Home - Arthur Phillip High School

Welcome to Arthur Phillip High School

Message from your Principal

It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to students and parents joining us at Arthur Phillip High School, the state’s first high rise high school. It has been an absolute privilege to be part of the development of this landmark project which offers ‘future focussed’ learning for all our students and the best of crosscurricular, collaborative teaching practices for our staff.

I am proud to be leading Arthur Phillip High School together with extremely talented, professional staff who are committed to making the very best use of this technology-rich environment to help their students become the next generation of leaders who can solve complex, real world problems and make a positive difference. This project has collaboration at the heart of its inception and development. The community has been actively involved, as have teachers, students and parents and carers.

We, the school community, look forward to standing strong as outstanding examples of how public education is leading the way in innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and academic and sporting excellence.

Lauretta Claus, Principal

Inside Our School

Arthur Phillip High School is the first public high-rise high school in NSW.

The 2020 school year at Arthur Phillip High School will be an exciting time for students, teachers, school administration staff, parents and carers as they start to use the new facilities.

We are thrilled to deliver a new high school with flexible, technology-rich learning spaces and dedicated homebase levels for Years 7 to 12, which include:

adaptable, moveable furniture and room configurations which offer better opportunities for collaboration and personalised learning
specialised development hubs for science, metal work, wood work, 3D design, food technology, performance, music and textiles
a double size multi-sport gymnasium.

Back to School in 2020

Where is the new Arthur Phillip High School located?

Ready for the first day back at school 2020, Arthur Phillip High School will move into its new high-rise school on Macquarie Street. The school entry will be from Macquarie Street and will provide both pedestrian and accessible access.

Tours of the new school

The Department is delighted to deliver this landmark education project for students, families and the broader community.

An opportunity to tour the school will be available in early 2020.

Additional tours for the school community will take place in Terms 1 and 2 during key school events.

When do I return to school?

As is normal practice in many high schools, year groups will return to school on consecutive days.

Thursday 30 January 2020 – Years 11 and 12 (8:40am) for their orientation to the new school building before returning for full classes on Tuesday 4 February 2020
Friday 31 January 2020 – Year 7 (8:30am) for their orientation to high school and the new school building before returning for full classes on Tuesday 4 February 2020
Monday 3 February 2020 – Years 8, 9 and 10 (8:50am) for their orientation to the new school building before returning for full classes on Tuesday 4 February 2020.

When does the school day start and finish?

In 2020:

Years 7 and 8 will start school at 8:30am and finish school at 3:00pm every day, except Wednesday when they will finish at 2:30pm
Years 9 and 10 will start school at 8:50am and finish school at 3:20pm every day, except Wednesday when they will finish at 2:30pm
Years 11 and 12 will start at 8:40am and finish school at 3:10pm every day, except Tuesday and Wednesday when they will finish at 1:30pm

What’s inside our first high-rise public school?

What does the new school look like?

Placeholder — Image:Arthur Phillip High School

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know where to go?

From the moment students collect their access cards, school staff will communicate where students are required to be. Some key information is provided below to make things easier:

To improve navigation, school floors have different colours
School maps will be provided to students and wayfinding directions placed around the school grounds
For two weeks, guides will be placed on each floor of the school to assist students in finding their way

What happens if I arrive late?

Students that arrive after their year level start time are expected to report to the school administration building (main entrance on Macquarie Street) and sign in.

Do I get access to the specialised spaces?

class and requirements. The STEAM levels covering science, food technology, textiles, 3D printing, wood/ metal work, drama and performance provide specialist learning environments to drive collaboration and innovation, which are essential elements in curriculum delivery.

Do I have to take the lift?

The school has introduced a lift policy to manage the movement of students and limit the use of lifts during the school day.

Years 7 and 8 will take the stairs to access their homebase level. Staff will escort students when classes require use of the specialist areas on levels 1, 5 and 9.

Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 swipe card will provide lift access to their respective learning hub levels. Staff will escort students when classes require use of the specialist levels on 1, 5 and 9.

Where is the canteen?

The canteen is located on the ground level of the school. Students will be shown all necessary amenities during their class tour on the first day of school.

Where is the sick bay?

There are two sick bays. Both are located on the lower ground level of the school near the Welcome Centre. Students will be shown all necessary amenities during their orientation tour on the first day of school.

