How can one measure a man’s character? It’s a question that Tim Bowden, headmaster of Trinity Grammar School, ponders often, when it comes to the school’s offering
“In partnership with parents, we strive to help grow great boys into good men,” says headmaster of Trinity Grammar School, Tim Bowden. “Good schools do the crucial work of shaping young people to be responsible and respectful citizens, equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to flourish and to contribute in the decades to come. That’s our goal at Trinity.”
Enter Trinity’s Field Studies Centre, its outdoor education campus in Woollamia on Sydney’s South Coast. In Year 9, each student attends the term-long, mandatory, immersive educational residential, exploring opportunities for self-discovery, building relationships, fostering community and providing time for self-reflection and spiritual growth in a unique environment.
When Tim visits the students on the Field Studies Program each term, he asks them, “Why do you do bench presses?” The question often leads to head scratching. “Bench presses don’t exist because at some point in your life you’re going to be lying on your back with a heavy weight on your chest,” says Tim. “That’s not going to happen. They exist to build your capability for situations in which that strength will help you.”
Woollamia is a place for building mental muscle, for developing academic rigour and study habits that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. It is also, in a sense, a gym to build strength of character.
“The boys are learning about how to get on with one another, how to handle friction and disagreement, how to step into leadership and have a positive influence. These all transfer to the rest of their life,” Tim says.
Shown is Tim Knowles, Head of the Field Studies Centre, who says the campus provides the opportunity to build social skills. “Most of the boys don’t share a bedroom at home but here there are three, four, five or six to a room,” he says. “They are forced to get along, to find ways to overcome differences, to see the person behind the mask.
“They build strong relationships with the staff, too. We’re on their side, giving them encouragement and checking in with them 24/7.
“This is a key moment in their lives. They’re supercharging life skills. During the Field Studies Program they can step out from some of the pressure from society, such as social media and technology, spending significant time with their peers to learn, grow, and find ways to play. They are encouraged to reflect on who they are, where they are, and how they got there.”
Trinity Grammar School believes that character is “caught, taught, and sought”, and through collaborative efforts with parents, the school is confident in preparing boys for success both in their personal and professional lives.
Visit the website to learn more about the Trinity Field Studies Program and read more stories about the character-development opportunities the school makes available.
Tim BowdenTrinity Grammar SchoolHeadmaster The mission of Trinity Grammar School is to help boys discover their innate talents and unlock […]