# Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools

The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS), is an Australian association for independent girls' schools, founded in New South Wales, Australia.
Established in 1916 as The Association of Head Mistresses of New South Wales, the Association decided to trade as Independent Girls' Schools Association (IGSA). The Association in 2022 comprised 32 member schools, enables inter-school aesthetic, cultural and sporting activities between New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory's independent and Catholic girls' schools.
AHIGS also exists for the purpose of encouraging communication and a bond of co-operation and collegiality among independent girls' schools and their "heads", and working towards advancing the cause of the education of girls through policy development on major issues of concern. The association actively represents its members and the interests of their schools at a political level, through lobbying governments and politicians. Through AHIGS competitions, member schools and their students, are encouraged to value good sportsmanship, participation, team spirit and fairness above undue competitiveness and individualism.
Of New South Wales' fifteen female Rhodes Scholars (1904 to 2009), eight have attended an AHIGS School.

## Schools
### Members

| School | Location | Enrolment | Founded | Denomination | Day / Boarding |
| Abbotsleigh School for Girls | Wahroonga | 1,370 | 1885 | Anglican | Day & Boarding |
| Ascham School | Edgecliff | 1,000 | 1886 | Non-denominational | Day & Boarding |
| Brigidine College | St Ives | 850 | 1954 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| Canberra Girls' Grammar School | Deakin | 1,450 | 1926 | Anglican | Day & Boarding |
| Danebank Anglican School for Girls | Hurstville | 910 | 1933 | Anglican | Day |
| Frensham School | Mittagong | 300 | 1913 | Non-denominational | Day & Boarding |
| Kambala | Rose Bay | 950 | 1887 | Anglican | Day & Boarding |
| Kincoppal-Rose Bay | Rose Bay | 930 | 1882 | Roman Catholic | Day & Boarding |
| Loreto Kirribilli | Kirribilli | 1,030 | 1901 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| Loreto Normanhurst | Normanhurst | 900 | 1897 | Roman Catholic | Day & Boarding |
| Meriden | Strathfield | 850 | 1897 | Anglican | Day |
| MLC School | Burwood | 1,260 | 1886 | Uniting Church | Day |
| Monte Sant'Angelo Mercy College | North Sydney | 1,080 | 1875 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| Mount St Benedict College | Pennant Hills | ~1028 | 1966 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| New England Girls' School | Armidale | 380 | 1895 | Anglican | Day & Boarding |
| Our Lady of Mercy College | Parramatta | 1,030 | 1889 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale | Armidale | 400 | 1887 | Presbyterian | Day & Boarding |
| Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney | Croydon | 1,350 | 1888 | Presbyterian | Day & Boarding |
| Pymble Ladies' College | Pymble | 2,135 | 1916 | Uniting Church | Day & Boarding |
| Queenwood School for Girls | Mosman | 800 | 1925 | Non-denominational | Day |
| Ravenswood School for Girls | Gordon | 1,140 | 1901 | Uniting Church | Day & Boarding |
| Roseville College | Roseville | 790 | 1908 | Anglican | Day |
| SCEGGS Darlinghurst | Darlinghurst | 890 | 1895 | Anglican | Day |
| St Catherine's School | Waverley | 910 | 1856 | Anglican | Day & Boarding |
| St Patrick's College | Campbelltown | 850 | 1840 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| St Scholastica's College | Glebe | | | | |
| St Vincent's College | Potts Point | 680 | 1858 | Roman Catholic | Day & Boarding |
| Santa Sabina College | Strathfield | 1,500 | 1894 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| Stella Maris College | Manly | 900 | 1931 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| Tangara school for Girls | Cherrybrook | 660 | 1982 | Roman Catholic | Day |
| Tara Anglican School for Girls | North Parramatta | 1,000 | 1897 | Anglican | Day & Boarding |
| Wenona School | North Sydney | 815 | 1886 | Non-denominational | Day & Boarding |

