Principal's Perspective
Have you ever heard of the Broken Window Theory? It’s the concept that an abandoned house or a car can stand in full view of the public for a long time without anything happening, but as soon as one window is broken, all the windows will be vandalised within days.
The Broken Windows Theory was first described in a 1982 article titled 'Broken Windows: The Police and Neighbourhood Safety' in The Atlantic Monthly. The authors, James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, used the image of a single broken window as a metaphor—if it’s left unrepaired, it sends a message that no one cares and soon more windows are broken. What begins as neglect can quickly get out of hand. While the theory is sometimes criticised for oversimplifying the causes of crime and not offering long-term solutions, the metaphor still holds some truth.
In a school setting, we see a similar pattern. When small things, like uniform expectations or punctuality, are overlooked, they can quickly spread within a friendship group and beyond. That’s why we aim to address the small things early and consistently—not to be strict or to frustrate students, but to build a culture of care, integrity and growth. We all have opportunities to learn from our mistakes. Sometimes that’s not easy. I know for myself, there have been times when my own stubbornness to admit a mistake has stopped me from moving forward.
Our foundation, 'Improve: We learn by failing forward', encourages us to do just that. We can’t move forward if we don’t first take responsibility for our actions. Growth begins when we recognise where we’ve fallen short, seek help, from God and from others and take steps to make things right, moving ahead with humility and courage.
When we follow up on the small things, we do it with care and in relationship. Correction is never about catching students out. It’s about helping them grow. Our heart is always to see students flourish, not to fault-find.
As a Christian community, we see this as part of reconciliation—restoring what’s been broken and helping students understand that mistakes aren’t the end of the story.
'Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.' Proverbs 28:13
God bless you
Vince Wakefield