Lindisfarne College appoints Stuart Hakeney as new Rector
Lindisfarne College is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Stuart Hakeney from Hamilton Boys’ High School, as the next Rector of Lindisfarne College.
Hakeney has been Deputy Headmaster of Hamilton Boys’ for the past 11 years. He brings to Lindisfarne a wealth of experience from working in a boys’ school that has a reputation for excellence, alongside a Principal who is highly respected within the sector.
Lindisfarne College Council Chair, Andrew Kirkpatrick, said that the Council was very pleased with the appointment and had been impressed by Hakeney’s personable nature and his emphasis on making connections and developing relationships with students, staff, and the community.
Kirkpatrick said of the appointment, “It is clear to us that Stuart’s goal is to enhance and extend the opportunities for each of our students to become the best that they can be. He is sympathetic to the history and traditions of the College and committed to strengthening the legacy of Lindisfarne.”
Hakeney is very excited about the new job and feels that it is a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead Lindisfarne College which has a reputation for providing an excellent all-round education for boys. As Hakeney said, “My experience is in boys' education and so the opportunity to lead a boys' school that promotes character education around the four cornerstones of academic, sporting, cultural and Christian dimensions feels like an ideal fit for me.”
He went on to say: “I was particularly drawn to the way in which Lindisfarne honours tradition and values the past but is also looking forward to find new and innovative ways to enrich its curriculum. The council wants Lindisfarne students to enjoy an exciting, relevant and fulfilling experience inside the classroom and in their co-curricular pursuits, as well as building character via Christian values, so it will be both a challenge and a thrill to lead a college with such wonderful aspirations.”
“I will work with the staff to reinforce our unique values at every opportunity in order to promote a strong sense of brotherhood amongst the boys and an attitude of "arete" - that sense of being the best version of themselves in all endeavours and truly living up to their potential.”
“Whilst Lindisfarne boasts excellent results, I am very focused on the need to adopt an attitude of continual improvement for our students. My portfolio at HBHS centred around taking an evidence-based approach to identifying gaps in student achievement and targeting initiatives that accelerated progress for all, but particularly for those who needed to catch up quickly. I know the staff at Lindisfarne are committed to developing teaching and learning practices that work best for boys and so I look forward to leading such a committed and capable learning community.”
Hakeney, who has three grown up children who are busy pursuing their own careers in other parts of New Zealand, is looking forward to the move to Hawke’s Bay with his wife Lydia.
“We have always been drawn to Hawke’s Bay whenever we've had the time to take a break - usually around New Year time. The area has something for everyone and the ability to enjoy time by the ocean will be special. Hawke’s Bay is obviously a family friendly region. It's a fantastic place to bring up children, and whilst our own children are grown up, I can't think of a better place in New Zealand for future grandchildren to visit or live!”
