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 Macq, BA DipEd N?cle(NSW), MACE AFAPC
Martin Orrock was educated at Newcastle and Macquarie Universities specialising in Economics and 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 pupils having the basic skills of literacy and numeracy, public speaking skills and the ability to work cooperatively 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 HICES (Heads of Independent Coeducational Schools), the Association of Curriculum Development (USA), the Australian College of Education (life membership) and continuing contact with the membership of the Harvard Principal’s Network.
He has delivered papers at Conferences on ‘Boys Education’, ‘Individuality in Schooling’, and ‘Using Technology to Teach Development Geography’. Papers have been published in the Geography Teacher’s Association Publication and in the Harvard Network News. He has also been a workshop leader at the Melbourne University Principal’s Centre on ‘Schools as Communities.’
Mr Orrock is a past Chairman of HICES, ISA (Independent Schools Association), CDSSA (Combined Districts Sports Association), AICES (Association of Independent Coeducational Schools), past member of the Heads’ Advisory Committee and Sports Council at the Independent Schools Association and the ISA Languages Advisory Committee.
Mr Orrock lists swimming, food, reading, theatre 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 academic, sports people, 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 instilled in it’s 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 commitments like attending games, performances and briefing sessions and acknowledging homework and study is done. It is with their cooperation 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
