Heads held high
Christ’s College Headmaster Joe Eccleton shares what makes his students proud.
At the heart of 175-year-old Christ’s College, Headmaster Joe Eccleton sees more than just tradition – he sees a deep sense of connection.
“We like to focus on tūrangawaewae – this whole school is premised on belonging,” he says. “Because of our history, boys come together and feel like they’re part of something much bigger than themselves.”
Joe says that when boys walk through the Rolleston Avenue gates, they’re stepping into more than just a school – they’re becoming part of that history. “It kind of oozes connection,” Joe explains. “It’s about where they sit in that story.”
One of the key foundations for this sense of belonging is the College’s House system. With ten houses, three for boarders and seven for day students, each boy gains what Joe calls ‘a home within a home’. “I think the shaping of character and connection starts off here.”
But like their own homes, Joe says this comes with responsibility. “You have to contribute to your place here. You’ve got to leave the College better than you found it.” For Joe, the boys themselves drive the tone and culture of Christ’s. “I can write as many speeches and policies as I like, but if the boys don’t buy in, it means nothing. They set the standards – and they’re high.”
A core part of that character development comes from challenging themselves. That’s where the Immerse & Inspire programme comes in. In Year 10, boys take part in a four-week residential experience, including three weeks living as boarders at Jacobs House and a week in the rugged environment of the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre – part of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award.
“You wake up in a tent at minus three degrees,” Joe says with a laugh. “They all want to go home by Friday – but they stick it out. They can’t opt out. That’s part of building character. They learn they can go through hard things… and they do it together.”
The programme also includes two three-day experiences. One, held at the Ministry of Awesome, is a workshop called Lab5 Supercharged, where boys take on global challenges and build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. The other is held on school grounds, focusing on biculturalism, careers, wellbeing, and leadership.
But the boys’ character development and place at College wouldn’t be possible, Joe insists, without the staff. “All our staff are involved in the wider life of the school. They don’t just come here to teach, they come here to be part of that holistic approach to the boys’ education.”
The College is working to widen its reach. On Giving Day, recently held on 12 June, donations go toward scholarships for boys from all walks of life.
“One of the misconceptions,” Joe says, “is that all our boys are the same. Giving Day is about opening the gates a little wider – giving boys who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to go to a school like this the chance to be part of this place.”