GPS Code of Practice

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The Athletic Association of GPS Schools of New South Wales

The attached Code of Practice is a result of discussions among Heads of GPS Schools. It is intended as an affirmation of those matters which historically have been of significance to our schools and which, we believe, should remain so in the decades ahead.

The place of sport in the all round education of the boys of our schools is important and will continue to be so. The GPS Schools continue to use the natural medium of games to achieve educational goals for our students.

However, there are a number of pressures which can detract from our common purpose. Some of these have led to the development of the Code of Practice. They include:

  • Parents who expect professional levels of coaching in sports
  • Old Boys who measure success of their school in terms of sporting wins
  • Council members who recognise the potential marketing value of sporting success
  • Heads, staff and coaches who may feel pressure to succeed in sporting competition
  • The media, whose purposes are not always synonymous with our own.

It is in this context that we commend for your attention this statement of the principles and consequent practices of the GPS Schools.We seek your support for your school and for its obligations as a valued member of the GPS Association.

Dr KA Jaggar OAM
Principal

GPS Schools of New South Wales:
Code of Practice

A. Introduction
The AAGPS was established to provide organised games between schools of similar aspiration. The motto of the Association is Unity in Diversity. The following features of the Association have developed over a long period:

  1. Provision of well organised fixtures at appropriate venues
  2. Competition held in good spirit with high expectations of conduct and sportsmanship
  3. Management and coaching of teams conducted as far as possible by schoolmasters
  4. Lively and active communication among member schools in a forum ideal for the discussion of matters of common importance.
  5. A spirit of cooperation in the context of the healthy competition between our schools.

The Association is chaired and run by schoolmaster members of the staffs of schools, with final responsibility being borne by Headmasters.

B. Common Principles
The Headmasters of the GPS Schools have reaffirmed their commitment to the following principles:

  1. We believe that all GPS sport is valuable. It exists for the benefit of the boys and must assume its proper place alongside academic, spiritual, cultural and social development
  2. Success at sport involves more than mere winning, which - while enjoyable and worthwhile - is only one of the potential benefits.
  3. We all value our membership of the GPS. The Heads are committed to maintaining the strength of the Association and recognise that any action taken by an individual school against the spirit of the GPS Code of Practice will have adverse consequences both on the Association as a whole, and on individual members.

C. Code of Practice
In the light of these principles, the GPS Headmasters affirm the following code of practice:

  1. No inducements such as sporting scholarships, whether direct, disguised or at arm's length, shall be offered by any member school. Financial assistance to talented sportsmen shall not form part of the enrolment strategy of any member school.
  2. We affirm that the Headmaster of each school is responsible for knowing the special circumstances relating to the admission of boys to his school.
  3. In the selection and training of boys in teams or crews, the good of the individual boy shall remain paramount.
  4. While allowing for some exceptional circumstances, we believe that it is poor educational practice for a boy to engage in a single sport throughout the year.

The Headmasters of the GPS Schools of New South Wales
August, 2000.