What is BGS 2032?

What will be the future of work and careers?

The world is changing before our eyes, and the pace of change is increasing. Technology and science, and changing societal attitudes and expectations, are transforming our understanding of the world and the way we do things.

The world that our boys know today at BGS will be very different to the one they live and work in in just a few years.

What will their world be like then? What will be the future of work and careers? What skills and attributes will our boys need to thrive in their future endeavours—in education, work and life? What will it mean to be a successful man in the 21st century? And how will technology affect teaching and learning? What will happen to the ATAR? How will tertiary education change?

In 2032, when BGS celebrates its 150th year, our current secondary school boys will be in their early careers and embarking on their adult lives. Our younger boys will be finishing school or undertaking further study.

For BGS, the question is: how can we ensure that we are positioned in the best possible way to equip your sons for a thriving future, and to be the best version of themselves that they can?

This is the essence of BGS2032. It will be a long-term project—to prepare all of our boys for the future. It needs the involvement of the BGS community.

Our approach

Since BGS’s founding in 1882, we have always strived to develop, inspire and guide our boys on their journey to become successful men. Through ongoing investment in facilities, staff and new teaching techniques, we have continuously adapted to an ever-changing world.

Guided by our vision and values, which are central to all we do, we are transforming BGS from a school of best practice to one of recognised leadership and excellence in boys’ education.

Now is the right time to embark upon BGS2032—the next phase of our journey. Key decisions on school capacity and our masterplan have been made. The broad direction of the school is set. Our strategy—for a strong academic culture; the best teachers; a commitment health and wellbeing; outstanding facilities; and preparing our boys to be the best versions of themselves—is clear. Our enrolments are strong.

BGS needs to look resolutely to the future—to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing world—while keeping focus on the ‘now’ and continuing to honour our history and heritage.

BGS has a strongly evidence-based approach. We have our own intellectual ‘think-tank’, the Crowther Centre, already working at the leading edge of research and best practice in boys’ education. Our facilities and capital projects are all about enhancing your sons’ learning, and enabling their development. The new Future Ready Centre for Science, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, announced last year, has been specifically designed to enhance your sons’ development of 21st century skills in science, , design thinking, creativity and entrepreneurship.

BGS2032 will build on this.

What we’ve done so far

BGS2032 is being led by our Headmaster, Ross Featherston, along with his executive team and the school council. It will be an evolutionary, carefully planned, and consultative process.

To date, we’ve focused on gathering the latest research from Australia and abroad, and engaging with experts in leading universities and industry, to identify key areas for initial focus. These include:

  • The future world of work and careers;
  • The skills and attributes that will be most needed by today’s young people;
  • The future of school leaver pathways to post-secondary education;
  • The future of Australian tertiary (higher and vocational) education;
  • The importance of physical and mental wellbeing, and changing societal expectations about men;
  • The impact of technology on education and learning; and
  • The importance of schools building external partnerships with industry and the community.

We have already started a series of research ‘deep dives’ into the future world of work and careers, the skills and attributes most needed, future pathways to tertiary education, and the future of the tertiary education sector. We will be building upon BGS’s existing expertise in areas such as wellbeing, masculinity and the science of learning. We seek to be thought leaders in this space.

What’s next?

We’re looking for your involvement …

Looking further ahead

BGS2032 will evolve over time, guided by the latest research and thinking, by real world developments, and by ongoing input from the whole of the BGS community. This will inform the strategic initiatives to enable BGS to systematically work towards bringing the BGS2032 vision to life in time for our sesquicentenary in 2032.