Geoff Marsh, Head of Frensham Schools
It is both an honour and a natural alignment that Frensham was invited to participate in the Founders Roundtable of the Sydney Character Initiative, hosted by the University of Sydney. This new venture brought together educators, researchers, and leaders from across Australia to explore what it means to educate for character in a world that urgently needs integrity, compassion, and courage.
At Frensham, we have long understood that character should not be a supplement to education but rather its foundation. Our guiding values speak directly to the aspirations of the Sydney Character Initiative. To cultivate civic character (courtesy, civility, respect), performance character (purpose, persistence, reflection), and moral character (honesty, courage, humility).
The Initiative’s vision resonates with our commitment to nurturing young people who are not only academically capable but also ethically grounded and socially responsible. In a time of increasing complexity and moral uncertainty, the call to educate for character is more urgent than ever. As the Initiative’s draft vision paper states, “Australia and the region urgently need leaders of integrity, with the curiosity, compassion, courage and conviction to act with integrity and wisdom for the sake of people and place and planet.”
Our values guide our students in their daily interactions, their academic pursuits, and their broader contributions to community and society. The Sydney Character Initiative offers a powerful platform to amplify these values, share our practices, and learn from others who are equally committed to shaping lives of meaning and service.
Participation in this initiative also affirms Frensham’s place in a national and global conversation about character education. It is a recognition of the work our staff and students do every day to build a culture of respect, resilience, and reflection. As we join colleagues from schools, universities, and social enterprises, we bring with us a century-long tradition of educating for the whole person.
In the words of Winifred West, Frensham’s founder, “The school must be a place where character is formed, not merely knowledge imparted.” This timeless insight continues to guide us as we engage with the Sydney Character Initiative and contribute to its vision of a world shaped by people of good character.
We look forward to the conversations ahead, confident that Frensham’s voice will be one of clarity, conviction, and care.