Canterbury College Joins the Round Square Global Network
Canterbury College has officially joined Round Square, an international network of more than 280 schools across 50 countries committed to developing students of character, confidence and global perspective.
Round Square membership places Canterbury alongside schools that share a belief in education that goes beyond the classroom. In Australia, fellow members include respected schools such as Radford College in Canberra, Barker College, MLC School Sydney and Newcastle Grammar School. Globally, the network spans six continents, connecting schools through shared values and real-world experiences.
The Round Square framework is guided by six principles known as the IDEALS: Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service. These align closely with Canterbury’s Four Dimensions and our core values of Integrity, Respect, Gratitude and Effort. In many ways, Round Square gives our community a global language for the work we’re already doing well.
Canterbury’s entry into the network was affirmed at the recent Australasia and East Asia Forum at Radford College in Canberra, where Global Director Rachael Westgarth personally welcomed the College and noted the strong alignment between Canterbury and the Round Square IDEALS. Our own presentation, Celebrating Student Voice Beyond the Classroom, showcased how student agency at Canterbury is lived and active, particularly through initiatives like United Nations Day, where students lead planning, decision-making and delivery at scale.
What Round Square means for Canterbury students
Membership opens up a wide range of new opportunities, with more to come as our involvement grows:
Student exchanges: Canterbury students will have the chance to experience life and schooling at another school, building independence and confidence in the process. We’re planning to begin with domestic exchanges in 2027, with international opportunities to follow.
Global conferences: Older students can attend regional and global Round Square student conferences, representing Canterbury on the world stage. Our first group will attend the Global Conference this year.
Online collaborations: Through weekly Postcards sessions and subject-specific online labs in Languages, History and Geography, students can connect with peers from schools around the world, extending their learning well beyond Canterbury’s campus.
Service and adventure: Round Square opens doors to meaningful service initiatives and adventure experiences with other schools internationally.
We look forward to sharing more about our Round Square journey as these opportunities begin to take shape for students and staff.