BEST OF BOTH WORLDS 30 years of the Coordinate Program

The connection between Trinity Grammar and Ruyton Girls’ School runs deep. With a shared affiliation with Kew’s Holy Trinity Anglican Church dating back to Trinity’s foundation in 1903, the two schools were often brought together. They were also natural choices for the education of brothers and sisters, especially once Ruyton’s move to Selbourne Road in 1920 gave it a neighbourly positioning on the other side of Glenferrie Road. Indeed, that sense of a sibling association had a historical foundation as both schools were headquartered in a large house once belonging to brothers from the same branch of the Henty family. Many thought there may even be a literal link, with speculation about a Henty-era underground tunnel between the two properties tantalising generations of students. Those rumours never proved to be true, but a lasting sense of an unofficial sister-brother school status between Ruyton and Trinity remains.

Over the decades the relationship developed. There was the fun of the regular Ruyton versus Trinity debate or sports matches, be it baseball, hockey or netball. From the 1930s programs such as combined dancing classes, and from 1962, the yearly musical co-production further nourished the social connections. At other times the link was more academic. Trinity boys often began their education in the kindergarten program of Little Ruyton or its Early Learning successors. Occasionally, perhaps to resolve a timetable clash, a Ruyton girl might have found herself studying a single subject with a senior class from Trinity. At times Ruyton and Trinity were even known to share a teacher, such as when Dr Anita Rodgers taught German for both schools between 1937 and 19481. These experiences were instructive; demonstrating how strategic co-operation for the mutual benefit of students was possible in a way that maintained each school’s unique identity as a place of single-sex education. It was from this foundation that the Coordinate Program grew.

By the early 1990s Prue Gillies, Principal of Ruyton (1985-1999) and Trinity’s Principal Don Marles (1979-1992) began to discuss the advantages to be gained from the shared provision of senior level classes with small enrolments. It’s probable that Fay Marles AM (Pearce, 1943), wife of Don and a future Chair of Ruyton’s Board of Directors was a supportive advisor for these discussions. The Boards of the two schools agreed to trial the idea for Term 1, 1993, a decision subsequently supported by Trinity’s new Principal, Peter Crawley (1993-1998). Initially four co-educational subjects were offered to Year 12 students at both schools: English Literature and French at Ruyton, with Physical Education and German offered at Trinity.

As the broader benefits of the trial became clear, the partnership was extended to encompass a larger number of subjects in both Year 11 and 12. The experiment assisted students to gain a taste of mixed classes in their mature and confident senior years, making it valuable preparation for tertiary education. It also enabled each school to ‘generally provide 100% of students with’ their preferred subject choices. In 1995, the Boards of Ruyton and Trinity formally instituted the arrangement and named it the Coordinate Program.

When it came to making the new program work, coordination was definitely the name of the game. Long established aspects of school life like bell times, roll call, curriculum days and library borrowing rights needed to operate harmoniously between the two schools. ‘By 1999 there were forty shared VCE classes over twenty-six subject areas, with more than 150 students walking the five minutes or so between the two schools2

In 2023 we celebrate thirty years of the Coordinate Program and reflect on the deep relationship between Ruyton and Trinity. What started as a unique collaboration sharing VCE classes has now broadened to incorporate the highly anticipated annual Senior School musical, drama plays, a buddy program in the Junior School and strong professional partnerships for staff. Recognised in the Ruyton and Trinity strategic plans published last year, the Coordinate Program is a highly valued signature program at both schools that meets the emerging needs of our learners and strengthens community connection and culture.

Cathy Dodson Archivist

The Community Relations Office is calling for anyone with preserved historical items or knowledge of the Coordinate Program to consider donating those items or providing an interview that can be added to archived materials in the Heritage Collection. Please contact community@ruyton.vic.edu.au for further information.