Making an impact: Pearson (right) and Davis at KH8 in Cyberjaya. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
Education is a process where educators help students discover and develop their talents, guiding them towards their full potential.
This, said Christ College Brecon (CCB), Wales, United Kingdom, head Gareth Pearson, cannot be done if the focus on education is solely on academics.
Holistic education, he stressed, is about helping young individuals discover their strengths and passions so they are equipped to make well-informed choices about their future.
“We want young men and women to leave us at 18 years old, confident that we have discovered everything that lies within them, and helped them develop these strengths so that they fully understand themselves and are well positioned to make good choices about their careers and lives after school,” he said.
This, however, does not mean being anti-academic.
“Academics and personal development should complement each other rather than be seen as opposing forces.
“Once students find something that they love and know they’re good at, and are recognised for it, confidence, self-belief and leadership skills will follow,” he said.
Pastoral care
A holistic education, with pastoral care at its core, ensures that students emerge from their schooling years as competent learners and well-rounded individuals equipped for the complexities of a globalised world, said Pearson.
In schools with excellent pastoral care, students feel safe enough to seek help when they are struggling, and have a deep sense of belonging.
Admitting vulnerability is an important life skill, as is being very good at self-help, he said, adding that strong pastoral care fosters an environment where every student feels seen, valued, and included.
A strong pastoral system, explained King Henry VIII College Malaysia (KH8) head of school Martin Davis, builds trust and relationships between students and educators.
“The essence of pastoral care lies in truly understanding each student, allowing for a tailored approach to education that evolves with their needs.
“It’s about knowing the child and then supporting them and trying to find the right pathway for them to later life so that they are able to grow both academically and personally.
“Pastoral care provides an environment for a child to feel happy, secure and loved so that they can thrive,” he said, adding that this is where the integration of local and cultural values within the school setting becomes crucial.
“We educate the children in internationalism and global citizenship but they’re also very rich in their own heritage and culture.
“So, our students will be able to work and fit in anywhere in the world.
“Gen Z is expected to experience 16 jobs in six to 10 different countries in their lifetime and we have to prepare them for that,” he added.
Holistic education, according to Pearson, ensures that students develop robustness and life-readiness.
This, he said, extends beyond individual resilience to include an understanding of cultural diversity and adaptability.
“Having the ability and understanding to work with anybody, any culture, and be at ease and comfortable while making others feel at ease and comfortable is a brilliant life skill to have,” he said.
Skills and resilience
The question, said Davis, is how to ensure students who leave the classroom go into the world and successfully become who they want to be.
“It’s about developing that self-confidence to know who you are, and understanding your own strengths and weaknesses,” he added.
Stressing the importance of equipping students with skills businesses and employers want, Davis said he has encountered many chief executive officers lamenting about talents who don’t know how to speak in front of other people.
The only way students can be employable, he added, is if they are able to lead and to present their ideas confidently.
“These are skills that set individuals apart in the job market.
“Academics certainly play a part but it’s these other things that make an employer say, ‘Wow, that’s fantastic’,” he said.
Agreeing, Pearson also pointed to the need for resilience in students, especially those who excel academically without having faced challenges.
“These students, when they fail for the first time in their 20s, shatter.
“So if they find school life easy, we need to find ways to make it a little uncomfortable so they become like a rubber ball – able to bounce back with resilience,” he said.
Pearson and Davis sat down to speak to StarEdu before the KH8 parent meet in Cyberjaya on Feb 20.
KH8 is the sister school of CCB.
Scholarships available
Opened in September 2018, KH8 shares governance, management, and teaching and learning with CCB, one of the UK’s oldest independent schools founded in 1541 by King Henry VIII. The KH8 curriculum is closely based on the UK national curriculum, and students sit for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the A-Levels. KH8 offers scholarships to support academically outstanding students in their IGCSE and A-Level studies. These scholarships are designed to recognise and reward excellence, providing deserving students with the opportunity to excel in a challenging and dynamic learning environment. For details, contact the school at 03-8800 9888 or email admissions@kinghenryviii.edu.my
School is about more than academics, parents say
Heffernan
Nowadays, it is important for schools to focus on more than just academics because everyone is looking for all-rounders. When students leave school, they must be able to communicate and present themselves well, especially at job interviews. Many kids struggle because these skills were not nurtured at school and when they graduate, they are not able to adapt to the working world. I want to ensure my children don’t face the same challenges, which is why we prioritise schools that help them develop into well-rounded individuals.
Lorraine Heffernan, 43, mother of three
Syahirah
Learning isn’t just about sitting at a desk with books, pens and paper. Where do students see themselves in the future? What do they want to achieve, and how can they best reach those goals? Exposing them to different experiences helps open their eyes to new possibilities. It’s about getting involved in music, drama or sports — engaging in activities that shape growth beyond academics. Sports help relieve stress, while music and the arts foster creativity in students. That’s why a holistic approach to education is so important.
Syahirah Radzi, 39, mother of two
