Deputy Principal

Consistency is the Key

Most students have settled in now to the academic year and as we approach the middle of the term, assessment tasks will start to be due over the coming weeks. Thinking back to our High Achievers' Assembly, having taught a lot of those students myself in Economics, I cannot help to think that there are some key elements to successful academic outcomes for our students.

Happiness: in order for our students to learn effectively they must be happy. It is very hard to concentrate in class and immerse yourself in learning if you are not happy. Therefore, our students’ social/emotional wellbeing is paramount. Our pastoral care system’s prime focus is your son’s happiness. If we get this right, then we can start to concentrate on your son’s academics. Remember, as I have written before, this is a partnership.
Organisation: ensure your son has a space to do his homework. My preference is somewhere that is visible, especially for our younger students. As our young men develop, then doing their homework/study in their rooms may be the best option. If your sons are using their diary to write down their homework as well as when their assessments are due, then they will be able to plan out their time more effectively.
Routine: boys do well when they have routine. They will notoriously fight routine as they want to assert their independence. However, my experience is that they need routine. They should have a plan for the week and stick to it. This allows them to plan time for their academic, co-curricular and social aspects of their lives. It is important that our young men have a balance across all these spheres.
Sleep: sometimes we underestimate the power of sleep. It is essential that our young men get enough sleep so that they can function at their best the next day. The SleepHealth organisation recommends that our students up to the age of 13 get 11 hours of sleep per night while our older students should be seeking 10 hours of sleep. Remember, to get a good night’s sleep our students must be free of distractions. And yes, I will say it again, they should not have technology in their room.
Feedback: often in class teachers give feedback on a student’s work or on the class’s work. Our young men need to stay focused and listen to that feedback. We all seek feedback in our lives as it generally helps us to improve. The same happens for your son regarding his schoolwork. He must be open to feedback and try to ensure that he uses that feedback to improve his academic outcomes.

Those students who walk across the stage at the High Achievers' Assembly do not just get there by chance. They did so by years of hard work and putting the principles above into practice. Sometimes our students in Years 11 and 12 think it is too late to start. The truth is that it is obviously better for our boys to start putting these practices into place in their early years. However, it is never too late to start. Remember that a ‘Liberating Education’ is about improving educational outcomes for all and leaving no-one behind. Our students, our learners in partnership with yourselves and the school need to take some responsibility for their own learning. If they can do this then they will ensure that they continue to open up more opportunities for themselves in the future.

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal