Ian Bowsher, Barrenjoey High principal to leave after 13 years
A departing northern beaches principal who saw his role as more than just getting kids through their HSC, has revealed what he thinks are the challenges for today’s students.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Teens using mini nicotine vapes in class, principal warns
- New grandstand for Manly Sea Eagles gets green light
A much-loved northern beaches principal who put the emotional welfare of his students at the centre of their education, is leaving after 13 years.
Ian Bowsher is stepping down from his role at Barrenjoey High School on September 25, to become College Principal at Sydney Secondary College in Balmain.
Mr Bowsher has been highly influential in the Avalon community over his tenure.
Following a series of youth suicides several years ago, he helped push for more mental health services in the community for young people.
He was instrumental in the setting up of Avalon Youth Hub, which connects young people with multiple support services. These included help for drink and drug abuse, support for those at risk of homelessness and at home counselling for those who have tried to take their own lives.
He also set up individualised welfare programs for pupils at Barrenjoey High.
He said a generation ago the role of a school principal was to ensure students got good marks in their exams.
But today, with mental health issues on the rise across all developed countries, it’s also about making sure they’re safe.
“It’s about supporting the whole student,” he said.
“It’s about genuinely caring about how they are going, how they are in the world.
“Mental health is not pushed under the carpet at Barrenjoey.”
He said unlike other communities, Avalon was very tight knit and so when one person is struggling, everyone knows.
“The welfare of the community is felt very strongly in the school,” he said.
“How the school and the principal reacts, sets the tone for the whole community.”
He said other schools have looked to Barrenjoey High to see how they should help their own students.
He said three years ago Barrenjoey High partnered with Macquarie University in conducting an emotional health survey of all the pupils.
Three years on 15 other public high schools on the peninsula are also participating in the annual survey, with 7000 students now involved.
The information gleaned provides a valuable insight into the mental health of young people and what services are needed in the community to support them, he said.
Mr Bowsher added that the main challenge for the current cohort of students was social media and its distractions.
“For this generation it’s about social media becoming normalised to such a degree that distraction becomes minimised,” he said.
However, he said today’s students also had enormous potential in that they are very connected; connected to environmental issues, social morales and to their community.
Mr Bowsher told the Manly Daily his heartfelt message to the Avalon community, was “thanks for the memories”.
“It’s bittersweet moment,” he said.
“I’m very sad to be leaving but also very proud of what we have achieved in my time here.”