The new principals taking over at Melbourne schools in 2020
It’s the changing of the guard at some of Melbourne’s best schools, with prized principal jobs turning over in readiness for the 2020 school year. See who will be taking on the top job at your school.
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As the academic year winds down the principal end of season draft is in full swing.
Some of Melbourne’s most prestigious schools, Melbourne Grammar, Trinity and Carey, are welcoming new heads for 2020.
Melbourne Grammar School will see one of its alumni in Philip Grutzner return to the school as headmaster.
Jonathan Walter from the Woodleigh School will step into the role of principal at Carey Grammar after Mr Grutzner’s departure
Trinity Grammar, which was embroiled in a spat over a hair cut which saw people organising a campaign truck to undermine then headmaster Dr Michael Davies, will have a permanent head for the first time in 18 months.
Former Carey principal Phil De Young has been interim-principal to calm things down, but will step aside for new principal Adrian Farrer, via Wangaratta’s Cathedral College where he has been principal.
Dr Davies, who has been working at the Catholic Education Office, will be principal of St Bernard’s Essendon next year.
Many of the principals are moving on after 10 years, either by choice or a board decision.
Insiders say that there is now a school of thought that school leaders need to be turned over every 10 years.
Long term Huntingtower School principal Mr Sholto Bowen retires after 21 years at the school.
Siena College principal Mrs Gaynor Robson-Garth steps down after 13 years in charge at the Camberwell Catholic girls’ school. In an address to Catholic principals a few weeks ago she noted the increasing complexity of the role.
After what it said was a worldwide search, Wesley appointed Melbourne Grammar School deputy Nicholas Evans as principal. Having studied at the school and then taught there for 20 years he replaced Dr Helen Drennen.
Here’s some of the big moves for 2020:
MELBOURNE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
IN: Philip Grutzner.
A former student at MGS, Mr Grutzner will be headmaster from next year, the first person to return in that capacity in the school’s 160 year history.
He has been principal at Carey Grammar School since 2010. Mr Grutzner was told last year that his contract would not be renewed.
His two daughters attended Carey and he is understood to have been disappointed by what he described as a “difficult” decision.
In a newsletter to parents at the time he said:
“Since last week’s announcement of the decision made by the Carey Board, the overwhelming support I have received from my family and friends, students, staff, parents and professional colleagues has been affirming. It has been a difficult experience, as you may appreciate, but I have everything to be proud of and will continue to give my best to the Carey community with grace, dignity and professionalism.”
Before Carey, Mr Grutzner was principal at Braemar College.
At the co-ed Carey he has been seen as progressive and under his leadership the school has embraced gender diversity.
Given the recent discussion around “toxic masculinity” at Melbourne Grammar, some insiders say he could be a circuit breaker.
OUT: Roy Kelley
The headmaster for nine years, Mr Kelley retires at the end of the year.
He was previously headmaster at Auckland’s King’s College from 2003 and deputy headmaster at Perth’s Hale School in the previous 10 years.
His last month has been unsettled by the “toxic masculinity” debate spearheaded by a female house leader who used the house dinner to tell everyone that the school needed to do a lot more to equip the boys for the future. The speech and ill advised tweets by school footy staffer and former Demon Brad Green has polarised some people involved with the school.
CAREY GRAMMAR SCHOOL
IN: Jonathan Walter
Following an extensive international search, the Carey board appointed Jonathan Walter as the new head of the Baptist grammar based in Kew.
“The board unanimously agrees that Jonathan is a progressive leader who will take our school community, students, staff and parents into a world that holds enormous potential for those willing to embrace exciting challenges”.
Jonathan will join Carey in January 2020, taking over from Philip Grutzner, who will leave the school at the end of this year.
There has been some disquiet at Woodleigh over recent months over the handling of the coke and grog in a limo binge by some Year 12s on the way the school dinner in August.
The school defended its handling of the issue on the basis that the students had been dealt with using Restorative Justice principles.
OUT: Philip Grutzner
Mr Grutzner did not have his contract renewed. It was interpreted as school councils deciding that 10 years in a job is enough and fresh ideas are needed.
As mentioned above, Mr Grutzner is back to his old school at MGS.
WOODLEIGH SCHOOL
IN: David Baker
Woodleigh says it had a lot of interest in the principal’s job from here and overseas but opted for a candidate not too far away in current Gippsland Grammar principal Mr Baker.
The board resolved that Mr Baker was a “community minded, progressive, experiential and holistic educator to lead us in the next phase of Woodleigh’s development”.
“David is very familiar with Woodleigh and its educational philosophy. He grew up on the Mornington Peninsula and is very excited to be returning to a place he holds so dear.”
Previously, Mr Baker worked at Mentone Grammar, Peninsula Grammar and Wesley College in leadership and teaching roles.
OUT: Jonathan Walter
Mr Walter is heading to town to head to Carey.
