Scotch College announces Matthew Leeds as new principal
A new principal has been appointed at the prestigious Scotch College after an international search for the top job.
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A new principal has been appointed at the prestigious Scotch College.
In a statement from the school on Friday, the school’s chairman Alex Sloan announced that the school council has appointed Matthew Leeds as the school’s new principal.
Mr Leeds will take on the top job from mid-2022 and will be the school’s tenth principal.
An international search for the top job had begun when former principal Tom Batty announced his resignation in May, citing family reasons.
In a statement to families, Mr Leeds said he was “deeply honoured” to take on the new role.
“I am inspired by Scotch’s rich history, commitment and to excellence and an emphasis on service that comes from its Christian foundations,” he said.
“It is my desire to be adaptive, preparing for the future, while building on the legacy of the past.”
Mr Leeds began his career as a history teacher and Housemaster at St Andrew’s Cathedral School.
In 2013, he was appointed Head of History at Geelong Grammar School, and Director of IB in 2015, along with concurrent roles as Assistant Housemaster and Acting Boarding Housemaster of Perry House.
In 2019, he moved to Shore as Director of Studies, responsible for the strategic direction of academic programs, and leading a team of 188 teaching staff.
He has recently been appointed deputy headmaster, academic from 2022, and will serve in this role for the first half of next year, before moving to Scotch.
Mr Leeds, is also a gifted sportsman, who has competed at the national level in swimming and athletics, as well as playing semi-professional AFL as a member of the Sydney Swans Reserves.
While the school has appeared in the news in recent years in connection to its schoolyard culture and handling of sexual abuse allegations from a female teen, it had largely escaped the turmoil that has plagued many private boys’ schools.
Every new kinder opening in schools across Victoria in 2025
New kindergartens will be built at 20 primary and secondary schools across Victoria in a move to scrap the dreaded double drop off. See where.
Allan plots international student loophole as she blasts feds
Jacinta Allan has used a speech in India to criticise the federal government’s proposed cap on international students as the Premier looks at a way Victoria can exploit a major loophole.