Welcome from the Headmaster

School is about children – we are in the profession to assist children grow and develop.    I believe every child has talent and it is the responsibility of each staff member to work with both parents and children to help maximise the talents and opportunities for all students.

At Grammar, we are committed to the development of inquiring, lifelong learners. This involves attention to all facets of a child's personality: physical, emotional, moral, spiritual, cultural as well as intellectual.   Children should be constantly encouraged to strive to improve themselves and their results, and not be content to settle for less than their real ability.   As teachers, we are entrusted with a professional responsibility, a fidelity to, a loyalty to, an ideal of both excellence and quality in teaching that leads to achievements by students.  Consequently, at Grammar, we have the opportunity to foster and develop in students the qualities often found to be lacking in today's society - the pursuit of individual excellence, the desire to be valuable and decent citizens with a zest for living.

Sunshine Coast Grammar School provides for the social and emotional development of students.   Society needs young men and women who are mature, who question gender stereo-typing and who respect the rights of all.   At Grammar, we encourage the development of talents in an environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves and striving for excellence. A good school will provide the opportunity for many teaching methodologies to be employed with the dominant methodologies being those that suit the particular students.   Students need, however, guidelines and structures within which to work and learn. I believe the fostering of excellence, life-long learning, creativity and sensitivity and the ability to relate to a wide range of students are key elements of a healthy, tolerant school environment, particularly today in our global world.

I am a firm advocate of the need for schools to provide different educational settings for children dependent upon their age and maturation.   Hence, whilst the overall school philosophy should be evident in all sections of a school, the pre- school, the junior school, the middle school and the senior school, all must be structured to meet the needs of the students and to prepare them for the challenges ahead.

In a world where the values of loyalty and service are often scorned, the Independent Schoolteacher has the opportunity to share these values with the children with whom they come into contact.   At Grammar this should occur not only in the classroom; the various co-curricular, as well as before and after school activities should all provide further opportunities. The concept of the school family, with staff and parents working together, is an extension of this ideal.   The Independent Schoolteacher should be both warm and caring, yet at the same time should be firm and consistent.   This enables the student to develop in a secure environment with recognised boundaries.

 An awareness and understanding of the world our students will face is necessary for all educators.   Through a carefully designed curriculum, schools have the opportunity to prepare children for life.   Although the curriculum should focus on the development of key competencies - the ability to read, write, apply basic mathematical concepts, to use appropriate technology and to think independently and imaginatively, the development of moral values and ethics is also important. At Grammar, we are committed to providing courses that suit the needs of our students.   Students should be both confident and competent in the use of information technology, seeing it as a tool to assist them in their lives.    In today’s functional society, it is very important for schools to foster the creative and dramatic arts.

Please feel free to contact us at Grammar for further information and a tour. 

Nigel J.G. Fairbairn
Headmaster / CEO