In the latest edition of Evergreen, we spoke to Head of Middle School Kathryn Gray, and Deputy Head of Senior School – Student Care and Experience, James Evans, about how leadership is intentionally nurtured in every girl at St Margaret’s College, from her first days to her final year as a Senior student. The philosophy is simple but powerful: authentic leadership is not about status or titles, it is about service, character, and courage.
Kathryn explains, “Instead of teaching leadership, we consciously create opportunities for our girls to lead.” This hands-on approach ensures that by the time students step into formal leadership roles, they have already experienced what it means to influence, to serve, and to connect.
Year 7 programmes like the Butterfly Effect encourage students to build self-worth, resilience, and positive identity. These early experiences are crucial in forming the inner compass that will guide girls through adolescence.
By Year 8 and 9, leadership opportunities expand into the community. Students take part in service initiatives such as the Full Bellies programme, tackling food insecurity, and Eco Action, which involves planting native trees and supporting sustainability. These projects show students that leadership has a ripple effect; their actions can change lives and improve the world around them.
By the end of Year 10, every student has completed the Rite Journey, a transformative programme that challenges girls to consider who they are and how they want to contribute to society. It is a milestone that provides clarity of purpose and the confidence to move into Senior School with a strong sense of identity.
“We ground our teaching in the principle of servant leadership,” Kathryn says. “It’s about humility, empathy, and supporting the needs of others. These values stay with our girls for life.”
If Middle School lays the groundwork, Senior School takes leadership to the next level. Here, the focus is on putting character into action through real-world experiences that demand resilience, empathy, and decision-making.
James highlights the College’s unique partnership with Christ’s College, which begins in Year 11. “The purpose is to get Year 11s to think about how they relate to each other, within their cohort and across schools,” he explains.
The programme starts with relationship-building days that go far beyond icebreakers. Students engage with organisations such as the Canterbury Resettlement Service, learning to connect with people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. They also take part in police-led workshops on safety, relationships, and wellbeing. The goal is to ground students in empathy, respect, and social awareness.
By Year 12, the leadership programme intensifies. Students gather with their peers from Christ’s College for immersive workshops with speakers who share lived experiences of leading through adversity. This year, Jake Bailey, remembered nationwide for his inspiring school speech while undergoing cancer treatment, joined adventurers, coaches, and high-performance leaders to challenge students’ thinking.
“Leadership isn’t about titles or positions,” James emphasises. “Everyone has the capacity to do something, and everyone will lead in their own way.”
Perhaps the most powerful expression of this philosophy is the Sony Foundation Children’s Camp, run jointly by St Margaret’s and Christ’s College. Over one extraordinary weekend, 120 students care for children with disabilities, serving as companions and caregivers. “Sony Camp brings it all into the real world for them,” James says. “It’s an unconventional opportunity you just can’t replicate in a classroom.”
In September, the entire Year 12 cohort travels to Living Springs for an overnight leadership retreat. Here, students explore team dynamics, reflect on their role as future Year 13 leaders, and help develop the school’s annual theme. The retreat is deliberately designed to push them out of their comfort zones and into the realm of authentic leadership.
By the time they reach their final year, St Margaret’s students are not just participants in leadership, they are role models. Whether leading through service projects, captaining teams, or mentoring younger students, Year 13s embody the College’s core value of dedication to a higher purpose.
International opportunities like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award and World Challenge expeditions offer further chances to test resilience and adaptability. Students trek through unfamiliar environments, navigate cultural differences, and make decisions that carry real consequences, all while learning the importance of teamwork and humility.
What makes the St Margaret’s programme distinctive is its blend of structured teaching and lived experience. Workshops on trust, communication, and empathy are combined with opportunities to put these skills into action, whether that’s serving lunch to a hungry family, planting trees, or caring for a child with a disability.
“Every student has unique leadership potential waiting to be discovered and developed,” James says. “Through real-world experiences, collaboration with Christ’s College, and a commitment to service, our senior students are learning not just how to lead, but why leadership matters.”
This whole-person approach is only possible because of the independence of St Margaret’s College. As Kathryn notes, “Our independence gives us the flexibility to implement programmes that we know work, programmes which equip young people with the inner compass they need to navigate challenges, and who understand that real leadership is about making a positive impact on the world around them.”
To read more, you can find the full edition of Evergreen here.
