Elite private school principals in a game of musical chairs
The big wigs at some of Melbourne’s most elite private schools are trading places in a high stakes game of musical chairs where the prizes on offer include salaries of up to $750,000.
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Principals at Victoria’s elite schools are playing musical chairs, with a number of leaders swapping roles and taking up prestigious new positions.
The stakes are high, with salaries of up to $750,000 on offer at the top private schools, not to mention generous perks such as tuition fee discounts and plenty of overseas travel.
See what’s really going on behind the hearty congratulations being shared on LinkedIn and who’s going to be working where in 2025.
St Catherine’s School
New principal 2025: Natalie Charles
Young, dynamic and modern, Ms Charles, the current head of Mentone Girls’ Grammar, has just been appointed head of St Catherine’s School. She will start in 2025, with many hoping she will bring an end to the win-at-all-costs mentality of the A-type private girls’ school under current principal Michelle Carroll. Ms Carroll’s emphasis on promoting the school as number one at sport and academics (regardless of the reality) has ruffled many feathers. While not everyone is happy about the appointment, Ms Charles is being welcomed by staff, parents and alumni.
Another departure from St Catherine’s is deputy principal and former Olympic rower Gina Peele, who’s been appointed the head of senior school at Presbyterian Ladies’ College.
St Catherine’s is also seeking a head of junior school with the departure of Karen McArdle, who’s held the role since 2019. Any of these senior, well respected women could have stepped into the top job at the school, and there’s no surprise they are moving on in the circumstances.
Firbank Girls’ Grammar
Deputy principal: Ceri Lloyd
Ms Lloyd, who was formerly the deputy principal of St Catherine’s, will move into this plum girls’ school role. The position has been vacated by Leandra Turner, who’s scored a promotion and will be the next principal of Peninsula Grammar next year. If Ms Lloyd was unhappy at missing out on a promotion to the top job at St Cath’s, she wasn’t showing it, posting in gleeful terms on social media about being “thrilled” about her new role.
Presbyterian Ladies’ College
Principal position under advertisement
The conservative, highly academic girls’ school in Burwood is searching for a new principal to replace current head Cheryl Penberthy.
Ms Penberthy, formerly of Lowther Hall, has been at the school in senior roles since 2011 and principal since 2019.
Will her replacement, starting fourth term 2025, come from within – perhaps one of her deputies Lisa Saffin or Anne-Marie Williams? Staff who’ve spoken to the Herald Sun are keen to see more modernisation at the school, which has a council strongly dominated by appointees from the Presbyterian Church.
The same church, we note, recently spoke up against school student leaders being “actively gay”.
Peninsula Grammar
New principal: Leandra Turner
It’s telling that the Mornington Peninsula school has recently spent big money on a new advertising campaign promoting itself. It’s a competitive market for schools in the area, and the departure of long-term head Stuart Johnston should give the school the boost it needs. Ms Turner comes to the school with significant experience after holding senior roles at Firbank and Caulfield Grammar.
Mentone Girls’ Grammar
Principal role under advertisement
Current principal Nat Charles is moving to St Catherine’s, leaving executive search team Fish Nankivell to search for her replacement.
The position’s job ad specifies that only Australian and New Zealand residents or citizens may apply, restricting the scope to locals, unlike many other schools who trump their international leadership searches.
The school, like a number of other private girls’ colleges, has been battling to attract enrolments and stand out in the busy southern suburbs and bayside elite school market. Applications close next Sunday, and all eyes will be on Ms Charles’ deputy, Meg Adem, formerly of Scotch and Brighton Grammar.
Ruyton Girls’ School
Principal role vacant
Current head of the small, sporty girls’ school in Kew Linda Douglas is moving on after holding the top job since 2011. The school has a small but impressive leadership team, with Lauren Perfect, Catherine Samuel or Cathryn Furey ideal to step into the role. Ms Douglas was reappointed by the school’s council in 2020 for a five-year term, until the end of 2025. But she is leaving a year early to take up a role at Wenona School on the north shore of Sydney.
Bacchus Marsh Grammar
New principal 2025: Debra Ogston
Ms Ogston has been appointed as only the fourth principal of the school, taking over from outgoing head Andrew Neal, who’s been in the position since 1998. Ms Ogston is currently holding the position of associate to the principal, and has been at the school for more than two decades. It’s a popular appointment which reflects the strong culture of the school. Given the school’s recent controversy involving male students generating fake pornographic images of their female peers, it’s no wonder the new appointee is a long-serving female.
Camberwell Grammar
New principal 2025: Ben Jeacocke
The retirement of Dr Paul Hicks after more than twenty years has opened the door for Mr Jeacocke, who is the school’s deputy principal, to step into the top job. It’s another popular appointment, with staff welcoming stability at the top and a smooth transition next year. Dr Hicks was a successful principal at the highly academic school, but his retirement took no one by surprise. Sydney-based executive recruiters Odgers Berndtson could have saved the school thousands of dollars and looked in the staffroom rather than around the world for his replacement.
Plenty Valley Christian College
Principal of primary years and principal of secondary years
The school is seeking an innovative and passionate Christian leader to lead a team delivering Christ-centred education. Only those who can “model the values and character qualities of biblical Christianity” will be considered. The school is an active member of Christian Education National, a body which campaigned – and lost – for school to keep the right to sack openly gay staff.
Other appointments
In case you’re in the market for a plum private school position, there are 15 jobs going at St Kevin’s College, reflecting ongoing discontent among a number of staff. Comparable private schools have five vacancies at most.
Here are some other high profile jobs on offer:
• Trinity Grammar School: Deputy Head of Junior School
• Flinders Christian Community College: Director of Education Operations
• Catholic Regional College, North Keilor: Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching
• Presbyterian Ladies College: School Administrator
• Carey Baptist Grammar: Year 12 Co-ordinator (advertised at $120k to $150k plus remuneration and super)
• Haileybury: Head of Thrive (Middle School)
• Bialik College: Head of Informal Jewish Education
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