Rector’s eNews 27: 26 August 2026

The half term break came at a good time, but now, as we return, there is a very busy and significant four-week period ahead of us. I am very much looking forward to observing how the various events play out at the end of the term: the B Block leadership weekend, the C Block Journey, the D Block trip to Pondoland, and the E Block adventure on the estate and the summiting of iNhlosane. All very good and impressive Michaelhouse traditions which help to shape the boys and help them to get to know themselves and their peers better.

This concept of self-knowledge is an important aspect of growing up and I believe that the Michaelhouse environment encourages that in a variety of ways. At Michaelhouse we have been using STEER as a platform for monitoring the ability of our pupils to self-regulate. It is an important tool that gives us insights not just into the well-being of individual pupils, but also the profiles of different cohorts, whether that be by House or year, or even smaller groupings. What is especially powerful about the STEER data is that we have benchmark data from thousands of pupils from all around the world. That gives us some useful insights into what we do well and how it impacts our boys.

The STEER data also allows for interesting research and in England a study was done to attempt to measure the independent (private) school dividend. In other words, does the data for self-regulation differ between English independent schools and state schools. The research indicated that there was not a significant difference between state and independent day pupils, but that independent boarding pupils showed significantly better self-regulation data than pupils who did not board, regardless of whether their school was day or independent. The correlation is strong; and we can speculate at the causation.

My sense is that boys who board have to be more adaptable. They quickly realise that in order to make it work, they need to look after themselves and their needs, but they need to be cognisant of the needs of others as well. Over time, that becomes second nature. They also realise that they cannot always have what they want when they want it. That requires an ability to curb and manage the impulsive urges to satisfy their wants immediately. Again, over time, understanding how to manage oneself within structures and within a community, develops self-awareness and a sensitivity to how we function with other people. It is a huge life advantage that becomes ingrained by simply being here. The boys who thrive at Michaelhouse are the ones who instinctively embrace the need to adapt to and consider their environment and the people in it.

I met with the Senior Prefects, Max and Rendani, earlier this week and I asked them what they had learned about leadership over this past year. What they said very much matches what I have described above: they have learned that success in leadership is about relationships and learning to get on. It is about being considerate and thoughtful. It is about seeing boys as individuals and trying to understand what matters to them. I was very heartened by that conversation.

Boarding life can be hard at times, and it is not for everyone, but the benefits are evident, not just anecdotally, but in a growing body of research that recognises these merits too.

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