A Note from Craig

Dear Friends’ Community Members,

I wrote in the last Rose & Waratah of the search being undertaken for Nelson File’s successor as Principal of The Friends’ School to commence at the start of the 2024 year. Since that time, we have completed the recruitment process and received approval from the Association to appoint Esther Hill as the incoming Principal of The Friends’ School.

Esther is an experienced educator and leader and has been the driving force in establishing an innovative “studio school” in Fremantle. She has a Master of School Leadership and is undertaking doctoral studies with a focus on how teaching practices develop student capabilities. 

She has presented her research and work at national and international conferences and been recognised with national awards and nominations. She was born into a Quaker family with deep quaker roots and is the proud mother of two girls.

We look forward to welcoming her to the School and the contribution she will make in the years to come.

The Board has also been carefully overseeing the development of plans for the implementation of the Learning @ Friends' 24 Plus Program which will commence in the new year. As part of that process, we spent time, at our most recent Board meeting, reviewing feedback about the opportunities and challenges, of the program and the impacts it will have on the School.

As with all change there can be uncertainty and concern and part of our review acknowledged those concerns and noted that as a Board, we may have been able to do better, especially with regard to the timing of some of our communications to the broader school community.

We were also heartened by the progress being made and some of the positive feedback that we have received as planning progresses. On completion of our review the Board agreed that we were strongly in support of the program and looking forward to its implementation in the new year.

On a final note, let me say we have been incredibly fortunate to have had Nelson as our Principal for 11 years. As this year progresses, we look forward to having opportunities to remember his contribution to the School and to farewell him as his time here comes to an end.

Thank you.