We are ambitious for our students - especially for their health and happiness. We care deeply that our students are equipped to build useful, rewarding and fulfilling lives.

We take a One School approach and while the components of our pastoral care evolve and change as the students move up through the School - the basic purpose and values we teach do not.

We weave highly professional pastoral care into every facet of school life. Every teacher, every staff member, is part of the school-wide team devoted to the individual wellbeing of our students. Pastoral care is not an added or optional extra; it's integrated, essential and taken very seriously.

We're guiding and shaping spiritual, emotional, ethical and moral insights into the worlds within and without. In an environment expressly tailored to the experience of adolescent boys we're listening, watching, talking as issues arise, new feelings are explored and surprising, unsettling, amazing emotions stir each young life.

We believe a positive outlook, high self-esteem, strong connectedness to and appreciation of others, a sense of purpose, a capacity to look beyond himself/herself to the outside world, spiritual awareness and a set of capabilities to ensure personal fulfilment are the keys to a healthy, happy life.

If things are not going well for a student, support is at hand from a wide variety of staff ranging from his teachers, sports coach, tutor or Housemaster through to the Counsellor or Chaplain.

We encourage our students to learn more about themselves by helping others and playing a part in their community. Numerous opportunities are provided. Younger boys have structured involvement to help them develop skills and leadership. Older students have leadership and mentoring roles to play within their Houses.

All boys are encouraged to take responsibility for the care of others and in Year 10 community service programs are compulsory. The Student Representative Council allocates its own funds towards projects such as student exchanges involving more remote parts of Australia, visits by students from Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and raising money for local and national charities.

The House System and Student Well-being

Houses at CGS are for more than sport; they are the central structure through which boys develop a sense of belonging and community. Boys routinely see their housemaster every day and meet as a House or tutor group (of 12 to 15 students) four times a week.

John Jenkins
Director of Pastoral Care