From the Rector

Looking after your well-being is increasingly important in today’s fast-paced and complex modern world. However, young people in particular are at risk of receiving the wrong messages about how to develop strong and sustainable well-being, given the pressures and mixed messages which can come through social media, alongside a growing self-care industry which sometimes focuses more on products than lasting habits.

At St Andrew’s College, our approach to well-being is based on PERMA-V. Grounded in positive psychology, it provides a practical framework to support young people’s well-being. It focuses on six key areas: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment, and Vitality, helping students understand what contributes to a flourishing life. More than theory, PERMA-V provides clear, everyday strategies. Students learn not only what each pillar means, but how to apply it, whether that’s building friendships, managing stress, finding flow in learning, or taking care of their physical health.

Our new Strategic Plan includes a key strategic priority: Well-being: growing and caring for our people. To support the development of strong and sustainable well-being habits, we have introduced Assistant Deans across Years 9–13, established new Sports Dean roles, and created a new Head of Hauora position. Together, these initiatives support the College’s strategic vision of having a strong, integrated, and coherent pastoral and well-being system.

Our approach is further strengthened by our shared College values and servant leadership model, which encourages students to focus on serving others and contributing positively to their communities.

This is reflected in the wide range of community service opportunities available to students, including fundraising for charities, collecting goods for those in need, planting trees, helping to feed the homeless, and supporting community organisations.

Service is one of the many ways students put kindness into action. Kindness is powerful. Research shows that it is highly transferable, with people often inspired to imitate positive actions and the spirit behind them. In other words, kindness begets kindness. Its impact extends beyond those directly affected, creating a ripple effect that benefits families, communities, and society more broadly.

Well-being is not about pursuing constant happiness or avoiding challenge. Rather, it involves developing the capacity to navigate difficulty, act with purpose, and engage meaningfully with life. Through PERMA-V, we aim to equip our young people not only the language of well-being, but also with the skills, habits, and sense of purpose to live it every day.

Purpose provides direction and meaning. It gives people a reason to persevere through challenges, grow through adversity, and contribute to something greater than themselves. A purposeful life may not always feel comfortable or easy, but it is deeply fulfilling. This sentiment is reflected in the words attributed to St Benedict: “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”

Mark Wilson
Rector