### Former members

| School | Location | Denomination | Founded | Closed/Merged | Years Competed |
| Brighton College | Manly | | 1889 | Closed 1960 | ?–1960 |
| Calrossy Anglican School for Girls | Tamworth | Anglican | 1919 | | |
| Claremont College | Randwick | Anglican | 1882 | Secondary school closed 1966 | ?–1966 |
| Normanhurst School | Ashfield | Non-denominational | 1882 | Closed 1941 | ?–1941 |
| Presbyterian Ladies' College | Goulburn | Presbyterian | 1921 | Closed 1970 | 1956–1966 |
| Presbyterian Ladies' College | Orange | Presbyterian | 1928 | Merged 1975 with Wolaroi College to form Kinross Wolaroi School | 1928–1975 |
| Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School, Redlands | Cremorne | Anglican | 1884 | Became SCECGS Redlands in 1976 | ?–1975 |
| SCEGGS Wollongong | Wollongong | Anglican | 1955 | Merged 1976 with The Illawarra Grammar School | 1955–1976 |
| SCEGGS Moss Vale | Moss Vale | Anglican | 1906 | Closed 1974 | ?–1974 |
| St Clare's College | Waverley | | | | |
| St Luke's Anglican School for Girls' | Dee Why | [Anglican | 1961 | Amalgamated 1992 with Peninsula Anglican Boys School and Roseby Preparatory School to form St Lukes Grammar School | 1961–? |

## History

At the Women's Club on 8 November 1916 a group of eight Headmistresses formed The Association of Head Mistresses of New South Wales, with Miss Edith Badham (SCEGGS Darlinghurst) elected as Foundation President.
The eight founding schools were:
* Abbotsleigh, Wahroonga
* Normanhurst School, Ashfield (no longer exists).
* Kambala, Rose Bay
* Meriden School, Strathfield
* Methodist Ladies' College, Burwood
* The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Croydon (now Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney)
* Ravenswood School for Girls, Gordon
* The Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School (now SCEGGS Darlinghurst)
Eligibility for membership was eventually offered to a further 24 girls' schools.
In 1945, a national association was formed, and AHIGS New South Wales heads served as Presidents of that organisation as follows:
* 1950–1952 Miss D. Knox (PLC Pymble)
* 1959–1962 Miss P. Bryant (Frensham)
* 1975–1978 Miss B. Chisholm (SCEGGS)
* 1985 Miss K. McCredie (Abbotsleigh).
The national organisation was disbanded on 26 August 1985 when the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia was founded.
AHIGS first admitted male heads of girls' schools to membership from 1973 however, so far no male member has been elected to the position of President.

