turns.
A second building, C Block, was constructed in late 2014 to increase the school's capacity to enroll 300 Year 7 students, who joined the secondary school after a change in the Queensland educational curriculum. The new building features over 40 new classrooms, including classrooms with computers, graphics classrooms and science laboratories.
A third building, 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 government secondary school in Queensland.[6]
The school has two canteens, with one serving coffee and an after school sports kiosk. It also has a catering service which sells food during personal development days, functions, and other after school activities. In addition, it has a specialised building, E Block, for the individualised support of disabled students.[7]
Academics
editIn 1990, six students received the highest possible Tertiary Entrance (TE) score possible – 990.[8]
In 2013, 15 Year 12 students at Mansfield State High School attained an OP 1.[9]
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.[10]
In 2021, the school's results were high. 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 subjects 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).[11][12]
In addition to its French Immersion, Technology Integrated Curriculum and Music programs, it also has a Life Skills program for the specialised care of disabled students needing social and behavioural support, and a Learning Support program for the individualised care of intellectually disabled students.[7]
Enrolment Numbers
editMansfield State High School's maximum capacity is 2,194 students.[13] It had 3,338 enrolments in 2022.[13]
As of the 9 February 2023 there are over 3,400 students at MSHS with 90% of them being in catchment.[14]
Grade by Grade
editYear 7: 559
Year 8: 560
Year 9: 610
Year 10: 576
Year 11: 505
Year 12: 528
Music
editEnsembles
editThe 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)[15] In 2015, the senior choir, Chorale, participated in the Creative Generation State Schools on stage production as a feature choir ensemble.[16]
Musical
editThe school produces a musical biannually.[17]
Principals
editMurray 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,[18] before leaving.
In 2015, Karen Tanks became the principal after quitting the same role at Rochedale State High School that she had for the previous five years.[19] In 2018, Tanks controversially introduced a "clean shaven" policy for school photographs, in which students were forcibly shaved.[20] After media outrage, this policy was modified such that students must seek a religious, cultural or other exemption.
Sport
edit
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 alumnus, Matthew Mitcham, was a gold medal-winning Olympic diver.[21]
Houses
editMansfield students and teaching staff are allocated a house in which they remain for their entire enrolment 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:[22]
- Hammarskjöld (after Dag Hammarskjöld, gold, family names starting letters A–D)
- Gandhi (after Mahatma Gandhi, blue, family names starting letters E–K)
- Schweitzer (after Albert Schweitzer, green, family names starting letters L–P)
- U Thant (after U Thant, red, family names starting letters Q–Z)
Notable alumni
editThe members of The Jungle Giants attended Mansfield State High School.
Mansfield has also had four divers attend the school, now all representing Australia at an international level; Loudy Wiggins[23] (Bronze Medalist at Sydney), Matthew Mitcham, Sharleen Stratton[24] (Gold Medalist) and Scott Robertson.[25]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Student Code of Conduct" (PDF). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Nally, Alicia (2 March 2023). "Brisbane City Council calls for state to purchase new land for outer city schools, consult on infrastructure". ABC News. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ 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.