Education Matters

By Tim Bowden, Head Master, Trinity Grammar School

The start of a new school year presents the opportunity for reflection and new beginnings. My particular welcome to those students, parents and staff who are new to the School this year. My hope and prayer is that your time with us will be challenging, rewarding, encouraging and positive.

By Tim Bowden, Head Master, Trinity Grammar School

We recently announced a significant change to the Cadet Unit at Trinity; that is, from the start of 2019 Meriden students will join the Trinity Cadet Unit.

By Tim Bowden, Head Master, Trinity Grammar School

This year the Houses in the Secondary School stood in a different location for the morning Quadrangle Assembly. I imagine that those words will have a different impact on different members of the community. Comments I have heard have ranged from ‘So what?’, through ‘This is weird!’, through to ‘I stood there, and my father stood there before me.’

By Tim Bowden, Head Master, Trinity Grammar School

We are entering, once again, into a political debate about school funding. The education of children will become a contested battleground. The metaphor of ‘battle’ is appropriate, because there will be sides, alliances, winners and losers, and a high likelihood that the same territory will continue to be contested into the future.

The terrain of school funding in Australia has a long and complex history, and I don’t know that it can be retold here. However, it may be worthwhile providing some facts about school funding in Australia and three landmarks to help orientate yourself to the debate.

By Mr Tim Bowden, Head Master, Trinity Grammar School

As a Christian school, Trinity understands that the essence of leadership is service. Therefore, in aspiring to lead, we are aspiring to serve. Service is not always convenient, it is not always acknowledged, and it is not always enjoyable. Leadership requires us to do what is right, not what is popular, and to stand up when it would be more comfortable to stand back. Leadership roles require us to sacrifice time and to shoulder additional work. Nonetheless, service is honourable, and I am pleased that many of our young men indicate their willingness to serve in this way.

By Tim Bowden, Head Master Trinity Grammar School

In recent weeks the Commonwealth Games have been rolling on in the background of my family’s consciousness. I must admit that we haven’t paid very much attention, being vaguely aware that Australia continues to dominate in the swimming and that, overall, people seem to be having a good time. However, we did make a big effort to be in front of the screen with Trinity Grammar School Old Boy, Rohan Browning (Class of 2015) competing on the athletics track.

Recently at assembly, I addressed the topic of uniforms with the students. In the short time that I have been at the School, uniform has already been raised as a topic of discussion. Students tend to be more interested in potential modifications to the uniform, of challenging the reasonableness of an aspect of the uniform, or the introduction of more mufti days. Some parents want to let me know how smart the students look, or how slovenly the students look. Some teachers want me to know either that they are tired of being the only ones to maintain standards, or that they think we are focussing too much on the externals and we should relax.

By Tim Bowden, Head Master, Trinity Grammar School

The School recently celebrated International Women’s Day. I addressed the Middle and Senior students on the topic at a Quad assembly; the text of my speech is below.

You will have noticed a large banner for International Women’s Day, which has been hanging over the Quad. I know that a number of you have been wondering ‘Why?’ Why are we focussing on International Women’s Day? After all, aren’t we a boys’ school? Let me give you three reasons why all-boys schools should focus on International Women’s Day.

By Mr Tim Bowden, Head Master Trinity Grammar School

I read a book recently called The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath. They have attempted to analyse why it is that some moments in life make a profound impact on us. As with their other books, they use stories to illustrate and illumine their theses, and they also demonstrate the capacity to articulate their ideas into brief and compelling phrases. I won’t attempt to summarise their book, but I certainly recommend it as an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.