Wellbeing - Senior School
During the recent IBSC Conference in Adelaide I was privileged to listen to the final keynote address from a former St Peter’s College student Andrew Lee, who has now returned as a parent. After graduating Andrew pursued an extraordinary course of study at Sydney Law School, Harvard Law School, Stanford Law School, The Hague Academy of International Law, and Peking University Law School.
Across a distinguished legal career, Andrew has worked in Geneva, Switzerland, practising human rights and criminal defence law, before relocating to China where he represented people facing the death penalty and contributed to death-penalty legal reform.
His address, titled More than Metrics: Three hopes for my son’s education, invited delegates to reflect on what matters most in schooling today. Andrew acknowledged that, like many parents, he and his wife initially considered traditional measures such as academic results when choosing a school. Yet, he noted that the changing landscape of education and the increasing complexity of the challenges faced by students has altered his perceptions. He reflected that families rightly want schools that go beyond academics and help shape character and judgment in everyday moments: how our boys behave on dates, how they conduct themselves with friends on a weekend, and how they respond respectfully when they hear a Welcome to Country.
Andrew explained his three hopes for his son:
That he learns failure can be fuel for success. Andrew shared an anecdote about missing out on a Rhodes Scholarship - an experience that ultimately opened a different pathway, leading him to study at Harvard and Stanford. His message was clear: failure is not always a measure of effort, and it can become a catalyst for growth.
That he never loses the ability to ask for help. Andrew described how some of his most significant professional breakthroughs came from seeking support from others. Asking for help, he emphasised, is not emotional weakness; it is the purposeful gathering of resources needed to achieve a goal.
That it is not only what he does for himself, but what he does for others. Reflecting on service - particularly to those less fortunate, Andrew observed that the trophies and awards that once mattered now sit in a box, while his deepest satisfaction has come from helping others who were imprisoned and required legal representation.
Andrew’s reflections resonate strongly with our students as they participate in academic, co-curricular and service activities. As a parent, I have similar hopes for my own children and as a staff member at the College I hope to develop these qualities within the students with whom I interact.
Each day, boys might flick past the ‘Ideal Graduate’ statements in their diary or walk by the classroom poster - yet I encourage boys, and their parents, to pause, re-read and aim to put those aspirations into practice through small, everyday choices.
Robert Simpson
Director of Senior School