Ku-ring-gai High School

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}} {{multiple issues| {{primary sources|date=May 2026}} {{notability|date=May 2026}} }} {{Infobox school | name = Ku-ring-gai High School | logo = 4. Ku-ring-gai High School - Stacked Logo Blue.png | image = The Margaret Preston Hall.jpg | caption = Margaret Preston Hall | alt = Margaret Preston Hall | motto = Harmony in Diversity | location = Bobbin Head Road, North Turramurra, Upper North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales | country = Australia | coordinates = {{coord|-33.692|151.153|display=inline,title|format=dms|type:edu_region:AU-NSW}} | type = Government-funded co-educational comprehensive and specialist secondary day school | educational_authority = New South Wales Department of Education | specialist = Performing arts | established = {{Start date and age|1965|02}} | founder = Bill Eason | district = Metropolitan North: Gordon<ref>{{cite web |url=https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/finding-a-public-school |title=Metropolitan North: Penrith |work=Finding a public school |publisher=New South Wales Department of Education |access-date=9 May 2019 }}</ref> | principal = Stephen Plummer<ref>{{cite web |title=Our principal and staff |publisher=Ku-ring-gai High School |url=https://kuringgai-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-principal-and-staff |access-date=1 December 2025 }}</ref> | grades = 7–12 | grades_label = Years | enrolment = {{circa|600}} | website = {{URL|https://kuringgai-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/ }} | campus_type = Suburban | area = {{convert|25|acre|ha|0|order=flip}} | houses = Churchill, Lincoln, Curie, Tagore | colours = Maroon, navy and green {{Color box|Maroon|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|Navy|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|Green|border=darkgray}} | former_name = Ku-ring-gai Creative Arts High School (1996–2016) }}

'''Ku-ring-gai High School''' (abbreviated as '''KHS'''), formerly '''Ku-ring-gai Creative Arts High School''' (1996–2016), is a government-funded co-educational comprehensive and specialist secondary day school with a speciality in creative and performing arts. The school is located in North Turramurra, on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The school is set on {{convert|25|acre|ha|0|order=flip}} and located adjacent to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

== School catchment area and student selection == As a New South Wales Department of Education public high school, KHS accepts all students in Year 7 to Year 12 living in its catchment area. The catchment covers locations in Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby councils, including Dangar Island.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.schoolcatchment.com.au/?p=14484 |title=2024 Ku-ring-gai High School Catchment Update |date=2023-11-19 |access-date=2024-05-08}}</ref>

The school also accepts, if there's space, those who "demonstrate outstanding ability and commitment in the creative arts in either dance, music, drama and/or visual arts ".<ref name="enrolment">{{Cite web |url=http://www.kcahs.nsw.edu.au/our-school/enrolment-and-fees |title=Enrolment & Fees |access-date=25 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219143303/http://www.kcahs.nsw.edu.au/our-school/enrolment-and-fees |archive-date=19 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Students who apply for enrolment under this criterion are required to provide a portfolio demonstrating this ability.<ref name="enrolment"/> The school also takes international and exchange students and is part of the International Students Program of the NSW Department of Education.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.detinternational.nsw.edu.au/schools/locator/sv/?section=school.show&code=8416 |title=School Search – International Students Program – NSW Government Schools |access-date=4 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412092738/http://www.detinternational.nsw.edu.au/schools/locator/sv/?section=school.show&code=8416 |archive-date=12 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Campus and facilities == The school features one of the last remaining Binishells (dome-shaped hall)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.binisystems.com/nswcover.html |title=Binishells in NSW Schools |access-date=13 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907060042/http://www.binisystems.com/nswcover.html |archive-date=7 September 2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> called the "Margaret Preston Hall" and is one of the few public schools in New South Wales with a full sized hockey field.<ref>{{cite web |title=Learning facilities – Ku-ring-gai High School |url=https://kuringgai-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/learning-facilities.html |website=kuringgai-h.schools.nsw.gov.au |access-date=9 December 2020 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ku-Ring-Gai Hockey Centre|url=https://www.gnshockey.asn.au/about/ku-ring-gai-hockey-centre/|access-date=2021-02-09|website=www.gnshockey.asn.au}}</ref>

