Sandy Goddard – Senior Boarding Housemaster

It is now my 8th Year in Boarding at Canberra Grammar School and 19th at the School.

My first boarding experience was at the Armidale School in NSW where I was residential Duty Master for a couple of years. I then taught for a brief period at Shore in Sydney before coming to Canberra Grammar School, where again I was a Resident Tutor for 2 years.

Now married with three young children I am the Senior Boarding Housemaster.

I think one of the most privileged positions in education is being given the responsibility to help care and support students as they progress from young boys into young adults. The relationships formed with families and their sons is unique as you work with parents to ensure the years boys spend away from home is productive and character building.

Our students develop a level of independence where they are responsible for their actions. They have their schooling to consider and duties to perform. As part of a ‘family’ they learn tolerance, compassion and teamwork.

I often say to the boys that there is a ‘magic’ to this place. Like all young people they take things for granted, though when they come to leave a far greater sense of understanding what boarding entails becomes apparent. Having the structure of Years 7 – 12 students in small Houses ensures junior boys see what the older boys have experienced. It also allows the older boys to take a lead in supporting the younger ones. House spirit is strong and a loyalty to one another is reinforced.

There is no doubt in my mind the boys who board are better people for having experienced the opportunity.

My aim as Senior Boarding Housemaster is to create an environment in which every boy feels valued. If they feel secure and safe in their residential community, then they will be able to utilise their schooling by learning in a supportive environment.

I encourage you to come and visit us and sense the friendliness displayed by the boys.

Contact: sandy.goddard @cgs.act.edu.au phone (02) 6282 9660

Peter Wilkins - Blaxland Housemaster 

In many ways running a boarding house is similar to parenting, perhaps just more so during term!

There are many challenges and they are always changing. When dealing with younger children it is necessary to ‘manage’ them to achieve progress. With teenagers, of considerable concern is enabling the individual in our charge to discover their true self without interfering too much!

The real skill in dealing with young people and emerging adults is to encourage them to find a safe path for themselves that meets their needs in terms of emotional, academic, spiritual, cultural and physical development, and also, (and this is sometimes the tricky bit), coincides with the aspirations of their parents. Our focus is on achieving this in a friendly, safe and caring community where students learn to accept responsibility for their actions and themselves.

Originally from the UK, I was Head of Design and Technology at Radley College for 19 years before coming to Canberra Grammar School with my family in 1990 on a one year exchange.

We returned permanently in 1993 and I taught at Barker College for a year helping to establish their new Design Centre. The following year I returned to Canberra Grammar School and became Head of Design Art and Technology. Once my own children had reached an age where they were moving away from home, I decided on a switch into a pastoral role and was appointed as the Housemaster of Eddison House in 2000.

In 2003 my wife, Chris, and I decided that we might have something to offer in a boarding house, having seen our own children safely through and beyond university.

I was appointed as Blaxland Housemaster in 2003.