The Pittwater House Schools has been a pioneer of the "twin school" concept. The Secondary School, consisting of the Pittwater House Girls' College and the Pittwater House Grammar School, offers all the advantages of single-sex classes together with being on a co-ed campus. This enables the whole family to be educated in the one place.
The School's philosophy is to maintain small class sizes in order to provide all pupils with individual attention in an environment that encourages learning. Pupils in Forms 5 to 10 are taught in single-sex classes, although in Forms 9 & 10 elective subjects become co-educational. Forms 11 & 12 are fully co-educational.
Both the Girls' College and the Grammar School operate under the leadership of Headmaster Martin Orrock, with Mrs Jennifer Fortuin as Head of Girls' College and Mr Mark Page as Head of Boys' Grammar.
Mr Martin S. Orrock
MA, DipEd, MACE
Martin Orrock was educated at Newcastle and Macquarie Universities specialising in Economics and Urban Geography. After commencing his teaching career in Sydney, he worked at Quintin Kynaston School in St Johns Wood, London for a number of years teaching A Level Geography. Whilst living in Europe he broadened his experience studying urban environments and indulging his passion for skiing.
On returning to Australia Mr Orrock completed a Master's Degree focusing on Urban Planning which was very beneficial to his teaching of HSC Geography. He commenced working as a teacher of Geography and Economics at Pittwater House in 1974, became Master of the Middle School in 1978, Headmaster of the Girls College in 1980 and Headmaster of the College and Grammar School in 1983. Over the years Mr Orrock has observed the enormous growth and change of the Pittwater House Schools' campus.
He is very passionate about young students having the basic skills of literacy and numeracy in addition to public speaking skills and the ability to work co-operatively in teams. The recognition and mentoring of individual talents in our student body has also been crucial. It is also hoped that Pittwater House graduates have a keen international perspective so they feel they can take opportunities of studying, working and living anywhere in the world.
Mr Orrock keeps abreast of the educational scene through membership of the Harvard International Principals' Network and the Association of Curriculum Development (USA). He has delivered papers at conferences on boys' education and individuality in schools and travels regularly to conferences and visits other schools to ensure that Pittwater House Grammar School and Girls College are able to evaluate and implement the latest approaches.
He is a past Chairman of HICES, past Secretary of ISA, current Chairman of CDSSA and AICES, is on the Headmasters' Advisory Council to Combined Independent Schools Association (CIS) and on the Languages Advisory Committee for Association of Independent Schools. Mr Orrock lists swimming, food, reading and architecture among his many interests.
In September each year a Commemoration Farewell Dinner is held for students of Form 12. This is an opportunity for parents, staff and pupils to gather and celebrate the partnership of up to 14 years schooling. The speeches and toasts during the dinner give a perfect opportunity to reflect on the contribution of each important part of this triangle. The pupils signify what they are taking from the school and nominate these as great friendships, quality teaching from a staff that cares, and life skills they feel will be of use to them in years to come.
Annually Year 12 continues to exemplify the best that the School can produce. Among them are fine academics, sportspeople, creative artists and cultural achievers. Along the way the pupils discover where their interests lie and particular talents fall. The Tertiary Education Advisor works closely with Year 12 families to assist them in the transition from the School to tertiary study or the workplace.
Not only does the School see it as imperative that pupils have literacy and numeracy skills but an increasing need as they get older for critical literacy skills so they are properly equipped to decipher the truth. The core values the School instill in its pupils from the start stand them in good stead to face the contradictions that abound in the world they will enter.
Pittwater House parents also give the School and their children enormous support by meeting the many time commitments, attending games, performances and briefing sessions and acknowledging homework and study is done. It is with their co-operation and partnership with the School that pupils have the best possible springboard into life. I see pupils of Pittwater House as fun loving, confident, enthusiastic and gregarious and possessing the critical thinking skills and initiative to grasp all the opportunities with which they will be faced and excel.
Martin Orrock
Head
