From the Principal

The beginning of a school year always brings a sense of promise, but this year that feeling has been accompanied by a deep appreciation for our community. The recent Harcourt fires and the stretch of extreme heat have placed real strain on a number of our Girton families. What stood out, however, was how instinctively our community responded with messages, meals, spare bedrooms and quiet offers of help. It reminded me that strength is not necessarily loud; it’s found in the steady, thoughtful noticing of one another’s needs. 

“The Year of Noticing” is, fittingly, Girton’s theme for 2026. It grew from a story shared at Senior School assembly by 2025 School Captain, Nandini Gangaram. She spoke of arriving at Girton as a new student, feeling painfully out of place, when another student tapped her on the shoulder and said, “You’re new, right? Come sit with us.” That tiny moment reshaped the course of Nandini’s Girton experience. She was noticed, and therefore she belonged. And because she belonged, she could flourish. 

The first days of school are full of similar moments - new faces searching for their footing, returning students rediscovering routine, teachers scanning the room for the child who needs reassurance. Noticing is what transforms these early weeks from simply starting a year to truly joining a community. My hope is that we all practise this art deliberately: looking up, looking around and seeing one another clearly. 

It was a joy to see so many families at our Senior School Welcome Night, hosted by our dedicated Girton Parents and Friends (GPF) and our Junior School Welcome Night. Membership to the GPF (Senior School) and Friends of Junior School (FOJS) is open to all parents and carers, and I warmly encourage you to get involved and embrace this opportunity to be part of the life of the school. I know that the nature of parental involvement shifts as children move into Senior School; we go from chatting under the Peppercorn Tree in Junior School to being instructed to drop our children 20 metres from the gate. But your presence and participation continue to matter enormously, even if your teenager pretends otherwise.  

This year, we are delighted to welcome several new teaching staff to Girton. Each brings fresh ideas, expertise and an enthusiasm for learning. Among them is Mr Wilbur Donovan, our new Head of Teaching and Learning, who will lead the rollout of Girton's new Teaching and Learning Framework. A major focus of this framework is helping students understand how to learn, not just what to learn. Across the year, teachers will be engaging in teaching strategies grounded in neuroscience: how memory works, how to practise effectively, how to space revision, how to manage cognitive load and how to study in ways that lead to real retention (rather than just more hours). Wilbur’s leadership will play an important role in ensuring our students experience a consistent, evidence-informed approach to learning in every classroom.  

In addition to this work, 2026 will also see several important school wide reviews, including technology use in classrooms, an audit and recommendation for AI use, and a full-school uniform review. Thank you to all families who have already contributed thoughtful feedback to theuniform survey,and we look forward to sharing the findings with you soon. 

Finally, to all parents and carers, especially those new to Girton, thank you for entrusting us with your children. It is a privilege to watch them grow, and an honour to walk alongside them. 

Here’s to a year of seeing more, understanding more and lifting one another higher. 

Dr Emma O'Rielly 

Principal