Deputy principal David Burton will be acting principal at Woodleigh until second term, 2020 when Mr Baker takes on the role.
CBC ST KILDA
IN: Terry Blizzard
Mr Blizzard is moving from St Virgil’s Catholic boys’ school in Hobart to take on the role at CBC.
CBC has decided to try to accommodate the Presentation College Windsor girls cut adrift by the surprising decision to close the nearby sister school. He will work with the overseeing body, Edmund Rice Education Australia, on what it looking like a parallel education model where girls and boys are mostly in separate classes.
Mr Blizzard has spent time at CBC this year.
OUT: Gerald Bain-King
In 2005 his appointment as principal was the first time a lay person was given the role in the 127 year history of CBC. He has sought to build on the school culture, redesigning the uniform and overseeing building works.
Instead of winding down, Mr Bain-King has ended up in the middle of the CBC-PCW union.
He has been consulting with families to nut out what the shape of a co-ed offering for CBC St Kilda might look like.
The current thought is that it could be a parallel education model where girls and boys are separated but as they get to senior years share classes.
The new look CBC will start in 2021.
GIPPSLAND GRAMMAR
IN: TBA
The school is advertising to fill the role. Applications close December 7.
OUT: David Baker
In term 2 in 2020 Mr Baker will start as principal at the Woodleigh School.
SIENA COLLEGE
IN: Elizabeth Hanney
Ms Hanney shifts from Aberfeldie’s Ave Maria College to Camberwell’s Siena College next year.
Ave Maria thanked her for her service, saying “many highlights come to mind during her time at Ave Maria College including the new leadership structure, a massive undertaking and completion of a major building program, her capacity to build strong school and communal relationships, her pursuit of excellence in learning and teaching and the significant religious and Franciscan developments throughout the College, just to mention a few.”
OUT: Gaynor Robson-Garth
After 13 years, Ms Robson-Garth is moving on.
Last week she received an Australian Council for Educational Leaders Victoria Fellowship Award in recognition of outstanding educational leadership. She has served on a variety of educational and professional organisations.
TRINITY GRAMMAR
IN: Adrian Farrer
Trinity Grammar appointed Adrian Farrer, currently heading Wangaratta’s Cathedral College, to the role after a nine month search.
Mr Farrer has been at the helm of Cathedral since 2013, and has led staff, students and families through significant change, including the school’s move to a new site in Murdoch Road.
He previously worked at Camberwell Grammar School and Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School.
He attended Melbourne Grammar School from 1983 to 1991.
OUT: Phil De Young
Former Carey Grammar principal Phil De Young has been filling in as interim principal since the departure of Dr Michael Davies.
When former St Kevin’s deputy, Dr Michael Davies fell foul of the movers and shakers over the sacking and then reinstatement of Rohan Brown over the hair cut saga, Dr Davies quit in June, 2018.
He has just been appointed to St Bernard’s College, Essendon, having arrived at Trinity from St Kevin’s.
SHELFORDGIRLS’ GRAMMAR
IN: Katrina Brennan.
Ms Brennan is the eleventh principal of Shelford Girls’ Grammar.
“After a comprehensive search, the selection panel met with an impressive field of suitably qualified and experienced educational leaders,” the board said.
“The board unanimously agreed that Ms Brennan’s breadth of experience, knowledge and passion for engaging and empowering young girls and women, make her an ideal cultural fit for Shelford.”.
She was appointed to the role of director of staff at Shelford in June, 2018.
Previously, Mr Brennan, who trained as lawyer, had senior positions at Fintona.
OUT: Polly Flanagan
Principal of nine years Ms Flanagan leaves the Caulfield school at the end of the year.
Ms Flanagan was the tenth Principal of Shelford.
She taught in coeducational and single-sex schools across all sectors and has been committed to girls only schools.
ST BERNARD’S COLLEGE
IN: Dr Michael Davies
After 18 months at the Catholic Education Office the former Trinity Grammar head and deputy head at St Kevin’s College, Toorak, has been appointed to the Essendon boy’s college.
OUT: Dr Adam Taylor
After nearly three years in the role, Dr Taylor is stepping down and will take on a role at the Edmund Rice Education Australia which is akin to head office for schools.
THE PARADE
IN: Andy Kuppe
He has been in an acting capacity this year but will officially take over in 2020 at head of the Bundoora Catholic boy’s college.
He is the first lay head in the history of the school, founded in 1871.
OUT: Dr Denis Moore
Dr Moore is the longest serving head of the school but has been on leave this year due to illness.
He officially stands down in coming weeks and will be the last Christian Brother head and at 25 years so far the longest serving head of the school.
WESLEY COLLEGE
IN: Nick Evans
Melbourne Grammar School deputy head Nick Evans took up the Wesley College principal job in term three.
OUT: Dr Helen Drennen AM
The first female principal to the co-ed St Kilda school, Dr Drennen guided the school for 15 years before stepping down.