## Presidents of the New South Wales association

| Term | President | School | Years as Principal |
| 1950 | Miss Beatrice L. Rennie | Queenwood | 1931–1961 |
| 1952 | Miss Barbara Chisholm | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | 1947–1977 |
| 1955 | Dorothy Whitehead | Ascham School | 1949–1961 |
| 1956 | Fifi Hawthorne | Kambala | 1933–1966 |
| 1957 | Kathleen Crago | Ravenswood | 1932–1961 |
| 1958–1959 | Miss Ann Crocker | Brighton College, Manly | 1943– 1960 |
| 1960 | Miss Faith Patterson | St Catherine's | 1955–1987 |
| 1961 | Miss Edith M. Ralston | Wenona | 1920–1963 |
| 1962–1963 | Miss Phyllis Bryant | Frensham | 1938–1965 |
| 1964 | Mrs Isobel Humphery | SCEGGS Redlands | 1946–1973 |
| 1965 | Miss Barbara Chisholm | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | 1947–1977 |
| 1966 | Miss Freda L. Whitlam | PLC Croydon | 1958–1976 |
| 1967 | Miss Dorothy Knox | Pymble | 1936–1947 |
| 1968 | Miss Merrilee Roberts | Ascham | 1961–1972 |
| 1969 | Miss Phyllis Evans | Ravenswood | 1962–1985 |
| 1970 | Miss Sheila Morton | Meriden | 1966–1984 |
| 1971 | Miss Faith Patterson | St Catherine's | 1955–1987 |
| 1972 | Miss Joyce Gibbons | Kambala | 1966–1984 |
| 1973 | Miss Violet Medway | Queenwood | 1942–1982 |
| 1974 | Miss Barbara Jackson | Wenona | 1967–1994 |
| 1975 | Miss Kathleen McCredie | Abbotsleigh | 1970–1987 |
| 1976 | Miss Cynthia Parker | Frensham | 1968–1993 |
| 1977 | Miss Barbara Chisholm | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | 1947–1977 |
| 1978 | Miss Jeanette Buckham | Pymble | 1967–1989 |
| 1979 | Mrs Joy Park | Tara | 1974–1979 |
| 1980 | Miss Phyllis Evans | Ravenswood | 1962–1985 |
| 1981 | Miss Faith Patterson | St Catherine's | 1955–1987 |
| 1982 | Miss Sheila Morton | Meriden | 1966–1984 |
| 1983 | Mrs Mary Richardson | Roseville College | 1972–1984 |
| 1984 | Mrs Rowena Danziger | Ascham | 1973–2003 |
| 1985 | Miss Kathleen McCredie | Abbotsleigh | 1970–1987 |
| 1986 | Miss Cynthia Parker | Frensham | 1968–1993 |
| 1987 | Miss Diana Bowman | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | 1978–1996 |
| 1988–1989 | Dr Jan Milburn | NEGS | 1973–1989 |
| 1989–1991 | Mrs Denise Thomas | Meriden | 1985–2002 |
| 1991–1993 | Miss Diana Bowman | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | 1978–1996 |
| 1993–1995 | Mrs Joy Yeo | Roseville College | 1985–1999 |
| 1995–1997 | Mrs Judith Wheeldon | Abbotsleigh | 1996–2004 |
| 1997–1999 | Mrs Gillian Moore | Pymble | 1989–2007 |
| 1999–2001 | Miss Rosalyn Bird | Danebank | 1988–2010 |
| 2001–2003 | Mrs Margaret Hadley | Wenona | 1995–2007 |
| 2003–2005 | Mrs Kem Bray | Queenwood | 1996–2008 |
| 2006–2007 | Mrs Margaret White | Kambala | 2000–2014 |
| 2008 | Mrs Carol Bowern | Tara | 2000–2008 |
| 2009–2010 | Ms Vicki Steer | Ravenswood | 2005–2015 |
| 2011–2012 | Dr Briony Scott | Wenona | 2011–present |
| 2013–2014 | Mrs Vicki Waters | Pymble | 2007–2019 |
| 2015–2016 | Mrs Megan Krimmer | Roseville College | 2012–2016 |
| 2017–2020 | Mrs Susan Middlebrook | Tara | 2009–present |
| 2020–2022 | Dr Julie Greenhalgh | Meriden | 2007–present |
| 2022–present | Ms Lisa Moloney | MLC School | 2018–present |

## Independent Girls' Schools Sporting Association

The thirty-two members' schools of AHIGS are eligible to participate and compete against each other in a number of sporting carnivals and interschool sports through IGSA Sport (formerly known as IGSSA). Secondary school girls compete in team and individual sports at school level and can be selected to represent IGSA Sport as part of the NSWCIS and All Schools sporting pathways.

## Archdale debating competition

The Archdale Debating Competition is a competition conducted by the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools for the benefit of students from 24 of its members' schools.
Established in the early 1970s, it is an annual competition conducted over two terms (typically between March and August), with each member school entering a team into each of the divisions. The Archdale Shield is awarded to the school which performs best across the whole competition. The award is determined through an overall points score after the conclusion of the final round.
The competition is named in honour of Helen Elizabeth (Betty) Archdale (August 21, 1907–January 11, 2000), former principal of The Women's College at the University of Sydney (1946–1957), and former headmistress of Abbotsleigh (1958–1970). Betty Archdale was also a talented cricketer, captaining the English women's cricket team in 1934 and 1935. In 1944 Archdale was awarded an Order of the British Empire for her part in getting nurses out of Singapore during World War II. In 1999 she was one of the first ten women to be granted Honorary Life Membership of Marylebone Cricket Club in England. Archdale was listed as an Australian Living Treasure in 1997.

