What is the The Round Square Conference of Schools?
Round Square is a worldwide association of schools, currently numbering nearly ninety members, which share a
commitment, beyond academic excellence, to personal development and responsibility through service,
challenge, adventure and international understanding. Its origins come from the philosophy of Kurt Hahn who
founded two schools as well as the Outward Bound Program. He taught that schools should have a greater
purpose beyond preparing students for university and he believed in educating young people for life by enabling
them to face life in ways that demanded courage, generosity, imagination, kindness, empathy, compassion and
principles.
All member schools share a strong underlying belief: this is the view of learning by doing. It is an ongoing process
of self-confrontation and formation, involving a fundamental objective of the full and individual development of
every student into a whole person: academically, physically, culturally and spiritually, within the supportive
environment of the Westminster School community.
Why is it called The Round Square?
In Scotland, a square has traditionally been the administrative centre of an estate. At Gordonstoun School the
square is a circular two story building, The Round Square. The first conference was held in this building in 1967
and it was decided to adopt the name The Round Square Conference for the association.
What are the principles of The Round Square?
As a Round Square school, Westminster School embraces a series of six pillars or precepts which are summed up
in the acronym, IDEALS. They are:
Internationalism:
Students are taught to appreciate, value and respect all cultures, religions and languages. Students learn to see
themselves as global citizens, and are asked to look beyond gender, class, race, nationality and culture to
understand human nature. International conferences, student exchanges in Years Eight and Ten, Westminster
School’s own overseas service project to India, Project India, which is open to the whole School community,
and GAP years are arranged by Westminster School to facilitate this.
Students can also take part in Round Square International Service Projects (RSIS) which annually go to
Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras, India (two projects), Kenya, South Africa and Thailand. The School has been
very active in both the Preparatory and Senior Schools with cultural and musical exchanges with Daly College
in India and Tamagawa Academy in Japan. Westminster School sponsors students at Starehe Boys’ Centre and
School in Nairobi Kenya and at Narok Legacy Girls School also in Kenya.
Democracy:
Teaching students both the values of democracy and the importance of active participation in democracy is
essential to Westminster School. Freedom of thought and speech is greatly encouraged and appropriate
forums and channels of communication are in place. Students are also taught to appreciate the importance of
self-discipline and are trained and expected to share in the running of the school.
At Westminster School, there are various forums that students can be involved in, at School, House and Year
levels, in both the Preparatory and Senior Schools. There is participatory democracy through the election of
the School leaders and House captains, this has been extended into most areas of the co-curricular program as
well. The Round Square at Westminster School is in the hands of a student board of directors with two directors
responsible for the six pillars, plus four other areas, including two directors from the Preparatory School.
Environment:
Students are taught the importance of tending to the future of the planet. Our students are expected to
demonstrate an active interest and concern for all natural environments, to be aware of proven problems and
to play a practical role in tackling environmental issues. Students are taught the fine balance and the
interdependence needed to maintain a healthy relationship between human beings and the planet. All
emphasise each young person's destiny to be a guardian of human society and the global environment.
Westminster School has been very active in recycling paper, cans, batteries, newspapers and bottles. There
have been extensive tree planting programs involving our students at Glenroy and Gemtree Vineyard, along
with assistance at the Monarto Zoo, Meningie Progress Association and Moorundie Wildlife Reserve. The
School has been active in the Clean-up Australia program. The program for Environment Week is an initiative
of the Round Square Board.
Adventure:
Building the body and soul through adventure meeting the physical challenge and developing an appreciation
of the outdoors: these are all central to Round Square schools. Most students at Westminster School
participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme which fosters a spirit of adventure and the realization that
students can be so much more than they might have imagined. The School has extensive Outdoor Education
and camps programs, including the Year Ten Westventure experience which further promotes this ideal. The
academic excellence of the Outdoor Education program is complimented by the high number of Westminster
students who their achieve Silver and Gold level in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Leadership:
Students are taught that true leadership is found in those whose convictions are rooted in personal
responsibility, kindness and justice. A high level of responsibility is passed on to students individually and
collectively. Round Square committees in schools are chaired by students, and various leadership positions of
consequence are shared by the students.
The annual International, Regional Senior and Junior Conferences are an ideal forum for students to
demonstrate leadership skills, both in the planning process and public administration. Leadership is promoted
in both the Preparatory and Senior at Westminster School through School leadership positions, as well as in
the Round Square Board of Directors and co-curricular activities. Year 7 students also participate in National
Leaders Day. Leadership is promoted in Service projects and Adventure activities where the students are
encouraged to take major role in the planning, organisation and evaluation phases. Westminster School has
hosted a number of Regional Conference; the Senior Conference in 2003, the Junior Conference in 2006 the
Senior Conference in 2011 and the Young Round Square Conference in 2015.
The 2016 Young Round Square Conference for Year 8 students is at Scotch College in Perth in April.
Service:
A key method used by Round Square to prepare students for life is by the expectation of serving others. Each
student is encouraged to perform a substantial number of service hours, either in school-sponsored, local,
regional or international projects. Round Square International Service Projects (RSIS) have been in existence
since the early eighties, occurring in developing countries, where both staff and students from Round Square
schools work together in constructing buildings and water systems.
Our students have been involved in such projects in Cambodia, India, Kenya, South Africa and Thailand. To help
in funding these projects, students raise money for the Prince Alexander Project Fund, to supply construction
materials for the projects, as Westminster School did for the Asian Tsunami projects of the Round Square.
Westminster School has an extensive Service Learning program involving students working as volunteers with
our community partners, including the Monarto Zoo, Meningie Progress Association, Moorundie Wildlife
Reserve, Uniting Care Wesley, Riding for the Disabled, Marion Resthaven, OneSight, MarionLife and Minda
Home.
In the past, the School also has its own overseas Service projects; Cambodia Service Project and India Service
Project, which sees the whole School involved in the fund raising for the institutions and morally supporting
small groups of volunteers visiting these institutions. (All fundraising is used to directly support our local and
international community partners, not to cover the expenses of participants).
There is support from Round Square for a number of social and political causes including Kidzpositive in South
Africa, White Ribbon Day, Abbeyfield Marion House, Greening Australia and AIDS Awareness, One Village,
World Vision, bread tags for Mental Illness Fellowship of South Australia, Westcare Baptist Church homeless
meals program, One Sight and World Harmony Day.
“There’s more in you than you think.” Kurt Hahn