After the uncertainty and extremes of last week this one has been far more settled and predictable. Our new entrants have settled seamlessly into their new school and have quickly assimilated into the positive King’s culture. I have seen this first hand with my Year 9 Economics class. The boys are enthusiastic, engaged and occasionally laugh politely at my attempts at humour.

In this column I want to showcase and celebrate some of the phenomenal academic results that our students achieved in 2017. In the weeks that follow I will isolate specific elements such as endorsements, scholarships and Cambridge results but in this first instalment I will narrow my focus to the NCEA pass rates.

As you can see in the image leading this article, our provisional NCEA results were nothing short of superb.

The pass rates at every year level comfortably and substantially eclipse the national averages and are even further ahead of the national boys’ data. The culture of academic excellence and students desire to achieve to the best of their capability has permeated the entire school and is clearly bearing great fruit.

However, I continue to be frustrated by the few who errantly purport, and I can only assume it is because they are uninformed or misinformed, that our primary focus is on those students who are academically inclined. This data, for the eighth consecutive year, clearly shows that our energies are not disproportionately directed toward those capable of Excellence but that every student is encouraged, monitored and cajoled to reach his potential. No young man is overlooked. No student is left behind. A small number don’t achieve but that is not due to a lack of attention or opportunity.

Escaping from my office this week I have really appreciated the feel around the school during lunch times and class time. It has reinforced to me how special King’s is.

There are many more successes to celebrate together. Next week we will consider the successes of our students in terms of their certificate endorsements, another great story.

Together we will continue our pursuit of personal excellence to the benefit of our young men and to the joy of those of us who are privileged to be part of their success.