About the School
Whanganui Collegiate School (WCS) is a state-integrated, Anglican co-educational school for students in Years 9 to 13, offering both day and boarding options. Located in the centre of Whanganui the School shares a campus with its preparatory school, St George’s, which caters to boys and girls from Year 1-8.
Established in 1854, the School is built on strong Anglican values with a commitment to holistic development, blending tradition with future-focussed education.
The School’s seven-day boarding environment fosters a community where students live, learn and grow together in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. With 67% of its students boarding, WCS offers a vibrant residential community where lifelong friendships and connections are made.
About the Role
This is a unique opportunity for an outstanding educational leader to build on and ensure WCS continues to thrive as a compelling education and development environment for boys and girls in New Zealand.
The Headmaster and Director will work closely with the School and College Board of Trustees to provide exceptional strategic and operational leadership, delivering outstanding academic, pastoral, sporting and co-curricular outcomes within the school's Anglican special character.
The role encompasses dual accountabilities for Ministry of Education-funded day school operations, and to the Whanganui College Board of Trustees for boarding operations and related activities. Roll growth and advancement and campus development will be a key focus. The Headmaster and Director will work collaboratively with the St George's Headmaster and Director and the Head of Campus Business and Operations in advancing the School’s ‘one campus, two schools’ philosophy.
The role will provide strategic and visible leadership to guide the School in alignment with its Five Pillars framework of Academic Excellence, Sporting Achievement, Cultural Enrichment, Christian Fellowship and Lifelong Friendships.
Skills and Experience
The successful candidate will be an engaging and authentic leader who embodies the College’s special character and is committed to students’ success across all areas of school life.
A track record of achievement at Principal or Deputy Principal level in a secondary school setting with boarding is ideally sought, together with strengths in roll growth and advancement, and campus development.
Other skills and attributes include:
- A strategic thinker with the capability to lead vision, innovation and continuous improvement, while maintaining operational excellence.
- Strengths in fostering strong relationships with the School’s stakeholder community with the ability to build trust and collaborate across diverse groups.
- Demonstrable commercial awareness and entrepreneurial thinking.
- A deep knowledge of teaching and learning, curriculum leadership and pedagogical best practice.
- An understanding of the importance of boarding and the house system.
Most importantly, the successful candidate will be able to articulate and demonstrate a commitment to Whanganui Collegiate School’s vision as a Christian institution that develops young men and women with ‘Vitality, Compassion and Courage’.
Given the importance of Boarding in the life of the School, it is expected that the successful candidate will live on site in the Headmaster’s residence.
Further information will be available as soon as possible. Please register your interest in receiving this by emailing Kathleen.kerr@sheffield.co.nz.