Headmaster's Blog

The Academic Report Writing Season - time in; gains out?
June 14 2013

The report writing process in every school is a major undertaking. By understanding the process we can start to question the learning gains for the time applied.

A School’s Ethos is the corner stone of Cultural Intelligence
June 06 2013

Cultural Intelligence is owned by a community. It is framed around a School's vision - or ethos. It is owned by all members of the community. It is aligned with the proverb: It takes a village to raise a child.

The intangibles of true learning - our terroir
April 10 2013

A focus on the French wine term, terroir, highlights clear similarities with holistic education. We need to engage in understanding the intangibles - the fragility of the quality - and our responsibility in sustaining a school's 'culture'.

Obesity and calories - the distance you need to go
April 05 2013

Obesity and calories - how far do you need to go to burn off the calories from a Big Mac meal?

Passion, determination, practice and talent
April 04 2013

Practice makes perfect and is a key ingredient for talent - but talent relies not so much on innate birth-rites but more to do with passion and determination.

What do our Children Need for the Future?
March 20 2013

Education is shaped by a focus on the future - what our learners will require as adults. This is social engineering for improved living standards. From the ancient Greeks to the Renaissance, we have created the best curriculum to meet our needs. But with the rapid changes in technology, lifestyle and provisions - what do our children now need for the future? Seven ideas are conveyed for debate.

Discipline is to learn
March 09 2013

Discipline originates from the Latin discere, to learn. There is a dichotomy between wanting to guide, develop and correct, as opposed to wanting to punish and restrict. This opposition extends to where we want to care for the individual and where we must support the greater good: the community. Consider the penal reformist, Lt Alexander Maconochie - "the father of parole".

Playful Engaged Learning
February 20 2013

Learning is organic and diverse - it has to be as people are diverse. The key to good learning is engagement. As Carl Rogers states: "I am talking about LEARNING - the insatiable curiosity that drives the adolescent boy to absorb everything he can see or hear or read". At Tudor House Preparatory School we offer a unique program which forms the foundation for future success. We offer what parents (considered the primary teacher) cannot. We are committed to a balanced academic program of excellence that engages and challenges. Play is not removed from learning - it is at the core of curiosity and exploration. Our adventures last a lifetime.

Good sport is more than winning
February 13 2013

Being a good sport is more a character focus than simply being victorious. With the doping scandal sweeping a broad brush over elite athletes, perhaps we need to reflect and consider the foundation years - the school years - and ask some questions about our expectations for boys to take supplements such as protein shakes.

Living our Values - Respect, Responsibility, Relationships
February 11 2013

A school thrives on the entire community safeguarding and role-modelling key values. At Tudor House Preparatory School, these values are based on the new 3Rs: Respect, Responsibility, Relationships.

Leadership - service for others
December 09 2012

Leadership is encouraged in every Year Six student at Tudor House via our unique Senior Student Award. It involves understanding what makes a good leader - and emphasises the importance of service to others.

Homework - that hoary chestnut
November 28 2012

What role should homework play in our primary children's learning? Some thoughts on "The Project" from a musing Headmaster.

Confidence is the Key to Success
November 08 2012

A discourse on confidence, opportunities, risk and how standards deprive the beauty of difference.

Why Learning should be Wonder-full!
October 24 2012

Engagement is key to learning, and there is a difference between learning and performing. Education should develop learning via deep thinking.

Why Worry?
October 17 2012

Worry is the greatest concern we have. With mental health statistics scaring us of our children's prospective future well-being, we need to contemplate our concerns. Worry is really a lack of confidence. If we are confident, worries become challenges. The greatest education is preparation for a successful future - developing confidence is a major key!

The Teenage Brain by Abby Baird
September 18 2012

A great discussion on the teenage brain, with a focus on the differences between male and female brains.

The Amazing Thoughts Born from Language
August 29 2012

An exploration of language engages the mind and expands our consciousness.

Curiosity is the foundation of enquiry
August 08 2012

Curiosity: the basis of enquiry - Alice in Wonderland worries of losing her feet, a Mars Landing, recalcitrant media on Olympic medals and the panic that sets in. Let's get things in perspective!!

