Recognition for Headmaster
Headmaster Ross Featherston has been recognised by The Educator as one of Australia’s most influential educators.He has been named on the Educator’s Hotlist for 2021 as a leader who represents the cutting edge of educational excellence and one who is at the forefront of innovation in Australia’s schools.
Ross has become a leading voice in education and an expert of educating boys.
He was invited to join the International Boys’ School Coalition as a Board Trustee in 2020, one of only five Australian Trustees of IBSC which has almost 300 member schools from more than 20 countries and five continents.
Our Headmaster has been instrumental in developing a framework to support boys through adolescence, centred on a strengths-based approach to wellbeing and positive masculinity. He has co-authored research into this approach which was published in the Health Promotion International Journal this year.
The school’s academic results have steadily improved over the past five years, due to a research-based unified teaching model. Although results are important, Ross says academic performance and personal development are inextricably linked.
“If a boy has a greater sense of self, of purpose and direction, that can only lead to a positive academic outcome. And if he’s achieving academically, that feeds his self-worth and sense of purpose. You get a cycle.”
The focus is on offering alternative pathways for students who may not aspire to a traditional model of success.
“Success for our boys is not how expensive your car is; it’s about feeling good about yourself, having an understanding of others, contributing to society, finding your passion and purpose”.
In the past 18 months, a challenging time for Victorian students and families, Ross has spearheaded key educational initiatives to keep the Brighton Grammar community connected, including an effective Distance Learning program for students, a comprehensive information program for parents and a High Performance Mindfulness program for the current Year 12 cohort, to help them cope with stress in their final year of schooling.
He has been a key driver in embedding a culture of entrepreneurship at the school. Under his leadership, an innovative Design Thinking curriculum framework has been introduced and STEM programs reimagined to encourage students to think critically, learn to problem solve and create solutions. Work will begin on a purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship named B-Hive in 2022.