### History

Although a number of AHIGS schools offered debating as an extracurricular activity from around the 1920s, it was not until the 1960s that inter-school debating became common among girls' schools.
In 1971, following a debate between Abbotsleigh and a combined high schools team, the decision was made to form a debating organisation for independent girls' schools. This organisation was called 'ISSGDA', and it was made up of sixteen independent schools (girls' and co-educational) divided into four geographic areas for competition purposes.
The first ISSGDA final was contested between Abbotsleigh and Moriah College (the only non-AHIGS school to compete) at Abbotsleigh. The trophy, which Miss Archdale had donated, was won by Abbotsleigh and presented by Miss Kathleen McCredie, the then headmistress of Abbotsleigh. From this point on, the competition became known as the 'Archdale Debating Competition'.

### Archdale winners

| Year | Archdale Shield | Most Improved | Seniors | Year 10 | Junior | Year 9 | Year 8A | Year 8B | Year 7A | Year 7B |
| 1988 | Kambala | | | MLC | | | | | | |
| 1989 | Ravenswood | | | Moriah | | | | | | |
| 1990 | MLC | | | Moriah | | | | | | |
| 1991 | Kambala | | | Ravenswood | | Pymble | | | | |
| 1992 | Abbotsleigh | | | Abbotsleigh | | St Catherine's | | | | |
| 1993 | St Catherine's | | | Tara | | Abbotsleigh | | | | |
| 1994 | MLC | | | Abbotsleigh | | SCEGGS | | | Pymble | |
| 1995 | Kambala | | | Kambala | | Kambala | | | Moriah | |
| 1996 | Pymble | | | MLC | | Tara | | | Tara | |
| 1997 | Pymble | | Kambala | SCEGGS | | Moriah | | | Tara | |
| 1998 | Pymble | | Roseville | Pymble | | SCEGGS | Pymble | | Kambala | |
| 1999 | Pymble | | Kambala | Kambala | | Pymble | Pymble | | SCEGGS | |
| 2000 | Pymble | | Abbotsleigh | Pymble | | PLC | Pymble | | SCEGGS | |
| 2001 | SCEGGS | | MLC | SCEGGS | | MLC | MLC | Pymble | Tara | SCEGGS |
| 2002 | SCEGGS | | Pymble | Danebank | | SCEGGS | Tar] | MLC | St Catherine's | Pymble |
| 2003 | SCEGGS | | MLC | Pymble | | Tara | PLC | Pymble | MLC | Pymble |
| 2004 | SCEGGS | | MLC | Tara | | Tara | SCEGGS | Queenwood | Tara | SCEGGS |
| 2005 | Abbotsleigh | | Meriden | Abbotsleigh | | Abbotsleigh | SCEGGS | SCEGGS | Abbotsleigh | Loreto Kirribilli |
| 2006 | PLC Sydney | | Pymble | SCEGGS | | Roseville | MLC | SCEGGS | Santa | Danebank |
| 2007 | Abbotsleigh | | Pymble | Tara | | Pymble | Abbotsleigh | Meriden | Loreto Kirribilli | MLC |
| 2008 | Abbotsleigh | | Roseville | SCEGGS | | Tara | MLC | St Catherine's | Queenwood | Abbotsleigh |
| 2009 | Tara | | Pymble | Tara | | SCEGGS | Ascham | MLC | Roseville | Ascham |
| 2010 | SCEGGS | | Tara | Tara | | SCEGGS | SCEGGS | Ascham | SCEGGS | SCEGGS |
| 2011 | SCEGGS | | Monte | Kambala | | SCEGGS | Ascham | SCEGGS | Tara | SCEGGS |
| 2012 | Tara | | MLC | Meriden | | SCEGGS | Tara | Abbotsleigh | MLC | Ravenswood |
| 2013 | MLC | | SCEGGS | Ascham | | Meriden | St Catherine's | MLC | MLC | Kincoppal |
| 2014 | MLC | | Ascham | Tara | | Wenona | Meriden | MLC | Abbotsleigh | SCEGGS |
| 2015 | SCEGGS | | MLC | SCEGGS | | Pymble | Ravenswood | SCEGGS | Abbotsleigh | Danebank |
| 2016 | Abbotsleigh | | Abbotsleigh | MLC | | MLC | Abbotsleigh | SCEGGS | Kambala | Kambala |
| 2017 | MLC | | MLC | SCEGGS | | Wenona | Kincoppal | SCEGGS | Abbotsleigh | MLC |
| 2018 | Abbotsleigh | | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | | Abbotsleigh | Kambala | Monte Sant' Angelo | Kambala | MLC |
| 2019 | Abbotsleigh | Tara | Monte Sant’ Angelo | Kambala | | Abbotsleigh | Abbotsleigh | Monte Sant' Angelo | Tara | Abbotsleigh |
| 2020 | Abbotsleigh | Queenwood School | Abbotsleigh | MLC School | Queenwood School | Abbotsleigh | Ascham | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | Pymble Ladies’ College | SCEGGS Darlinghurst |
| 2021 | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | Santa Sabina | Kambala | Queenwood School | Queenwood School | Ascham | PLC Sydney | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | MLC School | Pymble Ladies’ College |
| 2022 | MLC School | Ravenswood | Abbotsleigh | Ravenswood | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | MLC School | Kambala | MLC School | Queenwood | Meriden |
| 2023 | Abbotsleigh | Abbotsleigh, St Vincent's College & Tara | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | Abbotsleigh | Wenona | Abbotsleigh | Kambala | Meriden | Roseville | Abbotsleigh |

