Mark Oliphant has been the TGS Head of Senior School for the past six years, and also has three sons in the TGS Junior School, with his eldest making the transition to Year 7 next year. He has valuable insight into both roles – that of a nervous new parent, and that of a welcoming, key member of Senior School staff. This is his key message to new parents of TGS for 2024:
Regardless of your history with the school, you are all equally welcome here and should feel comfortable in knowing that we value every family and their son’s contribution to our School.
Toowoomba Grammar School was built by the community, for the community and it is a School that I am immensely proud of. In 2025 we will celebrate our sesquicentenary or Grammar 150 and your sons will play a vital role in those celebrations. Our pedagogy is modelled on explicit instruction which has its roots in the learning sciences. Pastorally your sons will be supported by his Mentor and Head of House through the House system. It is also important to note that Year 7 is treated as a transition year and the boys in Year 7 are supported by Mrs Jodi Blades, Head of Year 7, Mr Henry White, Head of Corfe boarding house and Mr Evan Rees, Assistant Head of Year 7.
As a father of three boys, I am confident that TGS is preparing my sons for their futures beyond these gates. First and foremost, I want my boys to be of good character, to have a sense of self-worth and be assured that they are comfortable in who they are. I want them to learn how to be compassionate, show empathy and understand the fundamentals of respect and to be especially respectful of women. These sentiments are covered in our Strategic Plan and taught explicitly to the boys in the Senior School. Moreover, our diverse range of co-curricular programs also helps to give the boys the opportunity to learn what it means to be of character outside of the classroom.
We want our boys to be busy and engaged and want them to become connected to the School through their friends and the student leaders; many of whom will write to your sons prior to the beginning of next year. For some of our current Year 6s these interactions have already started, with older boys spending time in the Junior School at break times and helping with our reading program. Some interactions will occur through the co-curricular program and some will occur organically through the community. For example, my son Tom is a keen swimmer and through this activity has become friendly with one of our Year 12 Prefects. Ed, or Eddie as Tom affectionally calls him. Ed is a Stephens House boarder from St George. Now, not only is Ed a Prefect and a swimmer, but has been a wonderful contributor to our community. Some of the other “stuff” that Ed has done this year includes:
- House Captain
- Track and Field Captain
- Swim team
- Interact Club for service
- White ribbon committee
- Tennis team
- Volleyball team
- The Push Up Challenge charity
Knowing Ed and seeing the type of young man that he is, I am more thank ok with Tom looking to him as a role model and consider all of the other positive role models that our younger boys are exposed to. Growing into fine young men is not always straightforward, there will be bumps along the way, but we will all (parents and staff) stay true to our core purpose “Educating boys and developing their good character for life.”
- Mark Oliphant, Head of Senior School and father of Year 6 student, Tom
Latest Blog
Addressing Anger in Teenage Boys
As a community dedicated to the growth and well-being of our teenage boys, it is essential to address the complexities of emotions we experience during adolescence. Among these emotions, anger stands out as a powerful and intense feeling that can influence their behaviour, relationships and overall wellbeing. Untreated anger can lead to a myriad of problems and challenges for our young boys. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the dangers of untreated anger, ways to support healthy…
Study Skills Program
Just as teachers benefit from an understanding of the Learning Sciences in their lesson planning and preparation, so to do students when they are studying for major summative assessments. A survey of TGS students in Years 9 to 12 found that 70% of our boys felt that they knew how to study, with the biggest impediments to study being lack of motivation and too many distractions. The most highly preferred study technique was found to be rewriting notes. Cramming, rereading the text and rewriting…
Developing Teachers Worldwide
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Annual Conference at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in my capacity as a Team Leader in the IBSC Action Research Program. Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers in their own classroom to better understand the impact that an aspect of their practice is having on their students. Each year, 40 teachers from IBSC member schools from around the world are accepted…
Developing a Sense of Belonging for our TGS Boarders
How do we adequately develop a teenager’s 'sense of belonging' in boarding? Head of Boyce House, Boarding, Mr Michael Hall has investigated how 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' applies to boarding. It is a psychological theory that suggests human beings have a set of fundamental needs that must be fulfilled in a hierarchical order. The theory proposes that individuals must first satisfy their physiological needs before moving on to higher-level needs, such as the 'belongingness' that is so…
Kia Moemoeā – Dream Beyond Limits
A 12-year study has found that boys consistently perform better in an all boys’ school compared to boys in co-educational schools. This was one of several interesting topics presented at the recent International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Conference in Auckland, New Zealand which I attended alongside three of my Toowoomba Grammar School colleagues – Mr Luke Rawle, Mr Dave Klan and Mrs Jessica Galbraith. We joined 600 leading educators from 15 countries around the world for the four-day…
Blue and Gold in the Blood
When Chris Wicks’ (1981-85) son Lachlan was just two days old, Chris proudly strolled across the road from St Vincent’s maternity ward, over Trustees’ Oval and down to the Toowoomba Grammar School office to enrol his firstborn. “I had such fond memories from the School and enjoyed all the opportunities available, particularly participating in sport and learning at such a high level; my sons were going to have the same great education,” said Chris adamantly. Chris was a boarder from Dalby and an…
The Benefits of Repeated Reading
An effective and evidence-based method that can significantly improve your child's reading abilities is repeated reading. Reading proficiency is a vital skill that sets the foundation for academic success and lifelong learning. Repeated reading, a simple yet powerful technique, has been proven to enhance reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence. Let's delve into why repeated reading is such a beneficial practice for your child. Research consistently supports the benefits of…
Print v Digital
I recently read an article by Petra Stock, entitled "Streaming Stories: Will Children’s Digital Book Platforms Upend Print", an interesting discussion comparing ebooks and print media and the ways they are being used during and post COVID. Which is better according to the article? Well, there is a clear winner; however, like many things, the answer can depend on the situation. I'd like to break elements of the article down, along with my own thoughts and compare the two. Social…
Striking a Balance
We understand that, as parents, we aspire to provide our children with the best education and opportunities for growth. Within the Junior School at Toowoomba Grammar School, we believe in fostering a love for learning while enabling your son to reach his full potential. In this article, we would like to emphasise the significance of automaticity and basic skill practice in extending your child's learning journey, while emphasising the importance of respecting their individual pace. Automaticity…
