One of Melbourne Grammar School’s key priorities outlined in our strategic plan, Towards 2030 states:
We will educate and nurture the whole person, fostering each student’s intellectual, spiritual, physical, psychological and emotional growth.
At the heart of this approach is a commitment to providing each student with an educational experience that is considered, wide-ranging and extends beyond academic achievement.
One of the many programs we offer in support of this intent is our competitive sport programs at House, School and inter-School levels. In today’s increasingly screen-driven world, competitive sport plays a critical role in promoting physical health and well-being and, while physical activity is at its core, the program delivers lessons that extend much further.
Irrespective of which sport it is, or if the team is the Firsts or the Fourths, or the A’s or the D’s, the balance between striving for success and learning from defeat is one of the most powerful aspects of competitive sport. Winning emphasises the value of effort, preparation and perseverance. It shows students the importance of humility, kindness and respect.
On the other hand, losing can encourage reflection and growth, building an understanding that failure is not necessarily a setback, but it is an opportunity for learning and self-improvement.
Competitive sport also promotes teamwork and camaraderie. Students learn to collaborate, communicate, and support one another. Furthermore, the shared pursuit of a common goal reinforces the worthiness of collective effort, trust and mutual respect while building a sense of belonging.
Beyond this, competitive sport bridges diverse backgrounds and cultures, encouraging inclusivity while upholding values such as fairness, integrity, and respect for the team, opposition, rules and umpires.
These lessons carry into all aspects of our students’ lives and, ultimately, we hope that, as a consequence of participating in competitive sport, they will become better prepared to handle life’s complexities with composure and resolve.
The inter-school APS program
As part of our educational offering, students in Years 5 to 12 participate in the Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS) Sporting program on a weekly basis over three seasons.
A review of the APS program is currently underway. The review is seeking to ensure that we continue to celebrate the unique heritage of the program while taking into account the needs, wants and capabilities of our diverse student body.
Those sports which form an important part of our tradition, such as rowing, football, cricket and athletics, will certainly continue. However, we want to offer a range of sports so that all students can compete in a sport they are interested in and at a level that suits their capacity and growth. This means providing opportunities for students from those picking up a ball or bat for the first time to aspiring professional athletes.
Some people equate competitive sport with contact sport which, of course, is incorrect. There are plenty of non-contact competitive sports available in our APS program. These include rowing, cricket, tennis, swimming and diving, volleyball, softball, table tennis, badminton and snow sports, to name a few.
Our students lead full and active lives pursuing a wide range of activities from performing arts to outdoor education, debating, academic competitions and much more. The school week can be long and needs to be carefully structured. To support this holistic approach to education, Saturday sport will stay mandatory for Years 7 to 12, while Years 5 and 6 will continue participating in APS Sport during school hours.
Whether through competitive sports or one of the myriad of other programs offered at Melbourne Grammar School, our goal is to foster resilience, collaboration, and a deep sense of community. As we move forward, our expanded physical activity offerings will continue to promote inclusivity, support personal growth, and uphold the values that lie at the heart of our School.
Philip Grutzner
Headmaster
