Co-ed principal recruited to lead one of Sydney’s oldest boys’ schools

Private boys’ school Shore has appointed a new principal to replace veteran headmaster John Collier, who is set to retire after more than 50 years teaching in NSW schools.

The north shore institution announced in a letter to parents and staff on Friday it has hired Peter Miller, principal of co-educational The Geelong College in Victoria, as the 10th headmaster in its 135-year history.

Collier was appointed Shore’s interim head in July 2022 when his predecessor, Tim Petterson, was dismissed after a culture review by the school’s governing board found new leadership was needed.

Shore School has appointed Peter Miller as its new headmaster. Miller has most recently served as principal at The Geelong College.

Shore council chair Rob Clarke wrote that Miller’s appointment was the culmination of a “comprehensive global search and a rigorous recruitment process that considered a diverse array of highly qualified candidates”.

Miller has been head of The Geelong College for eight years. He was previously principal of All Saints’ College in Bathurst and head of middle school at Barker College. He taught at Shore for more than a decade from 1989.

Clarke said the council said Miller’s “values and vision are also strongly aligned with Shore’s mission, making him an ideal fit to lead the school into its next chapter”. He will start in January 2026.

The Sydney Church of England Grammar School in Sydney’s north shore.

The announcement follows several tumultuous years for Shore. Petterson was dismissed by its council amid deep divisions among staff over his leadership style.

Petterson has since launched legal action against Shore, alleging a breach of employment contract.

The school faced multiple challenges during Petterson’s time as head, including the “Triwizard Shorenament” scandal, a year 12 muck-up day prank that encouraged trespassing and drug-taking.

One of Sydney’s oldest schools, Shore was founded by an act of parliament and has an annual revenue of about $90 million. It will hike fees by 7 per cent in 2025, charging $46,290 for year 12.

Shore has lodged a state-significant development application with plans to add 450 students and 45 staff. A letter sent to neighbours in November said the proposal was to develop three new buildings, including a staged extension of the campus onto the Graythwaite site, a heritage-listed former private home and former hospital.

The school currently enrols about 1700 students, about a quarter of whom are sons or grandsons of old boys.

Before Petterson was appointed, the school had only seven headmasters in its history. His predecessor, Timothy Wright, was head for 17 years.

Clarke said the council was impressed with Miller’s commitment to upholding Christian values, experience with large-scale master planning projects and “proven understanding of the unique needs of male students”.

Collier plans to retire after a phased handover. He has worked in NSW schools for 53 years, including 25 years in the public system and as head at St Paul’s Grammar and St Andrew’s Cathedral School.

The announcement comes amid major changes at other schools, including Anne Johnstone appointed as the first female head at Cranbrook.

Mark Tannock will leave St Aloysius’ College in Kirribilli to become principal at St Ignatius’ College Riverview next year, replacing Paul Hine. Wenona has appointed Linda Douglas, former head of a Melbourne girls’ school, to replace Briony Scott, who was head for 14 years.

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