A top Adelaide private school Immanuel College announces John Thompson as its new principal

A top Adelaide private school has ended their search for a new principal after the man set to take up the top job at the start of 2024 resigned before he started.

A top private school has appointed a new permanent principal, about six months after the man who was supposed to take up the top job quit before his stint was set to begin.

Immanuel College, in Novar Gardens, has appointed John Thompson as their new principal to replace interim Paul Wright from January 2025.

Immanuel College has appointed John Thompson as its new permanent principal. Picture: Supplied.

Immanuel College interim Principal Paul Wright. Picture: Supplied.

It comes after John Tiver was due to begin a five-year term as principal of the independent school when students returned to campus at the end of January this year but resigned in December 2023.

Immanuel College Council chairman Kym Wallent announced the appointment of Mr Thompson to the school community and said it came after “a nationwide recruitment search”.

Mr Thompson is currently in the top job at Victory Lutheran College in Victoria, a post he has held since 2015.

Prior to that, Mr Thompson was deputy principal at Faith Lutheran College in the Barossa Valley.

“John’s career in the Lutheran system, his obvious successful leadership of an independent school community and his commitment to his students made him an ideal candidate,” Mr Wallent said.

Mr Thompson said he joins Immanuel College with “excitement”.

“I feel very humbled by the opportunity entrusted by the College Council to continue building on the strong foundations of those who have come before me,” Mr Thompson said.

“I am passionate about fostering a connected, innovative and inspired community that empowers our students through personalised learning experiences.”

Originally from South Australia, Mr Thompson and his family are set to visit Immanuel College later in the year to begin their relocation back to the state after nine years in Victoria.

Mr Thompson’s wife Laura is an old scholar at the school and his father-in-law, Stephen Rudolph, is a past principal of Immanuel Primary School.

Mr Thompson has two children who will attend Immanuel College from 2025.

John Tiver resigned before starting as the new Principal at Immanuel College. Picture: Supplied.

It comes after, in his original message to the school community in December, Mr Wallent told parents Mr Tiver said “for my health and wellbeing I have decided to retire now and not take up the five-year tenure of the principal role starting next year … I apologise for this change in direction and wish you and the college all the best for the future”.

Mr Wallent said the decision was “disappointing” but “I also acknowledge that John had Immanuel’s best interests at heart in making this difficult decision”.

Mr Tiver was recruited to replace Immanuel’s long standing principal Kevin Richardson, who retired at the end of 2023.