# Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Anderson

Anderson School Ipoh, is a Malaysian government secondary school located on Jalan Raja Ashman Shah (formerly Jalan Hospital).
It was established during the British occupation in Malaya on 6 February 1909.
Anderson School Ipoh had 813 students in the morning session and 176 students in the afternoon session, bringing the total number of students to 989 as of 3 April 2018.
There were 46 male and 72 female teachers, bringing the total number of teachers to 118 as of 2018.

## History

The name "Anderson" was taken after the British High Commissioner in Malaya at that time (also the Governor of the Straits Settlements), Sir John Anderson. Anderson School was created to provide opportunities for Malay students who did not have the opportunity to enter Malay College Kuala Kangsar. It also became an alternative for Malay parents who do not wish to send their sons to Anglo-Chinese School as well as St. Michael's Institution, which are the then two Christian-dominated English-medium schools in Ipoh.
Lt. Col. J. H, Tyte, senior assistant of administration or first vice-principal at Victoria Institution was appointed as the first headmaster. He was assisted by Mr. E. C. Smith who became its inaugural Vice Principal for Administration. The school's early pioneer teachers consists of a trained teacher and five senior Victoria Institution students. The first school building was designed by local architects, namely Mr. C. H. Labrooy and was firstly located on Jalan Douglas. The old school building is now used as the Perak Islamic Affairs Religious Office (Pejabat Agama Perak).
On 6 February 2009, SMK Anderson celebrated its centenary with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah as the royal guest of honour. Also on the move was the Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Bainun; Raja Di-Hilir of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa; Raja Puan Muda Perak, Raja Nor Mahani Raja Shahar Shah and the 11th Menteri Besar of Perak, Datuk Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Anderson (SMK) Anderson celebrated the 100th anniversary of the annual sports event through the Karnival Sukan 100-tahun on 7 and 8 July 2018. The Kejohanan Olahraga Kali Ke-100 was held on 7 July 2018, the patron of which is DYTM Raja Jaafar Bin Raja Muda Musa and Dato' Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu. The Fun Ride event involving 25 km cycling and Majils Makan Malam Amal were held the following day, 8 July 2018.
* 100th Annual Sports Day
* Fun Ride 2018
* Makan Malam Amal 2018

## Anderson School Prefectorial Board

Anderson School Ipoh is also known for their century-old prefectorial board. The prefectorial board, also known as prefects, has a unique tradition and features making them different from other schools' prefects. Only the best of the best are selected to become members of this highly regarded organisation. Selection criteria for the Head Boy or Head Prefects is via a voting system among prefects and teachers. In 2008, the prefectorial board batch 2007–2008 created a logo and a motto for the school prefects. It is understood that Anderson School Prefects is the only prefects in the nation that has their own logo and motto.

## Anderson School Editorial Board

Anderson School Editorial Board publishes the yearbook titled The Andersonian annually to commemorate the past year of the school. Interesting facts and pictures are published in the yearbook to cherish the memories of the past year. The yearbook is bought by the students and teachers. The editorial board consists of students helping to take pictures of events and writing articles for the yearbook. In 2018, QR codes were introduced to the yearbook which, when scanned, redirect to YouTube videos highlighting the event. A theme is chosen every year for the yearbook. In 2018, Anderson School celebrated its 100th Sports Day; the 2018 edition yearbook was theme was 'Sporting Glory'.

## Notable alumni

The alumni or old boys of the school are or may be affiliated with ASOBA, the Anderson School Old Boys' Association. The current president of the association is Dato' Seri Hj. Abdul Azim b. Dato' Mohd Zabidi.
Notable alumni include:
* Tun (Dr) Haji Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid – 9th Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia
* Ahmad Boestamam – freedom fighter, politician and was the founding president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia and Parti Marhaen Malaysia
* Chan Sek Keong – Ketua Hakim Singapura (Chief Justice of the Republic of Singapore)
* Dato' Mohammad Nor Khalid (Lat) – Malaysian cartoonist
* Tun S. Samy Vellu – politician and 7th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress
* Dr. Wong Jeh Shyan – former-CEO of CommerceNet Singapore
* Dato' Sivarraajh Chandran – politician and former Member of Parliament for Cameron Highlands
* Dato' Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu – politician, 12th and 13th Menteri Besar of Perak and also former Minister of Youth and Sports
* Dato' Panglima Bukit Gantang Tan Sri Abdul Wahab Toh Muda Abdul Aziz – 1st Menteri Besar of Perak

## Student demographics

Student demographics as of 2018 :
| Grades/ Race | Total Class | Malay | Chinese | Indian | Others | Total |
| Form 1 | 9 | 143 | 7 | 28 | 0 | 178 |
| Form 2 | 8 | 111 | 5 | 34 | 0 | 150 |
| Form 3 | 8 | 130 | 7 | 27 | 0 | 164 |
| Form 4 | 7 | 120 | 8 | 37 | 0 | 165 |
| Form 5 | 7 | 125 | 20 | 41 | 0 | 186 |
| Form 6 (Lower) | 6 | 21 | 33 | 10 | | 64 |
| Form 6 (Upper) | 6 | 21 | 39 | 33 | 0 | 82 |
| Total | 51 | 671 | 119 | 119 | 0 | 989 |

## Extra-curricular activities
### Sport Houses

The student body is currently sorted into six sport houses. Students represent their sport houses in the school's annual Sports Day competitions. The school celebrated its 100th year Sports Day on 7 July 2018. One of the earlier sport houses, Sultan, was introduced to honour His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Perak. Named after the Anderson's longest serving principal, Mr. C.F.C. Ayre, is Ayre. The red house of Anderson, Whitfield was named after another principal who made significant changes, Mr. L. D. Whitfield. Andersonians are very proud of their alma mater. Thus they named a sport house School and took Anderson's school colour. Parr was named after Colonel C.W.C. Parr, the British Resident of Perak in 1923. The High Commissioner, Sir John Anderson, whom the school was named after, unveiled the memorial which was erected in memory of J.W.W Birch, Perak's first British Resident. In honour of this, a sport house took the name Birch.
* House
* Sultan
* Whitfield
* School
* Ayre
* Parr
* Birch

## School Anthem

The school anthem was written by Mr. J.R.P.D. de Turville in 1953.
* English Lyrics
* In Striving Shall our glory be,
* We seek until we find,
* Stand loyal in each trying time,
* Nor ever lag behind.
* Each palm tree waves us on,
* The golden sands rejoice,
* We move with single aim,
* And strong united voice.
* We will not yield whatever task,
* May lie within our path,
* But revel in the work itself,
* Nor fear the aftermath.The sea strives with the land,
* The river with the fields,
* We strive and seek and find,
* And finding will not yield.

## Trivia

* Filming of the movie, Talentime directed by Yasmin Ahmad, was held in SMK Anderson's Hall in August 2008.