Geoff Marsh, Head of Frensham Schools
A Frensham education is designed to nurture confident, compassionate, and capable individuals who are prepared to lead with purpose. A key part of this mission is our commitment to encouraging student voice and fostering student agency, empowering our students to help shape their educational journey and to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.
Recent research on student agency by the International Coalition of Girls Schools Global Action Research Collaborative, highlights that when girls exercise real agency over their learning, they demonstrate transformative outcomes in engagement, stress reduction, and leadership development.
In other words, when young people are trusted to contribute meaningfully, they develop confidence, critical thinking, and a lifelong commitment to service. We see this daily at Frensham, whether in the initiative of a Prefect proposing an improvement to a school program or the quiet support of a Year 10 student mentoring a Year 7 peer through their crack relationship.
Frensham students are encouraged to actively embody leadership through authentic roles that blend responsibility with creativity. As an example, each Year 12 student holds a leadership position, whether as a Prefect, Head of House, or leadership of initiatives like our Friday Night Games – a fun tradition where senior students design and lead activities for younger peers, fostering camaraderie and school spirit. These roles are not symbolic; they are opportunities to influence school life.
Weekly Prefect Dinner Meetings with the Head of School is another example of providing a platform for collaborative decision-making, where student leaders propose ideas to enhance programs, support each other and school community engagement.
Leadership extends to the sports field, where senior students coach junior teams in IGSA competitions, modeling resilience and teamwork. Similarly, Year Group meetings led by Prefects each Friday allow peers to address themes like gratitude and integrity, linking these discussions to Frensham’s core values. Through these experiences, students refine their ability to lead others while deepening their own ethical understanding.
Our approach to character development includes opportunities for spiritual growth. During their time at Frensham, all students are rostered to present at Prayers during Friday assemblies in Clubbe Hall. Sharing personal reflections on contemporary issues, from environmental stewardship to social justice, they attempt to connect these topics to our values. These moments of student-led reflection foster a culture of introspection, encouraging girls to consider their role in creating a more compassionate world.
For decades, Frensham educators have understood that their role is to provide the scaffolding for leadership while stepping back to let students lead. By doing so, they have cultivated not just scholars, but future change makers who understand the power of their voice and the responsibility of agenc