Scotch College unveils Dr Scott Marsh as new principal after global search

The appointment of the new principal comes after the elite boys school’s earlier choice was fired before he even started.

Dr Scott Marsh will be Scoth College’s new principal,

Scotch College has selected a new principal after sacking their previous top choice over allegations of misconduct at another exclusive school.

Dr Scott Marsh, who is the Headmaster of an Anglican school in Sydney, will begin the role in 2023 after the school’s earlier choice was fired before he even started.

Marsh is currently the headmaster of William Clarke College in Sydney’s northwest, a P-12 private school where he also previously worked as deputy headmaster.

Marsh reportedly has more than 30 years’ experience, previously working at other elite schools such as Sydney Church of England Co-Educational Grammar School in Cremorne (SCECGS Redlands), The King’s School in Parramatta and the Australian International School in Singapore.

Chairman Alex Sloan said Dr Marsh was a “highly regarded” principal who was well-respected in the school community.

“On behalf of the whole Scotch community, I congratulate Dr Marsh on his appointment as our 10th Principal, and look forward to welcoming the Marsh family to Scotch College next year,” Mr Sloan said.

Scotch College in Hawthorn. Picture: Tony Gough

“He is a respected and innovative leader, a contributor to national and international educational debate, and a highly regarded Principal among his students, staff and the wider school community.

“He has a vision for boys’ education that encourages innovation, independent thought, excellence and a sense of service – along with inclusivity and respect for all members of the community.”

In a letter to the school community, Dr Marsh said he looked forward to taking on his new role.

“It will be a privilege to continue to build upon Scotch’s outstanding reputation in the area of character education and to help produce young men who will serve and shape their communities, the nation and the world,” he said.

Dr Marsh succeeds the school’s previous principal Tom Batty, who left the role after more than a decade for family reasons in May last year.

Dr Marsh said: “I again acknowledge and thank Tom Batty for his unswerving commitment over his 14 years at the helm and thank Rob McLaren for taking on the Acting Principal role in the interim period”.

Mr Sloan in February faced pressure to resign over Leeds’ appointment.

In the wake of the fallout from Leeds’ sudden departure, Scotch said they conducted “extensive” reference and background checks on all candidates before appointing Dr Marsh.

Marsh’s appointment to the top job concludes a months-long search, during which the elite school enlisted the help of the executive recruitment firm to fill the role.

Scotch announced Matthew Leeds as the school’s 10th principal in November last year before sacking him in January when allegations of misconduct surfaced relating to his time working at Geelong Grammar in 2017, which he denied.

The allegations levelled against Mr Leeds were investigated in 2018 and he was cleared before he began working at Sydney’s exclusive Shore School.