Student opportunities and activities

Student Representative Council (SRC)

Manly's Student Representative Council (SRC) is a student-led organisation dedicated to representing and improving the school community. Through their ongoing commitment, the SRC fosters student leadership, well-being, and a strong sense of community. At its core, the SRC comprises passionate students who advocate for diversity, resilience and opportunity within the school.

The Manly SRC consists of democratically elected representatives from each year group. The Council is led by the School Captains, Vice-Captains, and Senior Coordinators, all of whom are Year 12 students.

Weekly meetings are held to discuss key issues and plan events for the student body, including charity fundraisers, debates, and performances by student bands.

SRC members also contribute to shaping school policies, such as those related to uniforms and the school environment. Their initiatives ensure that students' voices are heard and that both personal and academic concerns of the next generation are addressed.

For more information about the SRC, please contact Ms. Rachele Haigh in the English faculty or Mr. Matthew Donald in the Science faculty.

Band programs

The band program at Manly Campus is second to none.

Over the years the Northern Beaches Secondary College, Manly Campus band program, under the leadership of its outstanding directors and supported by an enthusiastic and dedicated group of parent volunteers, has established a reputation as one of the very best in NSW.

The highly skilled specialist conductors and instrumental teachers deliver an enrichment program that meets the needs of a gifted and talented cohort and delivers weekly rehearsals and a wide range of performance opportunities to around 25% of the school’s students.

Recent surveys amongst band families (2023 and 2024) highlighted the value of our band program in providing an enormous range of benefits. These benefits align with our Manly learner profile attributes: academic excellence (resilient & self-directed, and creative), personal best (reflective, self-aware, and organised & efficient) and giving back to the community (global citizen, communicators and collaborators). Mental health, creative outlets, and personal management skills (time, belongings, and commitments) align with creating a supportive environment which fosters the holistic development of our students. These benefits also align with the high potential and gifted education policy to stretch students across the academic, creative, physical and social-emotional domains. The band community cited the benefits of developing cross year connections and performing to a wide range of audiences at a state, national and international level in fostering a strong sense of community.

The Manly Campus band program offers development opportunities for students from junior to senior years and is organised into three main streams: wind stream, jazz stream and string stream.

The wind stream has three bands: concert band, wind ensemble and symphonic wind orchestra.

The jazz stream has three-four bands based on student enrolment: swing band, stage band, big band and jazz orchestra.

The string stream comprises a string ensemble and a chamber orchestra of string, wind and brass instruments.

Additional groups are formed based on student need across these streams or to support further enrichment. These groups may include percussion ensemble, covers band (pop/rock focus), combo groups (jazz/improvisation), chamber ensembles, and training band.

Our bands represent the school with distinction at school and public performances as well as in the competitions that they regularly enter.

An important feature of our program is that that the bands tour annually within NSW and, every three years, on a major international tour. Our most recent international tour in 2019 saw students perform in Germany, The Czech Republic and Poland which included a performance at the official Anzac morning Ceremony in Berlin for the Ambassador to Australia. When touring within NSW, our bands specialise in performing at small, rural schools and encourage the participation of each school's students to join our ensembles in workshop and performances.

For all enquiries regarding the band programs, please contact the enrichment coordinator Ms Lanneke Grace: lanneke.grace5@det.nsw.edu.au

Further details of the band program and how to enrol can be found in the document below:

2026 Bands of Manly Campus Handbook

Vocal ensemble

There are two singing ensembles at Manly Campus: the Manly Vocal Ensemble, and Tides of Sound.

The vocal ensemble is open to all students and provides an opportunity to engage in a love of performing contrasting repetoire while developing sight singing skills. Rehearsals are in room 132 at lunch on Mondays. Tides of Sound is open via audition and focuses on a cappella repertoire. They rehearse on Thursday lunch in room 132.

The Ensembles perform at events both at school and within the community, participating at events like the  Northern Beaches Eisteddfod in Term 2, Creative Arts Night in Term 3 and singing Christmas songs at the War Vets in term 4.

The ensemble has had a history of touring, including the West Coast of America, Spain and France. A wide variety of repertoire is covered from Australian Art music, to Pop, to Opera.

A small membership fee is required which covers cost of music, performance shirt and excursion expenses.

For further information please contact Mrs Lucienne Herft in the Creative Arts staffroom.

Dance ensembles

The Manly Campus Dance Ensembles offer exceptional dance training and performance opportunities for students in Years 7–12. Designed to inspire creativity, discipline, and teamwork, our program caters to dancers of all levels, from beginners discovering their passion for movement to experienced performers refining their technique.

Each year, ensembles are formed in the styles of contemporary, jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre, providing students with a broad and engaging dance experience. Auditions held at the start of each year determine ensemble placement. Participation involves a strong commitment to weekly rehearsals before school and attendance at all performance events throughout the year.

The Manly Campus Dance Ensembles are led by Ms Charly Maynand, a dynamic and passionate dance educator renowned for her creativity, professionalism, and dedication to student growth. With extensive experience in choreography and teaching across a wide range of dance styles, Ms Charly brings precision, energy, and inspiration to every rehearsal. Her methodical approach and attention to detail ensure that each dancer is supported to achieve their personal best. Ms Charly is deeply committed to creating a positive and supportive learning environment where students feel confident, motivated, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. Her enthusiasm for the art form shines through in every class, sparking a lifelong love of dance in all her students.

