The Friends’ School comprises three distinct schools: Primary School - Early Learning to Year 6, Middle School - Years 7 & 8, and Senior School - Years 9 to 12.
These three sections of the School are served by administration and maintenance staff under the general supervision of the Director of Business Affairs. The broad community engagement locally, interstate and internationally is managed by the Director of Community Engagement.
Teaching staff for each section of the School are supervised by the Heads and Deputy Heads of School. The Director of Teaching and Learning oversees the curriculum throughout the School.
The main School office is open between 8.30am and 4.30pm throughout the year except during the Christmas/New Year period and public holidays.
Senior Leadership Roles
Esther Hill
Esther Hill commenced as the Principal of The Friends’ School in 2024.
She is assisted by a full-time Executive Assistant, Sarah Ogilvie.
You can read Esther’s welcome to the School here
Shaun O’Rourke
Shaun assists the Principal with staff matters and day-to-day administration of the School. He is Acting Principal when the Principal is absent.
Shaun Sargent
Shaun oversees the financial, facilities and administrative aspects of the School. This includes taking responsibility for the School’s various commercial operations. He also oversees the risk, compliance and governance functions of the School and acts as Secretary to the Board of Governors.
Lyn Tunbridge
Lyn is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership throughout the entire school in the development of a cohesive curriculum and best practice in pedagogy.
Bill Avery
Bill is responsible for leading and managing the School’s communication, brand management, enrolments, philanthropy and community engagement practices and activities.
Head of Senior School – Adam Chambers
Adam oversees the Senior School, where students have a choice of studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the Tasmanian Certificate of Education, or Vocational Education and Training programs in Years 11 and 12.
Deputy Head of Senior School (Learning) – Kate Baldry
Deputy Head of Senior School (Pastoral Care) – Amy Harris
Deputy Head of Senior School (Year 9) – Aaron Davey
TCE Coordinator – Joe Cairns
IB Coordinator – Sarah Walker
VET Coordinator – Joni Chuter
Hodgkin House Leader – Casey-Rae Mullen
Mather House Leader – Kimberley Carrodus
Ransome House Leader – Sam Norton
Unwin House Leader – Jane Barling
Learning Leaders: Arts – Tammy Giblin, English – Karina Churchill, Health & Physical Education – Trish Menadue, Humanities – Mark Allen, Languages – Christine Wittlinger, Mathematics – Joe Boyer, Science – Nicola Anderson and Technology – Jane Smith.
Head of Middle School – Lindy Gannon
Lindy oversees the Middle School, with almost 300 students in four houses in Years 7 & 8.
Deputy Head of Middle School (Learning) – John Hoggart
Deputy Head of Middle School (Pastoral Care) – Debbie Taylor (Semester 1) & Liesa Winkler (From Semester 2)
House & Student Leadership Coordinator (Middle School) – Esther Hoggart
Learning Leaders (Middle School) – Tracie Acreman and Nicola Collins
Head of Primary School – Mark Febey
Mark oversees our educational programs and care for students from 12 weeks to Year 6. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) is the curriculum framework in which we incorporate the Australian Curriculum outcomes for early childhood and primary years.
Deputy Head of Primary School (Early Learning to Year 1) – Fiona Zinn
Deputy Head of Primary School (Year 2 to 6) – Wendy Crow
Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 6 Coordinator – Fiona Lewis (Semester 1) & Debbie Taylor (from Semester 2)
Learning Leaders (Primary School) – Denise Wadsley, Andy Stefaniak and Anglea Palermo
Specific Programs
Director of Information Services – Duncan Gillespie
Director of Access & Inclusion – Catherine Gray
Enrolments Office
Jennifer Scharkie is the Enrolments Manager and manages all matters to do with enrolments including waiting lists, fees assistance, scholarship and bursary administration and overseas/exchange students.
Committees
The Friends’ School strives to create a diverse and inclusive community of learners and families, as well as faculty and staff. At their core, Quaker schools are built on the foundation that every child has an inner Light, meaning that each member’s unique voice contributes to and strengthens the overall community.
Along with our diverse community, leaders and staff, school committees bear responsibility for tending to the needs of students through input into the policy development and management of the School.
School Committees make take the form of a Committee, Management Group, Reference Group or Working Group. Each Group or Committee has a specific purpose and key areas for consideration and consultation. There are currently 21 Committees or Groups at Friends’ which include staff, students, parents, alumni, past staff and past parents.
The Principal and Deputy Principal are ex officio members of all School management committees and working groups. All committees report to Principal’s Committee.
Parameters around a Quaker Meeting for Business at Friends’
‘We agree to consider difficult questions with an informed mind as well as a generous and loving spirit. We are prepared to let our insights and personal wishes take their place alongside those of others or be set aside as the meeting seeks the right way forward. We accept that our decision-making process is a process of discovery and that we are open to new truth.’
If you would like to know more about the School Committees, please contact our Director of Community Engagement, Bill Avery