MEET MAX FORBES OUR NEW HEAD OF JUNIOR HIGH

St Peters welcomes Mr Maxwell (Max) Forbes, who joined us as Head of Junior High at the start of Term 4. Max is an experienced educational leader with a strong academic and pastoral leadership background, serving in senior roles at independent schools across Queensland and Victoria. Previously Head of English at Brisbane Boys' College, he has also held leadership roles at John Paul College, Anglican Church Grammar School and Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne. A lifelong learner, Max holds a Master of Education from QUT and is currently completing an MBA at the University of Queensland.

What attracted you to the Head of Junior High role at St Peters?

The ethos of St Peters aligns closely with my educational philosophy, particularly the idea of excellence in coeducation. Combined with that, St Peters has a forwardthinking approach to education, which aligns with my values as an educator. The holistic development of students is something that I'm passionate about. St Peters is a school that achieves highly academically, but there's also a servicelearning component and a tradition of sporting excellence. It really is a place for well-rounded students.

Could you elaborate on your approach to education?

For me, education is about helping young people fulfil their potential. I have seen firsthand the power of education to unlock students' potential and help them fulfil it. Education is also a gateway to happiness, fulfillment and purpose. For me, it goes beyond academic achievement—it's also about developing character, dispositions and life skills.

What is your vision for Junior High?

With any vision, it takes time to come to fruition, so there's a component of careful observation and learning. Junior High is a crucial time in a student's life. My vision is to create an environment that supports, challenges and inspires students. There's a real opportunity for schools now with a rapidly changing world and the development of AI, changing technology, global warming and growing global uncertainty. Schools, particularly at that Junior High level, play a crucial role in equipping students with the skills and dispositions to thrive in an uncertain world. So, wherever I can support that as part of the Junior High leadership, that's where we will get the best student outcomes. I am also passionate about promoting student agency, where students have opportunities to shape their learning journeys.

What are your plans for supporting the academic and personal growth of Junior High students?

There is an important balance to be struck, particularly in Junior High, between the right amount of challenge and the right amount of support. We must push personal and academic development but, at the same time, provide a nurturing environment where students can flourish. That always comes back to relationships between staff, students, and parents, but most importantly, each student feels like they are known and that their needs are supported.

What does success in Junior High look like to you? And how do you hope to inspire students and staff?

For me, success goes beyond academic achievement. It's important that students achieve academically, but there's much more to what makes a successful student. If our students are confident and curious and compassionate young people, then we've succeeded in what we're trying to do. Also, where we can encourage a growth mindset for students to take on challenges and to see failures as opportunities for learning, we've set them up well and provided a solid foundation for their Senior studies.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

I'm most looking forward to getting to know the St Peters community, about which I've heard many wonderful things. I'm keen to get to know as many people as possible, including staff, parents and students, and establish strong partnerships. I'm also looking forward to being part of the Term 4 celebrations. I know Term 4 will be very heavy with lots of work and assessment, but it is also a time of celebration of the year and I'm looking forward to being part of those celebrations and seeing our students' achievements. Lastly, I'm looking forward to visiting Ironbark and seeing firsthand that transformative experience for the students.

What do you enjoy most about working with this age group?

These students are at an incredibly exciting stage of life. They're crossing that threshold into adulthood, an exciting time for self-discovery and finding passions. At this age, we have a unique opportunity to develop students holistically and to do some interesting things with our programs and curriculum, free from the pressures of Senior studies. There's also an opportunity for staff to promote a love of learning at this stage. I also love their enthusiasm, particularly at that Year 7 level. A certain amount of joy comes from teaching Year 7s, where you witness firsthand that enthusiasm in your classroom. Students at this stage can also take calculated risks, throwing themselves into new activities, whether trying a sport or learning a musical instrument or something beyond the scope of the classroom. There's a real opportunity for them to try everything.

Do you miss the classroom?

I do, and I love being in front of students. I'm passionate about English education in particular. It's such a powerful subject for students and isn't always appreciated. I miss those light bulb moments where you've instilled a love of something, or a student has unlocked a new understanding about a text or something you're studying in class. However, there are other joys with leadership positions where you can have a broader impact on students beyond just a single classroom, which I also love.

On a more personal note, please tell us about life outside of work.

I have an 18-month-old boy who keeps me very busy. His love of life and everything is amazing and I love spending time with him. My wife and I love to travel around Australia and the world. We're passionate about broadening our experiences beyond home. As an English teacher, I love a good novel, and I'm a sucker for Stephen King novels. But I also love a good TV series and film. I'm a big Broncos supporter, which has been hard this year. And then I also love to cook. I'm not so fond of the dishes that come afterwards, but I always love trying new recipes and seeing what I can cook for the family.

Article by: Shannon King, Editor