Is Victoria headed for a school principal drought?

Headhunting is underway to sign up principals for a number of elite private schools amid warnings more needs to be done to recruit new leaders. It comes as the public system braces for the retirement of up to a third of its principals.

There are warnings more is needed to ensure a steady supply of school principals.

Headhunting is underway to sign up principals for a number of elite private schools amid warnings more needs to be done to recruit new leaders across the government and private sectors.

While elite schools are searching for new heads to start early next near, the government system is bracing for the retirement of up to a third of principals over the next five years.

Top notch Melbourne Grammar School’s long-time principal Roy Kelley will step down at the end of the year after a decade.

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Carey Baptist Grammar is also recruiting a new principal for 2020 and Shelford Girls’ Grammar is scouting for a new head as its principal of nine years, Polly Flanagan, leaves the Caulfield school at the end of the year.

There are warnings more needs to be done to ensure a steady supply of school principals across Victoria’s state and private schools.

The principal of Camberwell Catholic girls’ college Siena will leave at the end of the year.

A number of other Catholic schools are looking for new leaders, including Eddie McGuire’s former school, Christian Brothers’ College in St Kilda.

Hamilton coeducational Catholic day and boarding school Monivae College has just closed applications for a new principal.

Catholic colleges in Colac and Camperdown, and a number of primary schools, are recruiting. Insiders say there are more non-government jobs about to come to the market.

Trinity Grammar last week appointed Adrian Farrer, currently heading Wangaratta’s Cathedral College, to the role after a nine month search.

Former Carey Grammar principal Phil De Young has been filling in since the departure of Dr Michael Davies citing family reasons in the wake of the hair cut furore.

Melbourne Grammar School deputy head Nick Evans will take up the Wesley College principal job in term three.

Trinity Grammar School recently appointed Adrian Farrer as headmaster. Picture: Supplied

The school’s deputy headmaster Rohan Brown was controversially sacked then reinstated. Picture: Aaron Francis

This week star government school Mac. Robertson Girls’ High appointed its acting principal Anne Stout to lead the school after respected government school administrator Dr Toni Meath was drafted to the private sector to lead Melbourne Girls’ Grammar School.

Ms Stout’s appointment to the select entry school, which is among the top ranked VCE schools across the government and private sectors, is another in a list of high profile positions filled recently.

Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia executive officer Beth Blackwood said while there were no definitive figures, the bulk of principals were well into their 50s and would bow out in the not too distant future.

She said government and industry groups were working to develop the next group of leaders.

Ms Blackwood said while the narrative around teaching and principals was often incorrectly negative, there were aspirant principals who were driven by the desire to make a difference.

“Most principals want to make a difference and get a sense of achievement out of the role, despite the demands of the role,” she said.

“We are seeing very keen, interested, well experienced aspirant principals attending our events.”

Mac. Robertson Girls’ High School this week appointed a new principal.

Executive recruitment expert Fiona Hutton said they were seeing a shortage of mid-level teachers who could take the next step to leadership ranks.

She said through her company, Hutton Consulting, she was running leadership training for would-be principals.

Ms Hutton said while government and Catholic schools tended to recruit in house they were starting to cast a wider net.

“They are starting to look at whether they need a third party,” she said.

Ms Hutton said they also were working at lifting the ranks of women in educational leadership positions.

An insider said one of the problems facing the government system was that pay bands were tied to school enrolments.

That meant that a very successful principal at a school of 900 would receive far less remuneration than a principal with an enrolment of 1600.

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said the government was aware of the challenges and tackling the shortage through a range of programs.

“It is a massive generational change for the leaders of our schools but I know we also have a number of great people ready to fill those positions,” he said.

“We know the role of a school principal is demanding — that’s why we’re the first state in Australia to establish a program to prepare aspiring principals for the job.

“We’re also investing $51 million in initiatives to protect the health and wellbeing of our principals so that once they take on those roles, they stay and have the tools to succeed.”

Mac. Robertson school council president Dr Sonja Hood, who announced the appointment of Ms Stout this week, said it was a unanimous choice.

“Anne brings strong leadership, a clear vision and a deep understanding of the need to provide excellent education for girls at Mac. Rob,” Dr Hood said.