Cambridge High School’s head students for 2026 are Erin Bouwer, Ethan Harvey, Anna Crouchman and Blake Williams,
After starring in numerous school productions over recent years, Anna Crouchman now has a leading role as one of Cambridge High School’s two head girls for 2026.She will share the job with Erin Bouwer.
Anna Crouchman is a singer-songwriter who recently released her third single, Lost in the Middle.
“I’ve always enjoyed the aspects of leadership from a young age and the opportunities that it brings,” Anna said.
“I think this was ignited by being a school ambassador at primary school and it has grown from there.”
Anna was born in Hamilton and has lived in Cambridge all her life with her parents and older brother Max, now 19. She attended Leamington School and Cambridge Middle School before starting Cambridge High School in 2022.
Her mother Tracey, a child-centred play therapist, and father David, an occupational therapist, emigrated to New Zealand from England in 2002.
Anna said her kiwi roots extended back to her great-grandmother Winifred Mary Lones, who was born in Auckland in 1902.
“Her parents helped establish Rawene Hospital in Northland, now known as Hauora Hokianga,” she said.
A singer-songwriter with a passion for performing arts, Anna recently released her third single, Lost in the Middle, available on streaming platforms.
She recently featured in Hamilton Musical Theatre’s Lion King Jr production and is a member of Cambridge High’s senior hip-hop troupe Insomnia, which won gold at the DanceNZ Made nationals.
This year Anna studied level 2 biology, chemistry, dance, music, mathematics and English, winning the Thornton Trophy for Diligence in Dance, first in year 12 dance, and top dance troupe.
Having served on Cambridge High’s Junior Executive in 2023, this year she was appointed to the school’s Arts Committee and made a Te Oko Horoi House captain.
She also took part in the 2025 40-Hour Famine and volunteered at Kids in Need Waikato’s Big Day Out recently, helping foster children enjoy fun activities to give their caregivers a break.
“This was an epic day, and it was really special to spend it with some amazing little people,” she said. “A special shoutout to the petting zoo – the giant rabbits were a hit!”
Anna said arts prefects Ivy Oldershaw and Liam Dobson and this year’s head students had inspired her.
“I’ve worked particularly closely with the deputy head girl Dani D’Ath as we are both in the same house, and her genuine brightness that she walks with every day has been so cool to be around,” she said.
Anna saw the head girl position as an opportunity to grow connections between her school and the wider community, while supporting students to “be the best versions of themselves”.
“I believe that everything in our life comes back to a three-root connection with ourselves, our environments and the people that surround us,” she said.
“I think connection is the foundation to any success because once we have these firm roots to stand on, it is much more doable to take steps forward towards our futures. In particular, I would love to strengthen the relationships our students have with each other.
“When we all walk out into the world, we don’t know what we will find, but when we are surrounded by the right people we know exactly what we will find when we come back home. I hope in this position I can help to grow the connection and pave a path that others can then follow.”
She expects finding a balance between leadership responsibilities, study and extracurricular activities will be “tough” – “but I’m sure the four of us will make it work”.
She is looking forward to meeting other Waikato head students.
“It will be great to see the ways we can support each other through our leadership journeys and hopefully we will make new friends along the way,” she said.
“A quote that I live by is ‘enjoy being in the process of becoming’. We are all constantly growing and learning from experience, and it is easy to get caught up in it all as we try to reach our goals. But I find it really important to take the time to appreciate the present, how far you have come and to enjoy existing as you are, in the process of becoming who you want to be.”
Anna said her parents had been hugely supportive in her leadership journey.
“I really appreciate the endless encouragement and love they have given me from day one,” she said.
“They are truly my rock and the foundation of who I am. I am so proud to call them my parents and thankful for their presence in my life.”
Anna has no fixed career plans at this point, but is currently tossing up between musical theatre, paediatric medicine, conservation work and marine biology.
“One thing I would love to do is travel and learn about regions across all corners of the world,” she said.
“I would also love to carry on with my performing arts passion whilst also making a difference somewhere in the sciences.
“Mostly, I would just love to keep on taking up opportunities that arise and see where I end up.”
Anna Crouchman (right) with Cambridge High School’s other head students for 2026 (from left) Blake Williams, Erin Bouwer and Ethan Harvey. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins
