From the Principal

As Principal, two things really matter to me: knowing where every one of our students is and that they are safe, and knowing they are genuinely present; focused, curious and ready to learn. These two things are not the same. A student can be on time, in the right room and still half-elsewhere. Our task is to create the conditions in which a child who shows up can give their full attention to the learning in front of them. 

As we've begun rolling out our Teaching and Learning Framework this year, we've examined closely how students arrive at school and what happens once they're here — both how we manage attendance, and what helps or hinders genuine engagement in the classroom. I'd like to share what we've discovered and what we're doing in response. Some changes have started in the Senior School, but the thinking behind them belongs to every family at Girton, regardless of your child's age, and many of these decisions have been influenced by your feedback in surveys and focus groups over the last few years. 

Senior School warning bell system and travel time 

We introduced a five-minute warning bell and travel time between classes in Senior School this year, and pleasingly, it is already showing results. Lateness to afternoon classes in particular has halved, confirming that building a little more time between lessons was the right decision. Mornings however remain our focus, with lateness to House Mentor rising over the same period. Having settled the rhythm of the day, our attention now turns to starting it well. 

This is where our youngest students matter every bit as much as our oldest. Great classrooms run on momentum built from small, repeated habits, and punctuality is one of the quietly powerful ones. A child who learns to arrive settled and ready is laying a foundation that will carry them through every classroom and well beyond school. The habits formed in these early years become the ones we carry into adulthood, where arriving prepared and on time is among the simplest and most universally valued marks of professionalism, reliability and respect for others' time.

Senior School student Late Pass trial  

In Term 3 we will trial a Late Pass system in the Senior School for classes in the Morey Building. The aim is simple: to help students take ownership of their own punctuality and build the habit of arriving on time and ready to begin. 

A student arriving late will collect a pass from the terminal, hand it to their teacher on the way in and slip quietly into their seat, so disruption to learning is kept to a minimum for others. The small act of collecting a pass invites a moment of reflection, and over time, we hope that awareness prompts students to think about their arrival and adjust their habits. Accountability is built in and lates will be monitored and followed up, so students who need additional support to meet this expectation will receive it. 

Attendance at Co-Curriculum and Instrumental Music (Junior and Senior School) 

From Term 3 we're introducing a new digital tool called Clipboard to help track attendance at Junior and Senior School Co-Curriculum Programs and Instrumental Music in one place. Co-curricular activities are an integral part of a Girton education, and attendance is expected just the same as in the classroom. The tool came in part from our review of the Co-Curriculum Programs and feedback from parents of Instrumental Music students, who told us that a missed lesson sometimes went unnoticed until it appeared on school fees. Clipboard gives us the ability to notify parents promptly when any lesson or activity is missed without prior notice, and strengthens our duty of care by ensuring we always know where students are. 

This week students in Years 7 to 11 were invited to select their Co-Connect A and A/B activities for Semester 2 through Clipboard for the first time. 

Review of technology and device use in Senior School 

Finally, we've undertaken a review of how students use devices during school, with the view that technology should support learning rather than detract from it.This is a conversation for all of us, not just parents with teenagers. As I'm sure you're aware, smartphones and devices have become one of the most significant wellbeing challenges facing young people today. As mentioned in previous correspondence, the research is genuinely sobering: even a phone sitting silently in a bag or locker has been shown to erode a student's focus and their ability to retain what they've learnt. 

Our own students have told us the same in their own words; that being constantly connected can affect their concentration, their moods and even their friendships. We've also observed that a number of students are finding ways to stay connected during the day despite Girton's policy to keep phones "off and away" during school hours, using their phones in the toilets and the canteen, despite the supports we have in place to help them switch off. 

As we review our Student Mobile and Electronic Personal Devices Policy, we'd like to hear from parents. We've put together a short survey, particularly relevant for families of students in Years 4 to 12, to gather your views and help us weigh up the options before us. Your voice will genuinely shape where this lands, and we'd be so grateful if you'd share it.

Taken together, these are all really one piece of work. Getting students to class on time is the first step; making sure the classroom they walk into is calm, focused and free of distraction is the next. Both come back to the same belief: that every child deserves the conditions in which they can be fully present and do their best learning. Thank you, as always, for walking this road alongside us, and for helping us create exactly that.  

It has been a full and rewarding term, and our students have given so much of themselves to their learning, their friendships and the life of the school. As the holidays approach, I hope our students use the next three weeks to rest properly, to step away from screens and routines, and to return refreshed and ready for all that Term 3 holds. I wish all our families a safe and happy break, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back next month. 

Dr Emma O'Rielly  

Principal 

Girton Grammar 2025: School Annual Report

The 2025 Annual Report is now available on the Girton website under Publications. 

It offers a wonderful snapshot of the year that was - our students' achievements, the life of the School, and the milestones reached across 2025. 

We warmly invite you to take a look.