Rector’s eNews 11: 26 March 2025

/ Uncategorized

During the course of last week Michaelhouse focused on the issue of Neurodiversity to coincide with the international and national campaign to promote an understanding of ways in which neurodiverse people are able to reach their full potential. Every society and every school, including our own boys and staff, have a number of neurodiverse people and we are extremely grateful to our Learning Support Department headed by Mrs Katherine Cass for their initiative and also to Mr Ryan Short, parent, Old Boy and Managing Partner of Genesis Analytics, for the sponsorship of guest speakers. We are also grateful to Mrs Nikki Simons for her guidance and interaction with our staff. She runs the KZN branches of the Neurodiversity Centre and can be contacted for assessments and training via their website, KZN Neurodiversity Centre.

Neurodiversity is a feature of several of our boys, Old Boys and parents who have diagnoses such as ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, or OCD and our quest is to promote an awareness of their strengths and challenges. Just as we are diverse in terms of our outward characteristics such as skin colour, culture, language or even height, so too are the inner wirings of our brains and the way they operate. Neurodiversity as a phenomenon and movement has developed traction recently, both in education and in the mainstream media. But it is not a new discovery. We merely have a growing understanding and awareness of the differences that have always been present in human brains. We try to foster empathy and understanding amongst our boys and staff regarding many aspects of neurodiversity as it is vital that those who are neurodivergent are understood and supported. Neurotypical students have also been provided with valuable life skills in how their interaction with peers who happen to be neurodivergent can be most effective.

One of the most valued sessions took place when the highly-respected Mathematics teacher, rugby and water polo coach, Mr Graeme Lucas-Bull, shared his own journey of discovery as a person with ADHD. Mr Lucas-Bull provided a sincere and honest account, which also included advice for the boys, both of himself as a student with ADHD and the perspective of what it is like to be a teacher engaging with those who have ADHD.

Parents, Old Boys and teachers were invited to participate in surveys, which have provided essential feedback and suggestions for Michaelhouse to take forward. The results of the surveys will provide the school with helpful information for improving our support of all students and, in particular, in equipping our staff with the necessary tools to understand and help boys to reach their full potential.

Whilst the conversation around neurodiversity and the support of our boys regarding their skills and needs will continue throughout the year and into the future we are grateful to those who participated in the focus on those with traits of neurodiversity within our community. We look forward to developing our ability to support those in our community who are neurodiverse and if you would like to engage with our Head of Learning Support, Mrs Katherine Cass, to offer suggestions or resources, please do so at katcas@michaelhouse.org.

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