On the academic front, one of Garth’s first appointments, Joe Eccleton – now the Executive Principal – has already played a role in ensuring the academic programme best meets boys’ needs in 2024. “While the academic programme has always been a great strength of College, it probably needed some refreshment when I arrived,” Garth says. “In a coincidental piece of good fortune, I appointed the next Assistant Principal – Curriculum, Joe Eccleton, in my first term. Joe was asked to consider whether our curriculum was fit for purpose. “From that came the creation of the Centre for Teaching Excellence & Research (CTER) and, by connection, the introduction of the College Diploma. While the reflection that led to those outcomes was initiated by Joe, the Diploma was implemented by Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning Nicole Billante, CTER members, and the entire staff, and has been a great success for boys in the middle years of high school.” Garth has remained committed to the College academic programme being “first among equals”, supported by a “rich co-curricular programme”. He believes that ‘Each boy at his best’ is reflected in a balanced, fun, school experience. “We now have more subjects to choose from in the upper school and the Diploma is based on the motivation that a wider choice of interesting and engaging subjects is a much better option than doing
exam after exam,” he explains. “Replacing NCEA Level 1 with our Diploma has been a strong motivator for our boys' learning. “Meanwhile, our College Graduate
outcomes from our 2020 strategic plan aligned our character- focused introduction of Round Square membership. The IDEALS of Round Square began to
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