Our dancers perform at a diverse range of events throughout the year, showcasing their talent and dedication to the wider community. Performance opportunities include:

• School events such as Open Day, Orientation Day, and Creative Arts Night
• Eisteddfods including Dancelife Unite, Extreme, Dance Spectacular, The Hills, and, in 2026, ADF
• The annual Dance Showcase, celebrating the creativity and hard work of our students

The Manly Campus Dance Ensembles are more than just a performance program; they are a community where students learn to express themselves, collaborate with others, and discover the joy and discipline of dance. Through this program, our students develop not only as dancers but as confident, creative, and resilient young people ready to shine on any stage.

Debating

Manly Campus has a proud tradition of debating with rigour, respect and camaraderie. Students at our campus compete in The NSW Premier's Debating Challenge competitions for each year group, an enrichment opportunity in partnership with the Arts Unit.

In recent years, students have achieved outstanding success in these competitions, with teams regularly reaching the regional and state finals stages of the competitions.

Our school is represented by students who gain selection into NSW Combined High Schools debating teams to compete at the highest level of competition.

Whilst not every student is able to be selected in a team, the well-regarded Student Debating Club is held each Tuesday, and is run by a committed team of Year 12 debaters for training, competition and mentorship.

Masters Academy is an external provider of debating coaching that is available as an after school extra-curricular opportunity for Manly Campus students to develop their skills in public speaking and communication. Visit https://mastersacademy.com.au/ for more information about the 2025 schedule of classes.

For more information about Manly Campus's debating program, contact the school's debating coordinator through the school office on 9905 3982.

Duke of Edinburgh

NBSC Manly Campus are proud to be able to offer our students in Years 9-12 the opportunity to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. The Award is delivered in partnership, and under the auspice of, YouthAdvance Australia, who are the Award Unit for the students.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an internationally recognised program for young people between 14 and 25, building their skills to equip them for life and work. The Award creates opportunities for young people to develop skills, get physically active, give service and experience adventure through their own unique program focussed on their personal interests and passions. It is a fabulous way to gain recognition for activities that you are already undertaking.

The Duke of Ed is held in high esteem across the world and can assist with university entrance, job interviews as well as the individual life skill and attributes gained through the Award. Students who participate in the Award gain independence, responsibility and focus; become more confident and engaged young people as well as learning about teamwork, perseverance and resilience.

To learn more about the Award and how you can be part of it, contact YouthAdvance Australia:

info@youthadvance.com.au or 02 9170 4655

www.youthadvance.com.au

Sport

Detailed information on sport at Manly Campus can be found in the sports and physical activity page.

Scholarships and awards

Our students can take advantage of scholarship and award opportunities such as:

• NSW School Nanga Mai Awards
• Premier’s Reading Challenge
• Premier’s Debating Challenge
• Public speaking competitions
• Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarships
• Kim Berendes scholarship

Kim Berendes was born in 1923. She was a child of the Great Depression, and at the age of thirteen began full time work to help support her single mother. She worked for much of her life as a public servant, mostly for the New South Wales Police. However, Kim valued education     highly. After leaving school she set out to educate herself further, and continued to do so for the rest of her life.

Kim died in early 2009. The Scholarship for Social Justice which bears her name is intended to encourage and provide financial support for young women who share the qualities which characterised Kim's life: integrity, strength and compassion.

This scholarship is open to female students enrolled at NBSC Manly Campus in Year 12. It will be awarded to a student who enrols in a course of tertiary study leading to a career or community activity which promotes social justice.

The core values  of integrity, strength and compassion will need to be reflected in applications.

Applicants can study social work, environmental studies, nursing, education, law or any other discipline which has a social equity as one of its core themes.

Applications for this scholarship are lodged through the Principal for consideration by the Kim Berendes Scholarship Committee.

Environment committee

The environment committee of Manly Campus are a group of passionate and inspired students who work together to promote action and change within the school community.

Our goal is to make our school a more environmentally friendly place, as well as help our students and staff become more aware of their environmental impact. In 2023, we sponsored a red panda from Taronga Zoo, and are currently looking forward to sponsoring another animal from the Zoo.

Some events we organise over the course of the year include fundraising for World Environment Day on 5 June, participating in Earth Hour, 40 Hour Famine and other related activities. Other activities and goals that we aim to achieve include promoting the recycling bins in our school, including a composting/vegetable garden, introducing solar panels in the school, promoting the 2nd hand uniform shop, educating the students and staff about their environmental impact and what we can do to reduce it and make a difference, and encouraging students to take part in protecting and supporting the environment. Students can join the environment committee in room AR0005, (room 32) on Wednesday at recess.

Robotics club

At the Manly Campus Robotics Club, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles while realising the value of hard work, innovation and working as a team.

We compete in the annual FIRST Tech Challenge competition, where we design, build and program robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. Students raise funds, design and market their team brand and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Each season concludes with an exciting FIRST Championship.

Students can join the Robotics Club in room ER0020 (room 166) on Thursday and Friday lunchtimes, as well as Thursday afternoons after school until 4pm (supervised by Mr Lo Russo).