Leadership
Leaders at Newington
Leadership is not something that can be taught explicitly. It is something that is modelled and mentored from a very early age at Newington. Leadership is about knowing when to step up, and stand up for what you believe in, even when it may be uncomfortable or unpopular amongst your peers. It deepens the conversation about citizenship, social responsibility and community-mindedness. At Newington we support the students in their search for a style of personal leadership that also encourages trust and respect through various opportunities.
Leading is challenging. It requires doing what is right, not what is popular. Newington Leaders are expected to do the right thing, particularly when no one is watching.
Keeping the well-known maxim ‘what you walk past, you choose to accept’ is a guide that all leaders aspire to. By extension, we want our leaders to be upstanders and not bystanders, even if their closest friends are involved.
Our Leadership Program starts a lifelong conversation about citizenship, social responsibility and community-mindedness and is guided by the Good Newington Citizen Statement.
Leadership in the Senior Years
At Newington we support students in their search for a style of personal leadership that encourages trust and respect.
In Year 10, students are involved in activities through our Service Learning program and engage in leadership opportunities with the younger cohorts. They undergo specific training towards the end of the year to prepare themfor the next stage of their leadership development in Year 11.
In Year 11, students are trained and then selected to take on the role of Peer Support Leader. This is an important role as it fosters early relationships between senior and junior students and gives Year 11 students the opportunity to practice and hone their leadership skills. Adjacent to this, all Year 11 students build on their earlier leadership training and roles and formally prepare to take over from the current senior student leaders as acting House Prefects.
After five years in high school we believe that all our students are leaders in their own right. For this reason, at the end of Year 11 all students are automatically made House Prefects. Under this system, all Year 12 students are required to contribute to the daily operation of the school through House Prefect duties and to set an example for others to follow.
From the Year 12 student body, one student is chosen to lead the school as Senior Prefect, acting as a dynamic exemplar for the whole school to look to and emulate. Two Deputy Senior Prefects are also appointed as well as one Captain and one Vice Captain for each of the College’s 16 Houses. Together, these students form the exceptional team that guides and unites the school’s student body.
Senior Prefect Leaders 2026
Gil G (Senior Prefect), Evan G and Benjamin C (Deputy Senior Prefects) are the student leaders for 2026. Their motto is ‘Act Brave, Serve True, Support New’.
Act Brave, Serve True, Support New
Your Newington motto for 2026 is “Act Brave, Serve True, Support New”
Leading from a Young Age
In Years K-6 at Wyvern and Lindfield, there are opportunities to participate in leadership at every age and stage – inside and out of the classroom.
Year 6 have monitors roles to assist across the school and all students have the opportunity to serve on the Student Representative Council (SRC) for each campus, which is made up of students from Years 1-6. The SRC represents the student body and helps organise ways to participate in and contribute to their school community.
The SRC encourages all students to contribute to and share in the decision making process within the school. Not only does the SRC encourage active citizenship, it also provides older students with useful leadership opportunities where they can practice mentoring their younger peers.
- Foster a vision and sense of purpose in a friendly environment
- Provide all students with an opportunity to set and achieve collective goals
- Promote active, reflective listening skills
- Apply learning in a context that directly affects the school community
- Promote Social Justice values
