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Branksome Hall logo
in-depth report
The OUR KIDS Report: Branksome Hall
Grades JK TO Gr. 12 — Toronto, ON (Map)
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THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
Branksome Hall
REPORT CONTENTS
Reviews
Analysis

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Toronto (Oct 04)

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School Leadership

What is the leadership style at Branksome Hall? How do the school leaders shape the culture, priorities, and daily life of the community? How does this leadership style compare to that of other private and independent schools, and how might it influence your choice of school?

Page Contents

Facts and analysis

MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP

We asked Grace McCallum, Principal at Branksome Hall for their message.

They offered insights into their vision, values, and the principles that define their leadership style.

Grace McCallum, Principal

Branksome is more than just a school; it’s a community with a rich history dating back more than a century. 

Since our founding in 1903, we have dedicated ourselves to nurturing young minds and hearts, guiding them towards not only academic excellence but also a holistic sense of well-being and a network of lifelong friends. Our reputation as the pre-eminent girls’ school in Canada is built on our unwavering commitment to fostering an environment where students can thrive in every aspect of their lives and have boundless opportunities.

Choosing a school for your child is a pivotal decision, and I want to take a moment to underscore the benefits and gifts that come with this choice.

Being a day or boarding student at Branksome Hall provides a structured and nurturing environment where students can focus on their academic and personal development, surrounded by dedicated educators and mentors who truly care about each and every one of them. 

Living and learning among peers from diverse backgrounds enriches students’ cultural understanding and social skills, preparing them for global citizenship. The friendships formed in Branksome’s caring, close-knit setting often become lifelong bonds. One of the greatest strengths of our school is the deep and lasting relationships that are formed here. These relationships extend beyond the classroom and the school years, becoming a lifelong network of friends and allies.

At Branksome Hall, we teach our girls to challenge the status quo by encouraging them to question and explore beyond traditional boundaries. We equip them with the skills to be change makers, fostering their ability to innovate and lead in a rapidly changing world. In the face of complex global challenges, our students listen deeply, think creatively, and take action to make a meaningful difference.

This is such an exciting time to be at Branksome Hall with the opening of our new iCAST building on the horizon, the first of its kind at an independent school in Canada. This building is the embodiment of our innovative spirit—leading by example for other schools, and a place where our students can be inspired in entrepreneurship, STEAM, design thinking and innovation. 

As a parent myself, I understand the significance of entrusting us with the education and care of your children. As you read through this site, you’ll discover more about the Branksome difference and what sets us apart. When you’re ready to learn more, drop by our campus for a tour or reach out to our Admissions team. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing more about what makes our school truly remarkable.

Warmly,

Grace McCallum

Principal

INTERVIEW WITH THE LEADERSHIP

Watch our interview with Grace McCallum, Principal at Branksome Hall

They reflect on their path to educational leadership, the school's mission, and the vision guiding their everyday decisions.

Grace McCallum, Principal at Branksome Hall, discussed the school's focus on academic excellence, personalized learning, and well-being. She emphasized Branksome’s commitment to innovation, global connections, and empowering girls, particularly through initiatives like the upcoming ICAST building for STEM education.

Video Contents

 

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.


The mission is to develop leadership skills in every student.

Insights from students and parents reveal that Branksome Hall fosters a culture where leadership opportunities are abundant and encouraged, helping each student to find their voice and lead in their own capacity.

Leadership is such a big part of Branksome. They want everyone to be a leader—whether you’re a leader for a small club, or if you’re a leader for something huge. I think everyone at Branksome in some way is passionate about leadership because it’s such a big part of the school. There’s just so much that Branksome gives you, and so many opportunities that they give you, that just lets you be passionate about anything that you can ever want.
—Becca Clark, alum (see full interview)
The other thing that has been incredible for her is that she joined rowing this year, and she's the coxie for the Grade 9 class. And she's finding her voice and her leadership skills and all of her great skills that she's learned at Branksome in terms of being strong and being committed and being a good leader are all being put to test as she sits in the coxswain seat and she's doing a great job there.
—Clara Mathur, parent (beginning in JK) (see full interview)
I would say the biggest impact the school has had is in terms of their confidence in themselves, their leadership, and their desire to present, and make change happen. An example is  Branksome has a wonderful Noodle program, and both of my girls were really excited to apply into it.  So I would say those are the three big things that I’ve seen in my girls—they want to make change, they want to lead. They’re very comfortable presenting, working collaboratively with others, all those life skills that you see in a corporate world, in any type of environment.
—Nina Piatek, parent (see full discussion)

The focus is on innovative and forward-thinking education.

Comments from administrators and alumni suggest that Branksome Hall continuously embraces innovation, with programs like Noodle exemplifying an innovative mindset and providing practical, forward-looking opportunities for students to challenge themselves.

Private school is a privilege, and I think the administration and teachers at Branksome know that. They instil in our students that this is an opportunity, use it, work it to be the best person you can be. So the charity, the attitude of ‘take action’, and the initiatives students come up with to help and support people locally, is amazing. And that comes from what Branksome teaches.
—Lisa Richards, alum (see full discussion)
The opportunities to see speakers and experience things that I don’t think I would have anywhere else, that’s something I appreciated about my experience at Branksome Hall. We had some incredible speakers in my six years at Branksome. Being able to interact with those leaders—especially leaders who are women—was really impactful and something I’m very appreciative of.
—Nora Hodgson, alum (see full interview)

Attention is given to both academic and extracurricular excellence.

Feedback from parents and students underscores that Branksome Hall offers a robust liberal arts education paired with well-rounded extracurricular programs, fostering both academic excellence and a diverse range of interests.

Our daughter is very results-oriented, so I know that she gets a lot of pleasure from doing well academically. I know last year when she finished Grade 8, she made the principal's list, and she was incredibly proud of herself and her achievements because she worked hard for that and she deserved it. 
—Clara Mathur, parent (beginning in JK) (see full interview)
I would say the three reasons for recommending Branksome would be a very solid liberal arts foundation and education, strong academic leadership there, in terms of just good curriculum, and good reinforcement, good studying skills. And, besides the academics, they put a lot of emphasis around really good athletic programs. Everything from dance to sports is really well understood at Branksome and really well supported.
—Clara Mathur, parent (beginning in JK) (see full interview)
I think if you’re a prospective family, I would say it’s a no-brainer to go to Branksome. If you look at our academic results compared to the IB Programme grade average globally, ours is far higher. If you look at our OSSD grades, they’re materially higher than average. If you look at the fact that almost all of our girls do go to university, that they all get accepted to university, that’s a pretty amazing statistic. Many of them go to the best universities in the world. Many of them get scholarships to go to the best universities in Canada, in the U.S., and the U.K. So if you judge a school by what kind of graduates it produces, and what those graduates go on to do, I think the proof is in the pudding.
—Lisa Richards, alum (see full discussion)

The leadership style is attentive and approachable.

Accounts from parents and students highlight that the administration and faculty at Branksome make a concerted effort to know each student individually, creating a personalized and supportive environment.

At Branksome, the administration, the principals, vice-principals, and all the teachers know my daughter by name. They know her interests. When children come through in the morning, you can see them saying ‘good morning’ to each child and addressing them by name. They’ll ask questions like, ‘How was the hockey tournament on the weekend? How was your swim competition?’ They really know your child, not just academically, but all facets of your child, which very much impresses.
—Lisa Richards, alum (see full discussion)
Not every school has a leadership team that students feel comfortable and safe to go to no matter the problem. I personally spent time sitting in an office or two when I needed advice, had a question, or just wanted to chat. This feeling of comfort and safety was also felt when the school responded to events within the school community or outside the school community, ensuring leadership always takes the necessary steps to foster a positive school environment.
—Sara Akbari, alum (1995-2009), Educator (see full review)
The guidance counsellor department was very supportive. We could book meetings at any time and any day to go over whatever we wanted and were encouraged to ask as many questions as we had. I have heard that Branksome has enlisted more university counsellors. From the feedback from my peers currently attending Branksome and seeing their results being able to get into incredible schools, I believe the new team is exceptional in their ability to support students. The results speak for themselves I think, and Branksome's decision to separate University and Guidance Counselors was a perfect way to improve that process for students.
—Deniz Mutlu, alum (2012-2022), Currently in second year univeristy (see full review)
 

THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Branksome Hall

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