Renowned school principal stepping down

10/2/2009

After 17 years as principal of Wellington’s Rongotai College Graeme Jarratt (1963-66) is set to step aside.

Graeme will retire in April this year, noting he was keen to end his career “whilst I was still seen as being more effective than less effective. I wanted to leave when I was confident the school was in really good shape."

When he applied for the position, the board at Rongotai College was looking for someone who could make some positive changes for the school.

Graeme Jarratt

"I wanted the school I was principal of to be a place where students felt safe and were happy in their learning, which is a real issue in schools."

His main aim was to build a school climate where students felt supported by staff and comfortable in their relationships with other students.

"I believe that's a really good basis for learning - if you feel comfortable where you are, you are likely to learn better,” he said.

One of his best initiatives as principal was establishing the non-violence policy: no verbal or physical violence, no property damage and no substance abuse.

"It's about insisting and establishing standards you believe are standards for good behaviour," he said.

Teenage boys had not changed much over the years, but the social issues they faced had. Broken homes, social websites and gang culture trends are realities faced by many young people today.

The most rewarding aspect of being principal was seeing students achieve what they set out to do.

"Whether it be in the classroom or on the sports field - when students see an improvement in their self-esteem as a result of that. I think that's something every student can achieve."

Graeme began his teaching career at South Otago High School and Balclutha High School. He also taught in Hawke's Bay before a promotion moved him down to Wellington for the role of deputy principal at Heretaunga College.

He hasn’t thought so far ahead as to what his next plans will be.

"When you're headmaster, 16-hour days are not unusual, so I just need a bit of space to take time and think about what I'll do next. But I'll definitely be doing something."

He will miss contact with the students the most, especially weekends, when he attends their extra-curricular activities.

"Often what you hear about teenagers in the news is what they do wrong. But 98 per cent of them do great things."