What Corrupts Quality Teaching?
August 05 2012

Instead of reviewing what makes a quality teacher or quality school, let's consider also what corrupts quality teaching. Here I present my reflections on The Ten Corruptions of Teaching in the hope it may lead to contemplation and debate. These are by no means complete but will lead to reflection and engagement in our own teaching practice.

Sustaining a School’s Culture
August 04 2012

A school's culture is sustained by each member of our community. It is a fragile phenomenon and exists in our minds. It is displayed and replicated in our actions. Passing on our cultural heritage is an important element of our traditional school, a school with over 115 years of heritage.

Education takes time - no short term lens sees the layers
August 02 2012

Why are we always trying to see value-added with a short-term lens? With the debate around quality education, we are looking micro rather than macro. Expand your horizons and base your expectations on decades not months.

Tudor House is confident it delivers an education for a lifetime.
July 26 2012

Boys' education is quality education. Sometimes we see value-added as a short-term objective based on 'outcomes'. At Tudor House our heritage, and traditions, deliver confidence and a sense of place, and we see the benefit via our Old Boys, who still return nostalgically to remember their school. Education - holistic education - is a long term investment of a lifetime for a lifetime.

The reasoning behind being active for good learning
July 24 2012

Tudor House offers holistic education based on sound research and experience. With over 115 years educating boys, Tudor is a school where boys thrive. Read on and see the intentional use of good research underpins our practice.

Boys underachieving still in Literacy but ahead in Numeracy
July 20 2012

Latest 2011 NAPLAN data from Australia mirrors global trends. Boys are underachieving in Literacy compared to girls but are still outperforming girls in Numeracy.

Heroes are role models
June 13 2012

The loss of my favourite author last week made me reflect on heroes.

NAPLAN - are we hiding something?
May 14 2012

As I call into question NAPLAN, many conspiracy heads may feel we are trying to hide poor results. I think you will find our value-added means we are in a position to voice concerns. NAPLAN erodes holistic engaged and active learning. Read on...

Is NAPLAN improving schooling?
May 11 2012

The Big Bad Wolf dressed up as Granny in order to eat Little Red Riding Hood is a harrowing allegory we could well assign to SATs – Standardised Assessment Tests. NAPLAN – The National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy – commences next week for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. A discourse follows on the key question we should all ponder: Does high-stake standardised testing improve education?

We Should be Concerned for our Boys
April 25 2012

Globally, our education systems are failing many boys. Boys are under-achieving. The issues need to be raised and considered so we can address what is hindering the potential academic opportunities that impact on all our sons.

The Revolution of Technology in Education
March 30 2012

The Revolution of Technology in Education reviews the amazing changes that have occurred in education, and the speed with which technology is changing the learning needs for the 21st Century. From the advent of the blackboard in 1801 to Google glasses in 2012, our kids are living in hyper times. Our kids are the data-driven.

What is the Tudor experience?
March 20 2012

Tudor House School prepares boys for life - and the proof is in the pudding, with old boys referring nostalgically that the things they learnt at Tudor House School stayed with them for life. Such fond memories from just two or three years at Australia's only stand-alone primary boarding school for boys in Years 5 and 6 reiterate the benefits of such a well-rounded education. There can be no compromise on childhood.

Cooperation - what we can learn from geese
March 14 2012

We can learn a lot by being observant of others - and not just people. Geese and their migratory flights teach us more about collaboration and cooperation. The power of the group is much greater than the individual in many ways.

Conformity as an Ideology
February 22 2012

Are we ideologically wanting sameness because we don't like people having more? Is the focus on aiming for the average pulling down to raise from the bottom? No matter what your view, it is clear the political drive to offer 'sameness' in education will reduce our diversity. It is those who are different who make a difference. Move on from the politics - let's just focus on the best we can for our children's education - and opportunity.

Bullying Awareness - Social Emotional Learning
February 14 2012

Quality schools look to educate life long learners. The keys to success stretch beyond numeracy and literacy. Social and emotional development are vital factors for a community to thrive. Bullying awareness is an important foundation on which to develop acceptable behaviours that are positive and supportive of others.

