 | |
| Abbreviation | APS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1908 |
| Headquarters | APS House Hawthorn, Victoria |
| Location | |
Membership | 11 member schools |
Official language | English |
Chair | Philip Grutzner Melbourne Grammar School (2024–2026) |
| Website | www |
The Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) are a group of eleven independent schools in Victoria, Australia, similar to the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales in New South Wales and the Public Schools Association in Western Australia. The descriptor 'Public School' references the historical usage of the term and the model of the British public school.
The first meet of Public Schools Sports was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 November 1870[1] with Melbourne Grammar School, Scotch College and Wesley College competing and winning that order. The Association was established in 1908[2] so that students of the member schools may compete against each other on the sporting fields, the original competition sports were Australian Rules Football, Athletics, Rowing and Cricket. Students now compete in a variety of sports, which are split into three seasons, Summer, Winter and Spring. Students in Year 7 and above compete on Saturdays and students in primary year levels compete on Wednesday afternoons. Major annual competitions include the APS Head of the River Rowing Regattas, the APS Combined Swimming & Diving Championships and the APS Combined Athletics Championships.
In March 2005, the APS member schools formed a set of guidelines regarding the awarding of sporting scholarships to students, following criticism of recruiting practices employed by some schools.[3] The headquarters of the APS is known as APS House and is located on Church Street in Hawthorn, Victoria.[4]