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Head of Secondary School Update

College Blog Head of Secondary School Update
27 May 2021

In this week's article, Head of Secondary School/Deputy Headmaster Greg Atterton discusses the recent Parent Masterclass, EduCook and more.

Parent Masterclass- Relationships and Sexuality Education
Thank you to the many parents who attended the recent Parent Masterclass with Dr Tessa Opie. Feedback from parents on the night and post the event has been very positive, however parents also commented that they are keen to gain more practical examples of how they might instigate conversation and support their children about the importance of respectful relationships and sexuality education. This will remain a focus moving forward as further details and information is shared with our parent community. Dr Opie spoke with all students in Years 10, 11 and 12 at separate year level presentations this week and presentations to Middle School students will follow next term. Whilst partnering with an expert in the field is highly beneficial, it is only one component of our strategy to improve the overall pastoral experience for our students. The working party is currently exploring new ways to engage students in the pastoral curriculum and provided training to staff to improve program delivery. Data and feedback received through the recent student survey (Years 10 – 12) will be invaluable as we look to tailor our program to meet the needs of our students. Furthermore, the working party plans to clearly articulate the scope and sequence of respectful relationships and sexuality education across the College (Reception to Year 12), carefully taking into account the age and stage of learners as they progress through their schooling. I look forward to sharing further developments with you in due course.

Weekly dinner with our boarders
One of my highlights of the week is to enjoy dinner with our boarders. I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to talk with them about their interests, hear of their goals and aspirations, learn about their home life and listen to their ideas on how we might improve the boarding and school experience for both students and staff. Whilst sharing a meal together, I am often inspired by the way our students openly discuss the ways they support one another and meet the challenges that come with studying away from home. Our boarders bring to our College such a wealth of unique experiences and valuable insights that we can all gain a great deal from.

EduCook
Recently, I had the opportunity to observe our young Year 8 MasterChef’s in action as they participated in our unique EduCook program. Throughout the week, our students learnt valuable cooking and meal preparation skills, important dietary and nutritional information and how to confidently pitch their small business ideas to a parent audience. Furthermore, students showed the importance of working as team and what can be achieved when we cooperate and work together to achieve a common goal. I must admit I was slightly concerned that our students were unlikely to be ready to welcome their parents for lunch when I surveyed the state of the kitchen with only 15 minutes to go. However, my fears were quickly put to rest as they pulled it all together and provided a wonderful culinary experience for all who attended. Our students were very proud of their efforts and rightfully so. I trust that many families are now enjoying putting our students’ newfound skills into action and parents are regularly enjoying a night off cooking.

Greg Atterton
Deputy Headmaster/Head of Secondary School

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