School Leadership at Pickering College: Philosophy, Approach, and Administration

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Pickering College School Leadership

Pickering College's leadership emphasizes a comprehensive Global Leadership Program grounded in Quaker values and a commitment to nurturing diversity. The leadership team focuses on academic excellence and whole-child development, fostering an empowering environment where students are inspired to become compassionate global citizens and effective community leaders.

Facts and analysis

MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP

We invited Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School at Pickering College, to share a message.

The overview highlights the vision, values, and guiding principles that shape leadership and the student experience at Pickering College.

Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Pickering College. Since our founding in 1842, thousands have walked our halls as Pickering College students. Our alumni have gone on to make a difference in just about every imaginable field and endeavour, both here in Canada and globally.

We are the only independent day and boarding school in Canada for students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 that provides a comprehensive Global Leadership Program founded on Quaker values.

We celebrate diversity in all aspects. Whether through our commitment to providing a co-educational environment, or our unique approach to educating and developing the whole child through a focus on academic excellence, co-curricular distinction, character, and leadership development.

Our dedicated teachers deliver a fully integrated program that encourages students to realize their full potential within a challenging academic learning environment and where students are empowered to develop into courageous and compassionate global citizens fully equipped to contribute and provide leadership to their communities and the world at large.

I encourage you to proceed through these pages to learn how a Pickering College education uncovers all aspects of your child’s unique talents and gifts – academic, artistic, athletic and altruistic.

Dr. Cinde Lock

Head of School

Qualitative insights

These insights are based on conversations with parents, alumni, and school leadership. Handpicked and curated by our editor, they offer a close look at how the school is experienced and perceived by those who know it best.

They maintain a personalized and family-like environment.

Insights from students and alumni suggest that Pickering College's leadership approach feels personalized and family-like, offering a space where student voices are valued and traditional power structures are challenged for more inclusive representation.

The school leadership is very strong and I think the reason for this stems from their personalization. Pickering College is a smaller school and everybody knows everybody, the tightly knit community allows the school leadership to be incredibly accessible and personalized. All faculty apart of the school leadership are extremely friendly and care to hear the voice of the students and represent that through the mode of administration. The greatest feature regarding the leadership in the school is that it doesn't resemble the typical school power structure and is more closely alike to that of a family where all voices are valued and heard.

—Shyam Subramanyam, student (beginning 2019) (see full review)

The school leadership at Pickering always felt steady. I would not say students talked about the administration much, but when something needed to be handled, it usually was. I never had a moment where I felt brushed off. When issues came up, even small ones, the staff listened and tried to sort them out without making it dramatic. Most students respected the leadership, even if they did not always agree with every rule. What mattered most was that the adults treated us like we had a voice, and that stayed with me.

—Heather Golding, alum (2011-2024), Camp counsellor (see full review)

Leadership at Pickering was kind of surprisingly approachable. I expected the usual distant office figures, but instead, they were everywhere. They asked how you were doing at the most random times, usually when you had food in your mouth. Students respected them because they were consistent. If something went wrong, they fixed it without drama. They communicated clearly with parents, which kept things calm. The atmosphere they created made it easy to trust that someone was paying attention to what mattered.

—Thomas Bianco, alum (2010-2024), Engineering Co-Op Software Quality Assurance (see full review)

I am actually a Student Ambassador and one of my responsibilities is delivering tours to new families explaining the school. If I were to lead a group of visitors, without any hesitation, I would begin with the Meeting Room. The Meeting Room represents the core values of our school and metaphorically speaking is the heart of Pickering College. Every day during a regular year, all senior school students would arrive to the meeting room to listen to the morning meeting where the Head Master would deliver a speech regarding values entrenched in current events. Announcements, as well as presentations, would take place in these morning meetings. The importance of this meeting hall truly comes from the sense of unity and collectivism that is found within the walls. All students sit together as equals and listen together.

—Shyam Subramanyam, student (beginning 2019) (see full review)

Communication and parental involvement foster a community atmosphere.

Reports from students and parents suggest that Pickering College excels in creating an inclusive environment through efficient communication and active parental involvement, promoting a supportive community dynamic that includes organized events and volunteer efforts.

I agree that school takes great responsibility on the management side. They always respond to my emails or requests in a timely manner. I always received the headmaster’s email about any emergency or important announcements. I appreciate that the headmaster’s efficient management and make school work well. As far as I know, the school handles discipline issues fairly. A teacher can communicate with students and parents effectively. There is no discrimination I can find in the school. Briefly I am satisfied with the communication with school.

—Amy Wang, parent (beginning 2016) (see full review)

PCA is the parents community in Pickering College. Coff Social is a chance for parents to meet school management officers. PC parents have done many amazing things every year including parents-teachers interviews receptions, holiday home tour and Gala as volunteers. I met the first PC parent when we had a school tour during the summer. Although the school was closed, this mom volunteer led us to visit the school and answered my questions. Parents help improve the friendly environment in the school. Our parents are great and very important part of the school.

—Amy Wang, parent (beginning 2016) (see full review)

They emphasize a blend of academic excellence and personal growth.

Observations from alumni indicate that Pickering College is noteworthy for its educational approach, which combines a strong academic foundation with personal development opportunities, such as the Global Leadership Project and individualized learning paths.

Pickering College has a wide selection of courses across various fields, throughout the 4 years of senior school, they incorporate their own GLP's(Global Leadership Project) which are infused with the subject and coursework respective to the grade. Pickering College focuses on helping teach the student not only what it takes to succeed as an academic but also as a person. Skills such as leadership, initiative and stewardship are placed in high regard. All courses are at a high academic level and there are many individualized paths for different students. One such example is the accelerated math where students can opt for a challenging and faster course load. I hope that Pickering College will begin to offer more selection in terms of AP courses as the years come as it would increase school support for students interested in a future in the US.

—Shyam Subramanyam, student (beginning 2019) (see full review)

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Pickering College School Leadership

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MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP

Qualitative insights

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Facts and analysis

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Qualitative insights

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