New Hereworth School principal Trevor Barman comes with wealth of experience

Trevor Barman has taken up the new role as Hereworth principal. Photo / Paul Taylor

From the moment Trevor Barman first saw Hereworth School, he was immediately captivated.

Four years later, he's now at the helm of Hawke's Bay's only independent school.

Barman, an Australian, has spent more than 30 years at three leading independent Anglican schools in New South Wales.

Most recently he was head of Blue Mountains Grammar which he says boasts many similarities to his new school.

"... as a provincial community school fostering an all-round education that encourages participation and an excellent work ethic all underpinned by strong Christian values".

His initial meeting with the school board gave him an understanding of the culture of the school - something which is very important for Barman.

"Hereworth is a lovely school. The staff, their passion, their commitment to teaching, their commitment to the wellbeing of each boy in their classes is something that has really become very clear to me. The boys too are fantastic. They've got a passion to discover what is possible for each of them."

Despite differences in the education system, Barman feels equipped to navigate the school.

There is a "freedom" in New Zealand that is different to what he is used to in Australia. But the independent school sector is a lot smaller, he says.

"It means that you can be truly independent. It means you can shape a school for the boys that are here at Hereworth to meet their needs in learning and character development."

For Barman, his aim is to make a difference.

"I've got a lot of experience from my background but I am looking forward to finding out what makes Hereworth such a great school and doing the best that I possibly can for the boys that are here and for the wider community."

During his time at the school, the newly appointed principal has two main areas he hopes to build; trusting relationships and the vision, in conjunction with the school board and staff.

"A vision that sets up Hereworth for a flourishing future."

At the heart of it all, is the boy, he said.

"Yes there is a focus on academic excellence, but you also need to have a really well-structured pastoral and wellbeing programme that not only looks after the boy but also helps mould them in terms of their character development.

"The boys need to become resilient, lifelong learners who are as fluent in emotional intelligence as they are in cognitive intelligence, who can think independently, are ethically aware, grow constantly in their faith, have high self-esteem, are not afraid to be risk takers and can approach the world with curiosity, compassion and empathy."