A boarder’s perspective: Charlie Hawthorne (Year 11)

Meet Charlie Hawthorn, a current Year 11 boarding student at The Scots College – located in Bellevue Hill, Sydney. Charlie enjoys various subjects and sports at the College, studying: Advanced English, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Maths, Physics, and Sport Lifestyle and Recreation Studies. Charlie plays the Tenor Drum in the Pipes and Drums and represents the College at Rugby and Cricket. A boarder’s perspective: Charlie Hawthorne (Year 11) Where does your family come from? “My family comes from Ardlethan, a small town in the Riverina which is around an hour drive north of Wagga Wagga.” What year did you start […]

Is pastoral care important in schools?

We hear a lot about pastoral care in education. In a broad sense, most parents can articulate what pastoral care is and recognise why it matters. But what you may not know is that the success of a school’s pastoral care program is linked to students’ academic outcomes. What is Pastoral Care? Pastoral care is defined as the commitment to, and active demonstration of concern for, the growth and wellbeing of each student, as well as the broader school community. It focuses on cultivating an environment and culture that supports the physical, social, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of every student. […]

Why an education philosophy is important in the early years

Early learning centres have a huge responsibility to positively shape your son’s development – and a clear educational philosophy helps. An education philosophy is bigger than the curriculum. It’s bigger even than a school’s values or purpose. An education philosophy underpins all of these elements and gets to the heart of a school’s raison d’être. For a thought-provoking read, this blog goes deeper into what an education philosophy is and why schools need to have one. Here’s a more focused look into why an education philosophy is important in the early years. Why an education philosophy is important in the early years Every […]

Educating for tomorrow through mind, body and spirit

A strong mind and a strong intellect is important, but it doesn’t stop there. In order for a boy to think well and to learn well, he needs to live well. Having a holistic approach by growing a strong body and a strong spirit, in addition to a strong mind, is key to raising up mature young men. Here’s why it’s important:  A strong mind Having a strong mind is all about helping boys flourish in life. We grow their intellect so that they can have a sense of refinement and security, and develop courage and character so that they […]

Experiential learning and the teacher’s role

Gone are the days when it was acceptable for teachers to lecture from the front of a classroom. In today’s modern classroom, rows of desks and passive students are a thing of the past. Education is immersive and two-way, completely transforming the part that is played by the teacher. At a school like Scots – where experiential learning environments are purposefully developed – the teacher’s role is fluid and can change based on the stage of experiential learning, student learning styles, subject area and the teacher’s preference. Here are four common roles that the teacher plays in experiential learning. Teacher as […]

Why your family needs to switch off from technology

Technology has become an enormous part of our daily lives. Whether it is using Facebook to stay up-to-date and connected with friends, using smartphones to take notes on the run, viewing the web from a smart TV, or even buying groceries through products such as Google Home and Amazon’s Alexa, it is hard to deny the impact technology has had on our standard of living. There are certainly advantages for children who use technology – countless literacy and reading apps are highly beneficial in educating children. But for all the good there are also drawbacks that parents need to be aware of, […]

How to teach boys to be adaptable and take risks

Transition, change and uncertainty. This is the world we live in – and there are no signs that we will be changing direction any time soon. Successfully navigating life in the 21st century requires a willingness to embrace change and adapt to new situations. To do this boys need the confidence, emotional intelligence, knowledge and skills to be able to handle the ever-changing landscape. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin Experiential education lends itself well to teaching adaptability […]

Dr William Clark named in the Queen Birthday 2018 Honours List

Dr William Clark, Director of Music at The Scots College from September 1977 until July 2011, has been named in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours List for his service to music education. Dr Clark was awarded a Medal in the General Division (Order of Australia Medal). A well-known choral and orchestral conductor who was also the College’s Art Collector, Dr Clark was Director of Music for nearly 34 years and Boarding Housemaster for 23 years. He studied singing, piano and organ in Australia, and conducting and improvisation in the United Kingdom. The Double Bay resident is a former President of […]

Are your son’s teachers passionate and accomplished?

When you think back to your schooling, you will likely remember teachers that made a impact on your life. Maybe they were really passionate about their subject area, or believed in your ability when others didn’t.Your son spends six or more hours a day, five days a week, with his teachers. Spending so much time together means he will most likely be influenced by them and probably find one or two that become role models. Are your son’s teachers passionate and accomplished? It’s important to know how to identify these traits; here’s what to look for according to Professor John […]