Caulfield Grammar turns boarders into leaders

Morcom Rural Boarding Scholarships support students who have strengths in multiple fields.

Comfort zone: A boarding student enjoys down time in Caulfield Grammar School's Morcom House.

DESCRIBED as a “city house with a country heart”, Caulfield Grammar School’s boarding community Morcom House is home to diverse staff and students, including many country kids.

In his more than 20 years as head of boarding, Tim Gallop said seeing recipients of the W.S Morcom Rural Boarding Scholarship step out of their comfort zones and bring their unique skills to the school was one of the great pleasures of his job.

“Different people bring different strengths to the table,” Mr Gallop said.

“The kids who come to Morcom through our scholarship program will have already demonstrated in their community that they are wholehearted.

“Not so much a great violin player or academic or footballer — more that they have qualities that we think will enrich the boarding house, and benefit the child as well.”

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W.S Morcom scholarships are awarded to regional students who are entering Years 9-11 and demonstrate achievement in several fields, including academic, leadership and service to community, the arts and sport.

Mr Gallop said the scholarship was of huge benefit not just to the students, but also to the rural communities that many returned to as well-rounded leaders when their studies were finished.

“We see really good academic outcomes, and a very large proportion go on to university education,” he said.

“But a number go back on to the farm or return to their country town.

“Many parents were boarding students themselves and feel that coming to Melbourne increases the confidence in their child, just as they benefited from being familiar with the city then coming back home.”

Caulfield Grammar School offers boarding to girls and boys, allowing brothers and sisters to remain together on the school’s largest campus in St Kilda East.

With 47 boys and 43 girls housed across three residences, about 65 per cent of residents are country kids.

Caulfield Grammar students also expand their network and learning outside of the classroom and boarding house – including cultural immersion studies at the Nanjing campus in Year 9 and, dependent on students’ interests, international immersion programs exploring the arts, sport, STEM and career opportunities.

Applications for the W.S Morcom Rural Boarding Scholarship for students starting in 2021 close Monday, April 20.

To find out more, visit caulfieldgs.vic.edu.au.