Penrith Anglican College is a vibrant school, and this was once again highlighted at our recent John Lambert Assembly. Our students’ talents were showcased in ensembles, Chemistry Depth Studies, our Primary Dance ensemble, reflections on leadership and Drew Robins who spoke about his F4 racing experiences in Australia and abroad. These assemblies are a powerful source of inspiration for our student body and an encouragement for everyone to make the most of the opportunities they are provided at the College.

Anglican Schools Corporation Review

Every five years, the Anglican Schools Corporation (ASC) Board conducts a review of each of its schools. Each Review provides feedback to the ASC Board and our College Council. The feedback contributes to identifying the College’s strengths and areas for improvement and future planning. The ASC Reviews seek to ensure that all our Corporation schools are flourishing learning communities.  The Review consisted of surveys to all stakeholder groups including parents, staff and students. It also included a 3 day site visit with a team of staff from various Corporation Schools at the end of Term 1. During this time, over 60 interviews were conducted with staff, as well as with student focus groups and visits to daily activities such as classes, Chapels, Assemblies and co-curricular activities.

The Review also helps to inform our master planning and clarify the realities of the strategic plan, so that there’s greater cohesion between our internal voice and our strategy.

Our College Council has asked me to share the following highlights from the Review. A range of strengths were reinforced, including:

  • A strong Christian ethos
  • Dedicated and hardworking staff
  • A strong financial position to support the continued operations and growth of the College
  • A positive parent community
  • Quality facilities and grounds
  • Strong enrolment growth

Areas for Continued Improvement:

- Teaching and Learning

    • Supporting the Teaching and Learning in the Secondary section with the creation of a Teaching and Learning role, similar to Primary.
    • Supporting an even stronger learning culture.
    • Supporting diverse learners, with further direction currently being sought as part of the review of Learning Support practices.
    • Supporting curriculum implementation, particularly the new NSW NESA Syllabus documents recently released across NSW Primary and Secondary schools.

- Leadership and Communication

    • Clarification of reporting lines for staff.
    • Review and refine communication practices, both internal and external.
    • Develop leadership and administration structures that support the growth of the College.

- Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care

    • Strengthen pastoral care structures across Primary and Secondary.
    • Support clear and coherent discipline processes.

- Staff Wellbeing

    • Recognise and continue to support the value of staff dedication and commitment to student outcomes and gospel mission.
    • Continue to review and clarify workload expectations.

- Christian Ministry

    • Continue implementation of the Christian Ministry plan from SEED Review.
    • Strengthen Chapel services for Primary and Secondary.
    • Review Service programs

- Continue to develop school spirit across the P-12 College

We are well positioned for the next chapter of the College and to fulfill our mission to nurture and develop empowered learners with strong character who know and follow Christ and serve others. The College Council wanted me to convey its gratitude to everyone who provided feedback. Your involvement is sincerely appreciated.

Staffing Updates

Resignation – Mrs Fiona Wright

After 25 years of faithful service, Mrs Fiona Wright (Director of Students 10-12) has been appointed as Director of Students and Family Services at St Paul’s Grammar School at the commencement of 2025. We thank Mrs Wright for all she has contributed to the College as a teacher and leader over such a significant period of time. Mrs Wright will be taking Long Service Leave from the start of Week 3 Term 4 but will return to be officially farewelled at the end of Term 4.

Parents were notified last week that Mr Leighton Corr had resigned from his role as Deputy Principal (Secondary). We sincerely thank Mr Corr for his leadership of the Secondary School over the past 5 years and for all he has contributed to the life of the College. We also thank Mr Tony Kelshaw for his willingness to step into the Acting Deputy Principal (Secondary) role for the remainder of the year.

Recruitment

In light of the themes of the Review detailed above, in particular the need to develop leadership and administration structures that support the growth of the College, as well as making decisions which positively impact staff workload, we will be returning to a ‘stand alone’ P-12 Deputy leadership model in 2025 in an effort to support students, staff, and College leaders in this period of sustained enrolment growth. This position will be supported by our Head of Primary, Mrs Melinda Richardson, and the appointment of a new Head of Secondary.

In order to provide our community with certainty and stability and have these roles in place as soon as possible, we have engaged Hutton Consulting to immediately commence a recruitment process for these important roles.

I know you will pray for this process and that God would guide us in this process so that we can appoint the right people to serve Christ with us at the College.

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