Growing the confidence to lead and the character to serve
At The Cathedral Grammar School, leadership is developed over time.
From Pre-School through to Year 8, students are provided with age-appropriate opportunities to take responsibility, contribute to their community, support others and develop the confidence to lead.
Our approach recognises that leadership begins long before a student is given a formal title. It can be seen when a young child helps another, takes responsibility for a classroom task, speaks in front of others, represents their peers, contributes to a team or takes action to improve their community.
As students progress through the School, these experiences intentionally build upon one another, developing the skills, values and dispositions reflected in the Cathedral Grammar Graduate Profile.
Leadership at every stage
Leadership opportunities are embedded throughout the student journey.
In the early years, students begin by developing independence, confidence and responsibility. They are encouraged to contribute to their class, care for their environment, help others and take opportunities to speak and participate.
As students move through the Junior and Preparatory Schools, opportunities for leadership and service increase. Students take responsibility for classroom and school activities, present at assemblies, support younger students, participate in buddy and mentoring programmes and contribute to the wider life of the School.
In Years 7 and 8, students are given increasing opportunities to lead initiatives, serve the School and wider community, mentor younger students, represent their peers and develop their own understanding of leadership.
Learning through mentoring and service
An important part of leadership development at Cathedral Grammar is learning to support and serve others.
Mentoring and buddy programmes connect students across different ages and areas of the School. Through initiatives such as Tuakana Teina, Poutama Peers and our Year 3 and Year 7 buddy programme, older students develop responsibility, empathy and communication skills while younger students benefit from positive relationships and a stronger sense of belonging.
Service opportunities encourage students to look beyond themselves and consider how their actions can make a positive difference to others.
Through practical experiences within the School and wider community, students develop compassion, initiative, social responsibility and an understanding that leadership is fundamentally about contributing to something greater than themselves.
Leadership in the intermediate years
The Intermediate Years provide an important culmination of the leadership journey at Cathedral Grammar.
Students in Years 7 and 8 are encouraged to take greater responsibility for themselves, others and their School community. Leadership, mentoring, service and opportunities to contribute to school life help students develop confidence, independence and the ability to work alongside and influence others.
Year 7 students begin preparing for senior leadership through responsibilities including road patrol, mentoring younger students and participating in leadership experiences and programmes.
Every Year 8 student at Cathedral Grammar holds a formal leadership role.
These roles reflect the breadth of school life and provide opportunities for students with different strengths, interests and personalities to lead and serve.
Leadership opportunities include Head Girl, Head Boy, Deputy Head Girl and Deputy Head Boy, House Captains, Head Librarians, Head of Sport, Head of Service, Head of Chapel Choir and leadership roles within Chapel, BOSS and Enviroschool committees.
By providing every Year 8 student with meaningful responsibility, we ensure that leadership is not reserved for a small number of students. Every student has the opportunity to contribute, develop their strengths and experience what it means to lead.
Developing our graduate profile
Leadership and service opportunities across Cathedral Grammar are intentionally designed to foster the dispositions of our Graduate Profile.
Through increasing responsibility, mentoring relationships, service, collaboration and formal leadership opportunities, students develop the confidence and character to contribute positively to their communities.
Our aim is that students leave Cathedral Grammar understanding that leadership is not simply a position or title.
Leadership is the confidence to step forward, the character to serve others and the responsibility to make a positive difference.