Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week you would have received an announcement regarding the introduction of an additional Year 5 stream from 2025. This additional stream enables us to extend our unique 'best of both worlds' experience to more families across Brisbane. Our growth has been carefully planned and is aligned with our transition to a fully co-educational Pre-Prep to Year 12 education institution, guided by our Strategic Intent 2023-2027. Our promise remains to know, value, and understand every student as an individual, ensuring they feel a genuine sense of belonging within our community.

As we expand, our commitment to providing exceptional opportunities beyond the regular curriculum continues. Students will have access to a wide range of co-curricular activities, including Music, Performing Arts, Sports, Outdoor Education, Clubs, and more, which are key aspects of the Clayfield experience. By joining in Year 5, students can take full advantage of these opportunities and enjoy a seamless transition into Secondary School.

We invite parents and carers of current Primary School students to an Information Session on Tuesday 10 September in the Chapel, with an option to join via Zoom. Our Senior Leadership Team will provide insights into the Clayfield experience and answer any questions. Please register your attendance via the link below. 

In summary:

• Our growth is intentional, well-planned, and resourced.
• We remain committed to knowing, valuing, and understanding each student.
• Our community, opportunities, and experiences are expanding, but our focus on participation and belonging remains unchanged.
• We are enhancing our transition programs to support students entering Year 5.
• Our unique Parallel Learning model continues to set Clayfield College apart, and we are excited to welcome more families into our community.

On another note, as we continue to prioritise the wellbeing and work-life balance of our dedicated staff, I want to bring your attention to the new 'Right to Disconnect' legislation which has recently been introduced. This legislation is designed to ensure that all employees, have the right to disconnect from work-related communications outside of their regular working hours. 

This means that while our staff (Academic and Corporate) remain fully committed to the education and wellbeing of your children during the school day, they will not be expected to respond to emails or any other forms of communication outside of their designated working hours unless it is an emergency.  Our goal is to ensure that our staff can fully recharge and spend quality time with their families, which in turn allows them to be more effective and focused when they are with your children.

We understand that there may be occasions when you need to reach out with questions or concerns, and we encourage open communication. However, we ask for your understanding that our staff will address non-urgent matters during their regular working hours. 

Your support and co-operation are greatly appreciated as we work together to ensure the support both our staff and your children’s educational journey.

Kind regards

Dr Andrew Cousins

Principal