| The Independent Primary School Heads of Australia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Formation | September 1952 |
| Headquarters | Guildford Grammar School, Western
Australia  |
| Membership | 330 member schools |
| Official languages | English |
| Secretary General | Mr Craig Wheatley (Guildford Grammar School) |
| Website | www.jshaa.asn.au |
The Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) formerly Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), is an incorporated body representing the heads of independent primary schools in Australia.[1]
Officially established in September 1952,[2] the Association is broken into state branches, with six offices across Australia. The organisation currently has a membership of nearly 380 Full Members, 60 Associate and Life Members and 23 Overseas Members.[1] Combined, the member schools employ around 6,000 people, and are responsible for educating about 100,000 primary aged children.[2]
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The IPSHA evolved largely from informal gatherings of New South Wales headmasters, which called itself the Junior Schools' Conference. The Organisation was established in 1952, when a conference was held at Cranbrook School, Sydney, where a constitution was agreed upon for the establishment of the Junior Schools' Conference of Australia.[2]
The organisation holds biennial conferences, which alternate between states. At the biennial Conference in Perth in 1984, the Constitution was amended and the Heads of Independent Girls' Schools became eligible for membership of the IPSHA. Along with this change, came eligibility for heads of co-educational junior schools to join, which provided a significant boost in membership.[2]
Today, the organisation is actively involved in, and has strong representation in such groups as; the National Executive Council of the Australian Primary Principals' Association (APPA), the Australian Principals Associations Professional Development Council (APAPDC), the Australian College of Education (ACE), the Australian Council for Educational Administration (ACEA).[2]
The IPSHA has branches in each of Australia's six states,[3] New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.[3] Each state has an elected representative.
The New South Wales branch of the IPSHA has grown steadily over the last five years, and now features 104 member schools from throughout the state. The branch is managed by over 43 Heads of school.[10]
The Queensland branch of the IPSHA now features over 73 members from independent schools across the state including single-sex, coeducational, denominational, nondenominational, metropolitan and regional schools.[11]
Members meet once per term at one of the member schools, for the purpose of Professional Development, a Branch Meeting and opportunities for networking. Over the last few years, annual State Branch Refresher weekends have been held, with the majority of them in North Queensland.[11]
The IPSHA in South Australia has 35 member schools from around the state.[12]
The Victorian branch consists over 85 members from Independent schools across the state, including single sex, co-educational, denominational, non-denominational, metropolitan and rural schools.[13]
Held in Dallas Brooks Hall, Melbourne, over a period of six evenings, the Music Festival is a popular event. It is held every two years, with around 54 participating schools.[14]
Student leaders are provided with guest motivational speakers and interactions.[14]
The Western Australian Branch of the IPSHA was formed in 1954 (as the WA Branch of the JSHAA), by Jeffrey G Hart, of Guildford Grammar School. The first formal gathering of Junior School Heads for the purpose of forming an Association was at Guildford Grammar School in 1954. The first formal meeting of the West Australian Branch was held at Christ Church Grammar School in May 1968, at the meeting a sub-committee was appointed for the purpose of drawing up a proposed constitution.[15]
The founding members of the organisation were[15]:
The Constitution was adopted on July 5, 1968, at the second meeting at Hale School in Perth.[15] Currently, the WA branch features 32 member schools, most of which are located in the Perth Metropolitan area, as well as four observer schools.
Around 800 students gather in a rotated school hall annually (usually in May), where schools may send a set number of students from middle to upper primary. It was previously held in St. Georges Cathedral, Perth.[16]
Every second year school groups are invited to perform in front of the IPSHA in the Perth Concert Hall. The concert runs for three evenings and one day (the day being especially for children).
One member school hosts an Art and Craft Festival on alternate years to the Performing Arts concert. Art may come from a range of year levels.
Every year a chess day is held at a member school. IPSHA schools are invited to send a team of four to compete. This event alternates between two set member schools.
Every Thursday schools participate in home and away sporting fixtures.[17]
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