From the Head

Celebrating 50 Years of Community Connection

This year our community celebrates 50 years of serving and educating the wonderful young people of Bunbury and the South West region.

From humble beginnings, our School has flourished to become the benchmark for day and boarding schooling in the South West, attracting families and students from across Australia and the world. Families who send their children to Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School know that they are investing in a high-quality allround education focusing on academic excellence, with an approach centred on positive relationships and care. Our history shapes what we do today because of the journey and the efforts of those who have preceded us. As we honour our past, we know that from this we must also shape our future. Following two years of consultation with students, parents and staff, our campus masterplan has been approved; this inspiring 30-year plan, focussed on campus rejuvenation and building development, will be published later this year. While the physical environment is important, the bold vision that shaped our founding in 1972 prioritised the wellbeing of all in our School community. A reflection that was made on the occasion of the School’s 41st year described it as a “positive and purposeful place, where good relationships and a shared sense of purpose combine to form a strong community.” Nine years later, as we celebrate our 50th year and plan for the next 50 years, community and connection remain central to everything we do. We know that relationships are the bedrock of any learning partnership. What is changing is education, especially in a post COVID world. We have learned that connections do not always have to be in person, although it is preferable most of the time. We have learned that the fixed time and place of timetables and classrooms need to be reimagined. We know that we are no longer solely training students for point in time tests and examinations, but rather a holistic and authentic education, preparing students for the many pathways they will take, entering the dynamic workforce of the future, ready with all the skills that employers want and expect— innovators, entrepreneurs, collaborators, ethical citizens, and effective communicators.

Our graduates are, and will continue to be, lifelong learners who are confident, creative, resilient, and responsible change makers, ready to make their mark on the world.

Mr Matthew O’Brien :: Head of School