From the Interim Headmaster
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2
Dear Students, Parents and Carers
At Shore, we aim for excellence in all things. This is our commission and is what parents, carers and students would expect of us. Excellence is not always easy to attain, but is recognisable when it occurs. This excellence was on show at the Shore HSC OnStage Drama group performance on Friday evening and again at sport on Saturday, particularly in the enormous effort required to defeat Newington in both the First and Second XV Rugby fixtures. Congratulations to all boys, teachers and coaches for this cultural and sporting excellence and well done to our First XI who were just pipped at the post.
There is a good body of research findings that reveal what produces this level of academic quality in schools. Most of it centres around the attributes of teachers in their classrooms. Australia’s best known education academic, Professor John Hattie, has indicated through extensive research studies at an international level that the effect of the teacher in the classroom comprises approximately 30% of the attainment level of the student. There are of course various other contributing factors, one of the most sizable of which is the impact parents have on their child.
Research shows that great teachers exhibit a deep mastery of their subject knowledge, a passion and a love for their subject, and a deep interest in their students, not just as scholars (although that is very important) but as people. Hence, this interest extends to their pastoral welfare and their co-curricular activities. Such teachers do not operate as ‘silos’ but are supported by strong and collaborative faculties. Very successful teachers understand that the HSC is a ‘game’ with its own rules, protocols and culture and, therefore, they equip their students to navigate this terrain well. However, their interest goes beyond the particular vicissitudes of the HSC, as they aim for deep learning, mastery and the equipping of their students with content, skills and understanding which will be applicable through and beyond the HSC, into the tertiary sphere. Such outstanding teachers have an easy rapport with, and great respect from their students. They use classroom learning time efficiently and set highly focused assignments which contribute to the necessary comprehensive learning.
My early observations at Shore indicate that we have many of these great teachers. That is not to suggest we rest on our laurels. The correct approach is to look for continuous improvement so that as a School we do not go ‘off the boil’. This laser-like focus on excellence is a wonderful way we can serve the interest of our boys. Developing and sustaining excellence of this kind is not just a matter for the Year 12 academic year, but needs to extend down into the earlier years of Senior School and indeed to Preparatory. We need to take a long run at excellence.
Outstanding education should be transformative. Paul the Apostle writes, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). It seeks to influence and shape not just the mind but the whole person. This is within the scope of what Paul meant. We seek to lift boys above and beyond conforming to the superficial and transient culture of peer groups as, in partnership with parents and carers, we aim to develop young adults of substance and character who can be leaders in our world. I hope for many that this transformation will include embracing a Christian worldview. These decisions about life purpose of course are theirs to make as emerging adults and later to be confirmed in the full experience of adult life.
Dr John Collier
Interim Headmaster