A Glen Waverley campus building is set to be called the Drennen Centre.
AVE MARIA COLLEGE ABERFELDIE
IN: Tanya Hutton
Ms Hutton, who is currently a deputy principal at Mount Lilydale Mercy College and previously deputy principal Kolbe Catholic College, in Greenvale Lakes, will head the Catholic girls’ school form next year.
OUT: Elizabeth Hanney
Taking up the principalship of Siena College in Camberwell.
GIRTON GRAMMAR BENDIGO
IN: Currently looking for a new principal.
OUT: Michael Maruff
After 10 years, Mr Maruff has quit and plans to shift back to Melbourne.
The school board thanked him for his service saying he has been an asset to the school ”building on strong education and co-curricular foundations and helping to shape one of Australia’s finest regional schools”.
CATHEDRAL COLLEGE WANGARATTA
IN: Nick Jones
New principal Nick Jones has moved from Perth to take up the job.
‘‘The extensive interview process identified Nick as the ideal candidate to contribute across all areas of college and community life,’’ Cathedral College said.
‘‘Nick brings with him a wealth of experience in education; for the past three years, Nick has been the deputy principal-pastoral care at John Wollaston Anglican Community School in Western Australia.”
OUT: Adrian Farrer.
Mr Farrer is taking up the role at Trinity boys school in Kew.
PENLEIGH AND ESSENDON GRAMMAR SCHOOL
IN: Kate Dullard
Current senior school head, Ms Dullard, will take over the Essendon school in 2020.
She has been at the school since 2005, starting at the school as a teacher and being appointed head of senior school in 2013.
OUT: Tony Larkin
Mr Larkin has headed the co-ed school since 1998 and bows out in coming weeks.
TRINITY COLLEGE COLAC
IN: Paul Clohesy
Mr Clohesy took up the appointment as head of the Catholic college in Term 4.
He was previously principal at Mt St Patrick’s College, Murrwillumbah, New South Wales.
Mr Clohesy earlier worked as deputy principal at St Joseph’s College Geelong and other roles at Monivae College Hamilton and Salesian College, Chadstone.
OUT: Tim O’Farrell
Mr O’Farrell left during term 3.
SOUTHERN CROSS GRAMMAR SCHOOL
IN: TBA
Applications close November 25.
OUT: Andrew Ponsford
After eleven years of entrepreneurial leadership, Mr Ponsford will step down as the founding principal at the end of Semester 1, 2020.
The school board is looking for “an outstanding innovative person willing to further the student-centred learning approach, which has been developed to provide quality and personalised learning for each child within the community”.
MENTONE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL
IN: Nat Charles
Mentone Girls’ Grammar School will welcome a new principal next year in former Carey head of senior school Nat Charles.
Carey Baptist Grammar principal Philip Grutzner described Ms Charles as someone with strong values, compassion and energy.
“Carey will greatly miss Nat, however she is ready and well prepared for the role and this promotion is a credit to her,” Mr Grutzner said.
OUT: Fran Reddan.
Ms Reddan, who has been in the job at Mentone for 10 years, leaves at the end of this year has been an advocate for girls’ only education, saying that in a single sex environment the uptake of STEM was higher.
HUNTINGTOWER SCHOOL
IN: Andrew Houghton
Having been principal at Al Siraat College until early 2018, Mr Houghton has worked at Independent Schools Victoria as a principal advisor on school improvement.
In his most recent role he provided support and advice to member schools on compliance, leadership, student and staff wellbeing initiatives, ICT, as well as strategic planning. Outgoing principal Sholto Bowen said he was well placed to take over the school.
OUT: Sholto Bowen
The principal is retiring from the 21 years at the school. Mr Bowen has been active in school and professional groups and has been acknowledged with a Medal of the Order of Australia.
MONIVAE COLLEGE HAMILTON
IN: Jonathan Rowe
The current deputy will take over as principal of the Catholic day and boarding school in the Western District in 2020. He joined Monivae in 2014, having previously worked at Salesian College, Chadstone.
OUT: Mark McGinnity
Mr McGinnity is leaving the school to take on a senior position as director of education at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia.
Mr McGinnity has worked in Catholic schools including leadership roles at Xavier College, Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview and St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill.
MORE:
SCHOOL LEADER HITS OUT AT TOXIC MASCULINITY
CBC ST KILDA CALLS FOR GIRLS TO ENROL
DRUG, BOOZE LIMO BINGE MARS YEAR 12 DINNER
MERCY COLLEGE CAMPERDOWN
IN: S haron Gillett
Ms Gillett, who spent nearly 30 years at Sacred Heart College in Geelong, has just started the role in recent months.
OUT: Dr Darren Egberts
Dr Egberts, who has been at the Catholic Camperdown college for eight years, has moved over the principal’s role at Sacred Heart College in Kyneton.
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