PERTH MOD SINCE 2005
Perth Modern School’s history dates back to 1909 when building commenced on its current site to cater for the academically gifted children of Perth who may not have had a secondary education without it. The first intake of students was in 1911. The School would become synonymous with producing some of Australia’s most well-known individuals including Prime Minister Bob Hawke, Economist Ross Garnaut, Lawyer and Feminist Margaret Battye, QC and WA Governor Malcolm McCusker, Building magnate Len Buckeridge, Business woman and philanthropist Janet Holmes à Court, plus many more.
Here we present the school’s history in detail since 2005, when the school was once again repurposed to cater for academically gifted children from throughout Western Australia.
The Gallop State Government announces from 2007 Perth Modern School will become WA’s only academically selective secondary school.
Extract - From the Principal (Perth Modern School Newsletter), March 2005: As well as providing $17 million for the upgrade of the site, Year 8 students entering the school from 2007 will undergo a selection process so that by 2011 (our centenary) the school will be re-furbished and totally selective in enrolment.
European Music Tour to England (ANZAC DAY), France (ANZAC DAY) and Italy.
Building of new Arts and Technology precinct, library, reception area and lecture theatre commences to provide upgraded facilities for the new intake of academically selected students the following year.
Inaugural year of the annual Pin Ceremony to welcome the new intake of students for the following year.
Last year of the Intensive English Centre at Perth Modern and it moves to Greenwood SHS.
Associate Principal Val Furphy was the first appointee to the new Gifted and Talented School.
Announcement by State Government to build new stadium in adjacent Kitchener Park.
First intake of new academically-selected students into Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 at Perth Modern School.
City Beach Residential College opens to provide boarding facilities for students from the regions.
Renovation of Science Labs at Perth Modern School commence.
Michael Taran achieves WACE Beazley Medal.
West Australian Certificate of Education (WACE): Perth Modern achieves a total of 36 WACE awards.
Names for the multipurpose auditorium were chosen by key donors with Cyril Tyler, Sir Paul Hasluck, Violet Gill and Jerry Haire being honoured. Honour Boards featuring alumni who had served in WWI and WW2 were updated with additional names previously omitted. A digital Honour Board for WW1 and WW2 was created and added to the school website. Grease was performed as the whole school musical. New Senior School uniform items introduced. There were no international or national tours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however school camps and tours to Ningaloo and the South-West took place. NAPLAN was cancelled due to the pandemic. WACE: Students achieved a State record of 72 achieving an ATAR of 99+, Perth Modern was the number ranked school in the State for the WACE, achieving a median ATAR of 97.55. Twenty-one students achieved a General Exhibition and six Subject exhibitions were achieved.
The Cyril Tyler Auditorium opens in September with a large scale concert and festivities and is the venue for the Presentation Ceremony in November. The Irene Froyland Future Learning Centre opens. There were no international or national tours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however school camps and tours to Rottnest, Ningaloo and the South-West took place. Two students were selected for International Science Olympiad teams. Perth Modern School was again first on the academic table for the ATAR rankings. Lawrence Nheu achieved the Beazley medal: WACE, five students achieved a perfect ATAR of 99.95, 65 students achieved an ATAR of 99+, 12 General Exhibitions were awarded along with eight Subject Exhibitions.
