Seeing the end from the beginning… 

At St Andrew’s Cathedral School, we encourage students to see the end from the beginning. This is as important an idea for each lesson, as it is for each year of primary or secondary school and indeed the whole of schooling itself. 

In terms of the whole, students who have an idea of what they would like to engage in when they leave school are more motivated for the learning journey. Across a year, students who have set clear, meaningful goals, are more motivated to make progress towards those goals. Within a lesson, students who know what success in that lesson looks like, from a worked example, model or success criteria are more likely to achieve success. 

Such a simple concept and yet so powerful in every aspect of the educational journey. 
 

Last Friday evening I attended the Captain's Dinner where I had the great privilege of seeing some of the ends of SACS’ work from the beginning of my Headship. This annual event is when the School Captains and Vice Captains, both past and present, re-connect over dinner (many travelling significant distances to be there). After dinner, each year group gives a mini speech, wherein they share a little of their current study and work; reminisce about their time at SACS and advise the current Captains and Vice Captains how to handle their tenure (usually with great humour!). This year, they were also able to advise me how to handle my incumbency (amazing professional development). Indubitably, it was one of the most moving and inspiring evenings I have ever had. 
 

Beyond the school captains, St Andrew’s Cathedral School as a whole community is just, full of life! Anyone who has ever connected with us in any capacity experiences that. 

The life that is present exists in our learning, that is focused on giving back to life. 

One thing that’s always stood out to me during my time at St Andrew's is the focus on using what you’re taught and applying it to solve the challenges that you see. There’s always an understanding that what you learn has consequences…We really understand what it means …to be able to serve other people.- Dylan Nguyen (OA2021)

It is present in our community, that gives students a sense of belonging for the whole of life. 

It is present in our service, that doesn’t step back from giving students a view of the reality of life. 

It is present everywhere you look and in everything we are, but most importantly it is present because of Christ, the great giver of life: 
 

So, from this new beginning, may your time with us as a whole family, give you life. May you clearly see from what is outlined above, that our ends, whilst focused in part on qualifications, can never simply be reduced to one ATAR or a number of Band 6's. Our ends are infinitely and uniquely sewn into the life of each student and embodied within them as they go on to make their singular mark on life. It is indeed, Life Giving Learning. 


Dr Julie McGonigle 
Head of School 

(Extract from Head of School Newsletter, 21 February 2022)