Christian Philosophy
TAS is a connected, respectful and caring community built on Christian beliefs and the core principles of respect and responsibility.
Since 1840 when Bishop Broughton, Bishop of Australia germinated the idea for a proprietary school that would become The Armidale School, TAS has held a close association with the Anglican Church. Indeed, its very establishment was made possible by a number of private investors along with a grant from the London-based Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, which had been secured by Bishop Broughton.
When Armidale became the preferred location for the school, the fundraising charge for the school was led by Archdeacon James Ross. The Bishop of Grafton and Armidale the Rt Rev AV Green, who was chairman of the Board of Directors, officially opened the school in 1894, and the school’s first eight Headmasters were ordained Anglican ministers.
Indeed, the school coat of arms, featuring the Bishop’s mitre, the ecclesiastical keys of the Diocese of St Peter and the school motto ‘Absque Deo Nihil’ (Without God, Nothing) reflect these foundations. TAS is a connected, respectful and caring community built on Christian beliefs and the core principles of respect and responsibility that govern all relationships between staff, students, parents and the broader TAS community.
While welcoming students of all faiths, the school continues to espouse Christian values in word and action – in the formal curriculum, at weekly Assembly and chapel services, in voluntary bible study and Christian development meetings, and through various service projects in Australia and overseas.
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