## Festival of Speech

The concept of a 'Festival of Speech' for the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools was first suggested in the early 1990s by Mr. Chris Faisandier, then Principal of Kincoppal-Rose Bay and a member of AHIGS.
Formerly a Principal of Sacred Heart College in New Zealand, Faisandier was involved with the O'Shea Shield Competition in which about twenty schools from the lower North Island of New Zealand participated.
The purpose of the O'Shea Shield Competition was to encourage students to develop skills in the areas of public speaking, debating, analysis and rhetoric. So popular was the competition and so high was the standard of presentation, that the winners of the O'Shea Shield were often featured on New Zealand television.
With the support of the AHIGS membership, Mr Faisandier established the Festival of Speech (then known as the Independent Girls Schools Speaking Competition) in NSW in 1996. The inaugural Festival, spanning Friday evening and all day Saturday, was hosted by Kincoppal-Rose Bay, won by Roseville College, and attended by fifteen schools.
Today the Festival continues to be hosted annually by an AHIGS member school, and some thirty-two schools now participate. Students have the opportunity to perform in the areas of drama, debating, poetry, prose readings, current affairs and religious and ethical questions. The Festival is open to girls from AHIGS schools in years seven to eleven.

### Winning schools

| Year | Overall Champion |
| 1996 | Roseville |
| 1997 | PLC Sydney |
| 1998 | PLC Sydney |
| 1999 | PLC Sydney |
| 2000 | PLC Sydney |
| 2001 | PLC Sydney |
| 2002 | PLC Sydney |
| 2003 | PLC Sydney |
| 2004 | PLC Sydney |
| 2005 | PLC Sydney |
| 2006 | PLC Sydney |
| 2007 | Kambala |
| 2008 | PLC Sydney |
| 2009 | SCEGGS Darlinghurst |
| 2010 | SCEGGS |
| 2011 | PLC Sydney |
| 2012 | SCEGGS |
| 2013 | SCEGGS |
| 2014 | SCEGGS |
| 2015 | PLC Sydney |
| 2016 | Ravenswood |
| 2017 | PLC Sydney |
| 2018 | Pymble |
| 2019 | SCEGGS |
| 2020 | PLC Sydney |
| 2021 | PLC Sydney |
| 2022 | PLC Sydney |
| 2023 | PLC Sydney |
| 2024 | PLC Sydney |