St andrew’s college
RECTOR – CHRISTINE LEIGHTON
Anew strategic direction at St Andrew’s College, called Framing our Future, combines the best of the past with the possibilities of the future, says Rector Christine Leighton. ‘We have great respect for the College’s long history and proud traditions, and are also focused on creating new opportunities to inspire future generations. The bold vision of our new strategic direction is to be at the leading edge of high performance educational practice, in a community which values caring for others, tradition, and creativity, in order to provide young people with the roots and wings to flourish in an ever-changing world.’
St Andrew’s already has a strong reputation for excellence in academic, sporting and cultural pursuits.
Christine was delighted with the College’s outstanding academic success in 2018, which she says is up there with the best schools in the country. ‘A group of 24 students achieved 43 New Zealand Scholarships between them, including 13 Outstanding Scholarships. Three of our Year 13 students gained a place in the top 50 students nationwide, including College Dux, Russell Boey, who was among the top 11 scholars in New Zealand. This was an exceptional achievement.’
Individual athletes and sports teams from the College regularly win South Island and New Zealand titles, with
recent success at these levels including girls’ volleyball, mixed and boys’ tennis, mixed adventure racing, athletics, and rowing.
Late last year, St Andrew’s’ highly successful Pipe Band were runners-up at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland. Students regularly achieve at a regional or national level in other cultural pursuits.
St Andrew’s College is the only independent school offering coeducational boarding in the South Island, with students well catered for in state-of-the art boarding houses with caring staff, who provide a genuine home away from home.
‘Our boarding team, led by Director of Boarding, Matt Parr, understands that boarding is a significant life change for students and their families. They are dedicated to providing a friendly, safe environment, from which the boarders can fully immerse themselves in school life. Everything they do revolves around supporting the students’ number one objective for being at St Andrew’s College, to get an excellent education.’
Christine says boarders at St Andrew’s develop a wide range of life skills from communal living, such as socialisation, organisational skills, and resourcefulness. ‘We refer to the “Boarders’ Advantage” at St Andrew’s, which is something we strongly believe in.’
Having learnt in a co-educational environment herself, Christine is a great advocate for girls and boys learning alongside one another. ‘We see lots of healthy friendships among the boys and girls, and between the different age groups at the College. I believe a co-educational environment is the best way to prepare young people for their future.’
Innovation and technology is another strong focus at St Andrew’s, along with student well-being, and helping them to develop a positive mindset. ‘Our Positive Education and Well-being programme guides our students to not only cultivate their intellectual minds, but to also develop a broad set of character strengths, virtues and competencies which will help them to flourish in life well beyond secondary school.’
Innovation and technology is a strong focus, along with student well-being, and helping them to develop a positive mindset.