Principal's Message 

Principal's Farewell Message

I arrived at The King’s College in November 2020 and officially took over as Principal from the commencement of 2021. Considerable time in 2021 and 2022 was spent working with the Board and staff on implementing a journey of improvement so that the College would become a school of choice in the region. To achieve this, we would need to make significant changes. These included staffing changes, operational changes, and improved facilities. 

This has been challenging. While I never wish to be viewed as the person who knows all the answers, I had the advantage of previously taking several schools on significant improvement journeys. All schools can improve, but to become a high-performing school, the following conditions are vital:

1. High quality leadership.
2. Highly professional staff who are active learners.
3. High quality curriculum and teaching.
4. An agreed school improvement plan.
5. A disciplined but friendly learning environment.
6. A growth mindset where all students believe they can improve.

Added to the above, we are a Christian school, so we need to be Christ-centred and student-focused.

Once these conditions are in place, a productive school culture will evolve, and academic improvement will follow. However, there is more to success than the ATAR scores or other academic measures used to rank schools. When asked how I measure a successful school, my reply is, “If our students graduate at the end of Year 12 with an excellent set of results and enter the workforce or preferred tertiary institution but lack a sense of community service, do not have a desire to improve the human condition and are unwilling to assist those less fortunate in our world; then we have failed in our educational offerings.”

In one of my parting farewells to the staff, I presented them with a 12-page document on the changes that have taken place during my time at the College. In this document, I commented, “I challenge the College to produce a document similar to what I have written within the next two years, outlining the new facilities, initiatives and successes that have taken place.”

In my early days, I could see areas that needed immediate improvement and all the concerns listed below were also shared with me by our parents.

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Concerns Identified: 

Under-resourced, split classes (e.g., Year 1/2), shared classes (two teachers for one class), leadership and curriculum concerns, and academic performance.

Changes Implemented:

• New experienced Head of Primary and new teachers appointed.
• Improved resources, including ICT.
• No split or shared classes.
• Extension program operating in both lower and upper primary.
• New primary school to open towards the end of 2023.
• Class sizes deliberately kept small.
• In 2022, the Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN results were very close to the National Average in Reading, Writing, and Numeracy. They were well above for Spelling. This was a significant improvement.
• Further improved leadership structure for 2023.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Concerns Identified: 

Loss of students at the end of Year 10 due to course offerings in senior years, lack of some electives in lower secondary, inadequate leadership in some key curriculum areas, a need for better facilities (canteen and gymnasium) and academic performance.

Changes Implemented: 

• Key new leaders appointed – Deputy Principal (Learning and Teaching), Head of Mathematics, Head of ICT, and for 2023, Head of Performing Arts.
• Converting the “shed” to a Woodwork Centre.
• A significant focus on literacy improvement.
• New electives in lower secondary and new courses in Years 11 and 12.
• Increased enrolments at Year 7 (from 2 classes in 2021 to 4 classes in 2022 and 2023).
• Increased enrolments in Years 11 and 12 due to better course offerings.
• NAPLAN performance in 2022 for Years 7 and 9 were the best results in recent years. Year 9 NAPLAN results were equal to the state median in Numeracy and Writing and slightly above the state median in Reading. 
• Median ATAR score in 2021 was 76.95 (State median was 81.75). This is the best result in the last 12 years, and our aim is to be at or above the State median.

The development of our Responsive Education Centre into a modern, well-equipped, and welcoming facility has been a highlight. Within the wider educational community, The King’s College has built a reputation for its intervention strategies for students who need extra academic support. Appointing a School Psychologist further enhanced our well-being initiatives.

The increase in student enrolments over the last two years is quite exceptional. Moving from around 600 to 800 in two years is a 33% increase during a time of COVID and economic downturn. We are blessed with our enrolments and marketing team. We also need to acknowledge the curriculum and staffing changes that have improved the learning environment and our academic performance. Our good news is becoming known in the community and bringing about this growth in enrolments. 

The College has significant catching up to do in terms of facilities.  Initiatives are in motion; however, have been somewhat frustrated by procedural processes. A canteen will be operating on campus from Day 1/2023, and building a gymnasium is urgently required.

I also need to acknowledge an exceptional staff member who is also leaving after 5 years at the College. Our Vice Principal, Jodie McQuillan, who oversees the day-to-day running of the College, is moving to another school in a promotional position. Staff members such as Jodie are sought after, and I thank Jodie for her outstanding work over this time at The King’s College. She will be greatly missed.

Similarly, we farewell Rachel Shotch, our Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching, who also moves to another school in a promotional position. Rachel has been instrumental in improving the secondary curriculum offerings and academic standards. 

We have been fortunate in replacing both Jodie and Rachel with staff who have had previous Deputy Principal experience in other schools.

Finally, thank you for your support since I commenced in November 2020. I would have liked to have achieved more, but I am excited about what has commenced and will follow. As you have heard me say on many occasions, “I always look for the good in all situations.” While we are experiencing significant leadership change, it is a new opportunity, and we should be excited about what will follow. No one is irreplaceable, and I wish incoming Principal Kyle Baggaley and his new-look leadership team every success in the future.

To all our King's College community, I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Office Hours

Reception open hours during school holidays are 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday. 

The office will be closed: 

Friday 9 December 11am-3pm

From noon Friday 16 December and reopening Tuesday 3 January 2023

The King's Chapel Christmas Day Service

All are welcome to come and join The King's Chapel to celebrate Christmas.

Day: Sunday 25 December 2022

Time: 10am-11am