From the Acting Headmaster

This week we inducted our Senior School Leadership Team for 2023. We are fortunate to have so many young people in our School community who hope to contribute by taking on a portfolio. So, from the outset of this Newsletter piece, let me say thank you to our 2023 Leadership team. I am looking forward to working alongside you. 

With an incoming Leadership team, we also have an outgoing one. Thank you to our 2022 leaders who have served us so well. We look forward to hearing your stories as you step toward your next chapter.  

In my experience, the appointment of student leaders must always come with a two-pronged approach. Firstly, those elected to a role must always look to fulfil their responsibilities to the best of their ability. Secondly, our School must take on the responsibility to select performance-oriented people, position them for maximum impact – and grow them.

To do this, we have listened to and acted on the experience and research of other significant leaders. Many will be aware of Jim Collins' book Good to Great. In this book, Collins talks about getting the right people on the bus and getting them in the right seat. To do so, sometimes, we must make sure that we allow the leadership model to serve us rather than us serving the leadership model. 

This year, we have acted on this advice by appointing our captains and four vice-captains. Why? Because our leadership model is about providing an opportunity for growth, influence and contribution. If the capacity is there, then we should leverage it. The young people who presented as candidates each brought something unique to the table, so we asked ourselves, "why would we eliminate two?"  We now have six leaders who will widen the influence of students, provide more volume to our students' voices, and can lead the 2023 leadership team in a collaborative and hopeful manner. 

We are responsible for training our young people beyond academics and study. These things are essential, and focusing on them will never fade at Blue Mountains Grammar School. But how rich does our work become as parents, teachers and caregivers when we reach beyond the simple structures of school and build a culture where our young people learn to lead boldly and courageously? 

The catch-cry of the Global Leadership Summit is this; "When a leader gets better, everybody wins." At Blue Mountains Grammar School, we will look to grow every student with the capacity to go out and change the world. 

Mr Steven Coote 

Acting Headmaster