Nic Sullivan, 28 May 2026
A Message from the Deputy Rector
Crafting Men of Oak: Standing Strong Against Vaping
At our school, our overarching mission is crafting men of oak, developing young men who are strong, resilient, deeply grounded, and guided by integrity. To grow into this vision, our boys must learn to navigate challenges and make choices that reflect their true potential.
The vast majority of our young men make positive choices, and we know this issue does not affect all of our boys. However, we have seen a rise in the number of students who are vaping. Recently, we have intercepted a high number of vaping incidents, especially in our Junior School. Vaping directly contradicts our school values and poses a threat to the health, well-being, and daily learning environment of these developing young men.
The Health Risks Involved
A major hurdle we face is that many young people mistakenly believe vapes are just harmless, flavoured water vapour. In reality, the health risks are significant and directly impact their development into strong young men:
Most vapes contain highly concentrated nicotine, which can negatively impact adolescent brain development, specifically affecting memory, concentration, and mood regulation.
Vape aerosols contain heavy metals and volatile organic compounds that can cause acute lung irritation and long-term respiratory damage.
Rather than relieving stress, nicotine dependency frequently triggers heightened levels of anxiety, irritability, and mood swings.
Our Approach: Support and Accountability
To guide our boys back toward our school values, we approach this issue with both firm boundaries and proactive care.
We recognise that some students may already be dealing with a physical dependency. Guided by our value of care, when vaping is identified as a medical or addiction issue, we work closely with our Public Health Nurse, Rebecca Young, to provide targeted health education, resources, and confidential support.
Part of crafting men of oak means teaching accountability. The possession, distribution, or use of vapes on school grounds is strictly prohibited and goes against the respect we expect our students to have for themselves and their environment. We take these matters incredibly seriously; breaches of this policy will result in firm disciplinary action, which can lead to stand-downs.
How You Can Help at Home
We cannot curb this trend in isolation. Even if you do not think it is an issue for your boy, the temptation is always there, and we have worked with all manner of boys regarding vaping addiction. We ask that you please take some time over the coming days to have an open, candid discussion with your son about vaping.
Emphasise the realities of chemical dependency and the physical damage it causes.
Remind him of what it means to be a “man of oak”, making independent, healthy choices rather than bowing to peer pressure.
Let him know that both home and school are completely aligned on this issue.
By presenting a united front, we can ensure these young men have the clear boundaries, core values, and proactive support they need to make the right choices and grow into the men we know they can be.
Thank you all for your continued partnership!
Nic Sullivan
Deputy Rector – School Culture