Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Spirit of Clayfield Awards 

Nominations are now open for The Spirit of Clayfield Awards 2026, which will be presented on Foundation Day on 10 February 2026. These awards recognise those within our Clayfield family – staff, students, Old Collegians and community members, for embodying our values and inspiring others to let their light shine.  

You can learn more about our 2025 Awardees and Finalists here: Spirit of Clayfield Awards | Clayfield College 

Community  

This award honours a member of the College community who has demonstrated long-term commitment and has consistently dedicated their time and effort to the betterment of the College and its community.  

We warmly invite nominations for this award, the process of which is outlined at the link below. Nominations are due by close by 5 December 2025.  

Help us celebrate the many shining lights within our Clayfield family!  

Introducing Lighthouse 

As part of our ongoing digital learning journey, I’m excited to announce the introduction of Lighthouse in 2026, a new platform powered by Schoolbox that will serve as a central hub for learning, communication, and engagement across our College community. 

Lighthouse will be your one-stop destination to: 

• Access information about your child’s learning journey 
• Stay up to date with school news and calendar events 

• Engage more deeply with the life of the College 

   

To support a smooth rollout, we are launching a pilot program focused on the Learning Management System (LMS) component of Lighthouse. Families of students in Years 3, 6, and 10 will receive further communication from our Head of e-Learning, Mr Jacques Stemmet, outlining the students’ involvement during Term 4. 

This pilot will help us explore how Lighthouse supports: 

• Clear and consistent communication between teachers and students 
• Transparency in task setting and assessment expectations 
• Visibility of learning programs and student progress 

• Easy access to key information across year levels 

   

Insights from this pilot will guide us in refining the platform ahead of its full launch. We look forward to sharing more, including parent onboarding sessions, ahead of the 2026 school year. 

Thank you for your support as we take this important step forward together. 

2026 Leadership Update 

I’m pleased to provide a further update on the recruitment process for three leadership roles at the College in 2026: Director of Junior School, Director of Senior School, and Director of Corporate Services. 

As previously shared, we have partnered with ANZUK Education, specialists in education recruitment, to support this important process. Their team, including a retired Principal with deep experience in independent schooling, has led the initial shortlisting and screening interviews. 

I’m delighted to share that our shortlist includes a strong mix of local, national, and international candidates, many of whom bring extensive experience in educational leadership. We are now progressing into the interview rounds with this group. 

Thank you to the families and staff who participated in our Coffee Conversations and Open Door sessions. Your insights have been invaluable in shaping this process and ensuring alignment with the aspirations of our community. 

Staffing News  

I wish to acknowledge the contributions of two valued staff members who will be moving on to the next phase of their careers and finishing with us within the next week. 

Mrs Sarah Wyer – Administrator, Primary Services and PP–12 Pastoral, who has been an integral part of Team Clayfield for the past 13 years, providing dedicated support and making a lasting impact through her commitment and professionalism. 

Mr Cameron Keith – Head Swim Coach, who has helped our students achieve both personal and team success in the pool. 

We extend our sincere thanks to Sarah and Cameron and wish them every success in the future.  

This week, we welcomed Mrs Jenny Brumley into the role of Administrator, Primary Services and PP–12 Pastoral. Jenny has commenced working with the Primary team and will be supporting them for the remainder of the year.

Parent Code of Conduct  

A reminder to all families to please familiarise yourselves with our Parent Code of Conduct, available at the link below. As part of the enrolment agreement, parents and carers commit to upholding all College policies. 

Class of 2025 External Examinations  

We continue to support and encourage our Year 12 students as they undertake their external examinations. We are proud of each and every Year 12 student and are grateful to the broader student body for showing such respect and consideration during this important time. 

Best of Both Worlds Experience  

We always enjoy welcoming prospective families to see the Clayfield experience firsthand. Our recent Head of School-led Tours provided a valuable opportunity to showcase our unique Parallel Learning model in action and introduce families to our passionate staff and engaged students. 

You’ll often hear me say that Clayfield College is a place to learn, a place to experience, and a place to belong - and it truly is. 

We understand that choosing a school that will best fit your child is one of the biggest decisions we make as parents. We’re honoured that you have chosen Clayfield, and we thank you for being part of our supportive and connected community. 

Warm regards 

Dr Andrew Cousins 

Principal