Where is the Counsellor?

The School Counsellor’s meeting space is located on the lower ground level near the Welcome Centre. Students will be shown all necessary amenities during their orientation tour on the first day of school.

Where are the play areas?

In early 2020, students will have access to the two new sports courts, multipurpose sports hall and associated landscaped areas. Robyn Thomas Reserve will remain a part of the curriculum.

Additional play areas and landscaping works will be delivered throughout 2020.

Has the uniform changed?

Yes. At the beginning of 2019 Year 7 and Year 11 transitioned into the new school uniform. From the start of the 2020 school year every student is expected to be in the new full school uniform. Please check the APHS website for the current uniform policy or contact the school. Students are reminded to wear their full school uniform every day to school and are required to change into their PE uniform if they have Sport, PE or dance. The school uniform can only be purchased at Lowes in Parramatta. Students are reminded they must wear hard leather lace up school shoes to school everyday.

What are the new school policies?

On the first day of school an induction and overview of the new policies and procedures will be outlined.

What kind of school will it be?

The school will be for students in Year 7 to Year 12 inclusive. It will be a contemporary learning environment offering modern facilities.

Innovative learning prepares students across all curriculum areas and learning stages with skills and capabilities to thrive in a rapidly changing and interconnected world. It connects students and engages their sense of curiosity.

access to the new school and innovative teaching spaces as part of a professional development and transition program. With the support of the Principal, staff and students are set to thrive in their new learning environment next year.

Who we are

School vision

At Arthur Phillip High School, we are committed to promoting learning excellence in an inclusive, dynamic and flexible environment. Our collaborative, future focused learning approach maximises engagement and achievement by challenging and supporting students to pursue excellence and develop a passion for learning, through responsible, informed leadership and proactive global citizenry.

Our staff understand the crucial role they play in providing a diverse, multi skilled curriculum with an emphasis on developing literacy and numeracy skills for our rapidly changing community. In our new multi storey future focused school, collaboration and innovation are essential elements in curriculum delivery and imperative for success. Staff also recognise the importance of developing the whole child through our focus on wellbeing, physical activity, creative and performing arts and student leadership.

At Arthur Phillip High School we cultivate programs and initiatives that celebrate and embrace our multicultural community. We recognise the key role our parents play and provide seamless transition points for students entering Year 7 and leaving for tertiary studies or the workplace at the end of Year 12.

School values

At Arthur Phillip High School students STRIVE for:

RESPECT – To be polite and courteous to others and show respect for all members of the school community

SUCCESS – To learn, participate and realise my potential

RESPONSIBILITY – To recognise and understand my obligations as a member of the APHS community

Compartments — Image: Study and small team work areas

International students
School Rules & Policies

Promoting learning excellence
Building positive relationships through inclusivity
Empowering learners to grow and flourish
Nurturing a culture of belonging
Where students recognise and embrace opportunities to thrive
Passionate, innovative learners working collaboratively

United in our diversity
Nurturing positive, respectful relationships
Where student voice is valued
Collaborating to solve complex, real world problems
Partnering with families to support student growth
Inspiring entrepreneurial leadership through community partnerships

Challenging and supporting students to pursue excellence
Inspiring and innovative learning spaces
Authentic digital learning
Striving for respect, success and responsibility
A wellbeing focus where students thrive

Learning at APHS

At Arthur Phillip High School teachers work collaboratively to develop student skills and competence in literacy, numeracy, information communication technology, critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, and ethical understanding.

Staff are committed to creating opportunities for peer collaboration and the sharing of student learning with the broader community. Through face-to-face, online and blended learning approaches, students are connected to local and global communities. An entrepreneurial framework fosters lifelong skills through learning strategies such as play, project-based learning, genius hour and passion projects. Within this framework students are engaged in meaningful and authentic tasks challenging them to explore significant community and global issues as well as their own areas of interest.

At Arthur Phillip High School students are exposed to STEM challenges which integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These challenges further develop skills such as problem solving; creativity; critical analysis; teamwork; independent thinking; initiative; communication and digital literacy. The use of a customised digital learning platform connects students to an online collaborative learning community, creating their own personal workplace where teachers provide feedback and guidance.