30 years of the Trinity/Ruyton Coordinate Program

2023 marks the 30th year of the Coordinate Program: the senior years co-education collaboration between Trinity Grammar School and Ruyton Girls’ School.

The "Trinity/Ruyton Association" commenced as a trial in 1993 when the schools combined Year 12 classes which had small numbers; Ruyton students studied German and Physical Education at Trinity, whilst Trinity students attended Ruyton for English Literature and French. By 1995 the association had been formalised as the "Coordinate Program" and expanded to include many more subjects at both Years 11 and 12.

Of course, the links between Trinity and Ruyton stretch back many generations and across numerous families. In earlier decades, Trinity and Ruyton boarders would attend services in Holy Trinity Church, decorously sitting on opposite sides of the aisle. Social events included the Prefects’ Socials held in the old Arnold Hall, debating and interschool sports matches: baseball in the 1920s and netball today. The ever-popular dancing lessons were first held in the 1930s and regular collaboration between the Music and Drama departments began with performances in 1962.

There were academic connections too; from as early as 1914, some boys began their education at the Ruyton kindergarten before moving on to Trinity aged seven or eight. Today we offer our own co-educational experience in the Early Learning Centre.

However, the Coordinate Program was not Trinity’s first foray into educating girls. Operating during the 1930s, St Hilary’s East Kew, Trinity’s Branch Preparatory school, enrolled more girls than boys and during World War II, Ruyton students studied Physics and German at Trinity. In the 1970s, 14 girls from Preshil School were invited to complete their HSC at Trinity while their own school developed its secondary section.

From the tentative beginnings of just four subjects in 1993, the Coordinate Program now offers 65 different subjects across the two schools with each offering 12 subjects exclusively: at Trinity this includes classes in Australian and Global Politics, Algorithmics, VET Hospitality and German.

Academically, the initiative produces outstanding results with students frequently achieving Study Scores of 50 in subjects which they have studied at the other school as part of the Coordinate Program. Over 30 years, the Coordinate Program has succeeded in allowing each school to maintain its own identity whilst promoting greater subject selection opportunities, student and staff collaboration, friendship and respect between the Trinity and Ruyton communities.