From the Head of Senior School

I have been most fortunate this week to attend a three-day conference for Heads of Senior School. The topics discussed were, as you might imagine, centred around many major issues facing schools. It was most beneficial to meet and discuss concerns with these experienced professionals, sharing points of similarity and difference and ways we successfully address these issues. Areas such as rewarding academic progress, school refusal and innovative Year 9 programmes were discussed in the context of our wellbeing, pastoral care and academic programme; while conversations also took place regarding attracting and retaining the best staff, dealing with critical incidents and resourcing school programmes, all of which are important in seeing good schools flourish. Scotch College is certainly well placed in all these domains, but I look forward to the conversations that will take place as we continue to look to make Scotch College the best school for your boys.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support of the updated Mobile Phone policy. The vast majority of discussions I have had with parents have been supportive and positive and on the few occasions where concerns have been raised, they have been easily clarified. It has been pleasing to witness the change in the grounds with the boys spending more time talking instead of huddling around their phone screens. Ultimately, the policy aims for students to engage with their learning while at school, while also encouraging the development of their interpersonal skills through talking and connecting during recess and lunch. Special thanks to the boys for the manner in which they have conducted themselves. We have all appreciated the way they have adapted to the changes and worked with their teachers to ensure a positive outcome.

Finally, congratulations to the Year 10 students who have stood up in the absence of the Years 11 and 12 boys, who have been completing exams. It has been wonderful to see the way they have taken to leading the Marching and completing duties around the College. I look forward to continued and greater leadership from this group of boys.

Mr Dean Shadgett
Head of Senior School