John Stewart’s presentation on Learning at Tudor House
November 19 2011

This presentation focuses on the needs of modern learners, and how Tudor House has carefully considered its curriculum and programs to meet the challenges of learning for life in the 21st Century. We focus on the New 3Rs - Respect, Responsibility, Relationships. To sum this up, we challenge all our boys to "Think Beyond Yourself". There are eight strategic pillars: Spirituality, Emotional Intelligence, Sociability, Academics, Physicality, Creativity, Environmental Awareness and Technological Proficiency.

Why consider Tudor House? The many layers of opportunity outlined.
November 17 2011

Tudor House has eight strategic pillars: Spirituality, Emotional Intelligence, Sociability, Academics, Physical, Creativity, Environmental and Technological. These pillars are used to guide our offerings - they accentuate our focus on specialising in boys' education.

Social Emotional - Education for the future
November 09 2011

What is the most important thing we can give our children? This question will trigger many considerations and experiences. Some of us when pondering this question will return to our own upbringing – the positives of what was done well and the negatives: the things we want to change. We will reflect.

The affective teacher is an effective teacher
November 02 2011

A broad education needs to consider the emotional and social as well as filling the brain with content. Community starts with social learning. The significant social institution into which kids are plugged is school.

Boys thrive on risk: the importance of play
October 21 2011

Tudor House stands up for free play! EQ - emotional intelligence - is more important than IQ. Schools need to offer greater opportunities for joy, wonder and challenge. Social skills and emotional growth come from unstructured play and risks.

Learning for Life - after school care
October 19 2011

Learning for Life is a new initiative commencing in 2012. It will open the school up to the wider community for after school programmes that are exciting, challenging and engaging. With too many children plugged into computer multimedia nannies, Tudor wants to offer holistic opportunities for boys and girls. We bring back broad learning opportunities enjoyed when we were children. If it was okay for us - it still works for kids!

Creative Thinking - the world of our imagination
October 17 2011

Two great video links that will have you thinking big thoughts. Creative and full of wonder and awe. This is what we need to engage learners - big thinking that opens ideas on a myriad of levels.

Why we should promote life-long learning
October 15 2011

Watch this video and understand we are ALL learners. We should engage, challenge and stimulate minds. Become a thinking place not a bus-stop for picking up knowledge. Learning is about living. We educate so we can lead people into new realms, new dreams and to be better.

Boys Schools are academically better than Co-Education institutions
October 12 2011

Single-sex schools are better than co-educational. This is a view we should all reflect upon because at its heart is not a sexist argument, not a tall poppy worry based on elite ‘private schools’, but an important consideration: How can we improve our academic standards?

The Risk of Risk
September 21 2011

With the conclusion of this year's successful, exciting and much-loved Billy Cart Derby, the headmaster asks whether it is time we assessed risk based on the risk of losing a learning opportunity as well as the risk of hurt.

NAPLAN or NAPALM?
September 14 2011

NAPLAN has been released this week. Such a high-stake test gives a good snapshot for schools on their curriculum developments and progress but I remain a critic for obvious reasons.

Every Day is Fathers’ Day
September 12 2011

Being a dad is not easy - and why should it be? We gain the greatest rewards learning from each other. Fathers are special and play a vital role in developing better dads for tomorrow's community.

Confidence - How Important is this for success?
September 01 2011

Confidence. What a great quality for Tudor boys. What an important element for learning.

Launching The Learning Hub
August 25 2011

After 12 months careful planning, launching The Learning Hub is a dream come true.

What does “Boys’ Education” really mean?
August 15 2011

Why should we consider a boys education model for the Primary age group? What is the value in educating boys in a boys-only environment? I am sure all parents, at some stage, have been asked why they chose a boys’ school.

Residential Schools - Boarding
August 01 2011

For young people boarding schools have gained allure through popular fiction such as the Harry Potter series but they can evoke strong responses - mainly among parents.

The Affective Teacher is an Effective Teacher
July 04 2011

I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate.

18 Rules for Living
June 24 2011

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

Abraham Lincoln’s letter to his son’s teacher
June 03 2011

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish Politician, there is a dedicated leader…

Education - the research that challenges us
May 29 2011

It is all too easy to presume and expect. We believe we should act on what has been researched...

School Counsellor’s Address to Grandparents
May 12 2011

"Everyone should be a grandparent before they're a parent." I don't know who first put together this genetically impossible advice, but they're right you know.