In July 2020, refurbishment was completed with the construction of new facilities.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-21|title=Ku-ring-gai High School $15M Major Upgrade Complete|url=https://www.alisterhenskens.com.au/news/ku-ring-gai-high-school-15m-major-upgrade-complete|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Alister Henskens SC MP|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/projects/k/ku-ring-gai-high-school.html|title = Ku-ring-gai High School completed project}}</ref> This included a new multipurpose hall, and the refurbishment of 15 existing learning spaces.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ku-ring-gai High School completed project |url=https://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/projects/k/ku-ring-gai-high-school.html#about-project-tab |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=@NSWDepartmentofEducation |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History== The school opened in February 1965<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=13 April 2018|title=Ku-ring-gai High School Annual Report|url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/doe-nsw-schools/annual-report/2017/8416/2017_Ku-ring-gai_High_School_Annual_Report.pdf|access-date=9 February 2021|website=}}</ref> with its first group of Year 7 students. Ku-ring-gai was the first of a second wave of new co-educational high schools built in the Sydney suburbs.

The school's first headmaster was Bill Eason,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last1=readFebruary 24|first1=2 min|last2=Advocate|first2=2015-12:00AMHornsby|date=2015-02-23|title=Haven of creativity turns 50|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/kuringgai-high-school-marks-milestone/news-story/07a710e9a5c1d28834fbbdd551bb6c55|access-date=2021-02-09|website=dailytelegraph|language=en}}</ref> who later went on to found the Australian Independent School at North Ryde.

The four houses, which are still part of the school today, and the names of the four original classroom buildings were set in 1965 - Churchill, Curie, Tagore, and Lincoln. The Churchill House is represented by the colour red; Curie House yellow; Tagore House green and Lincoln House blue. The school colours were originally brown and gold. The Lincoln block was added after 1970. At that time, the grounds included an obstacle course (later dismantled for safety reasons) and three free-standing cottages for creative arts, music and one for senior students.

Ku-ring-gai was a local high school until 1996 when Mrs. B. Peatie became the headmistress and requested permission from the Department of Education to become selective in creative arts. Since then, there have been up to 900 students registered each year. In 2015, it celebrated its 50th year and in 2016 reverted to the name "Ku-ring-gai High School".<ref name=":0" />

== Creative arts == The school was formerly creative arts-based.

Members of the school choir as well as a large number of dancers are selected to perform at the NSW Schools Spectacular each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schoolsspectacular.com.au/2009/index.php?page=featured |title=2009 |publisher=Schools Spectacular |date=2015-10-09 |access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref>

== Notable alumni == *Catherine Jinks, author<ref name="Catherine Jinks Cite">{{Cite web |url=http://www.kcahs.nsw.edu.au/our-school/our-facilities |title=Our Facilities |access-date=25 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219143318/http://www.kcahs.nsw.edu.au/our-school/our-facilities |archive-date=19 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Brad Allan, part of the 1977—78 Australian Schoolboys Rugby Team.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-01 |title=Brad Allan |url=https://schoolsrugby.com.au/player/brad-allan/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=schoolsrugby.com.au |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-26 |title=How the 1977/78 Australian Schoolboys side rejuvenated Aussie rugby |url=https://schoolsrugby.com.au/how-the-1977-78-australian-schoolboys-side-rejuvenated-aussie-rugby/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=schoolsrugby.com.au |language=en-US}}</ref> *Geraldine Hakewill, actress<ref>{{Cite web |last=NSW |first=Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards |title=2004 Higher School Certificate – Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards NSW |url=https://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/ebos/static/DSACH_2004_12_H1.htm |access-date=2026-01-04 |website=www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://kuringgai-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Ku-ring-gai High School website]

{{NSW Selective Schools|state=collapsed}} {{High Schools in North Sydney}} {{Public high schools in Sydney|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ku-Ring-Gai High School}} Category:Creative and performing arts high schools in New South Wales Category:Public high schools in Sydney Category:1965 establishments in Australia Category:Educational institutions established in 1965 Category:Turramurra