Dear Iona community,

Welcome to the 2025 school year.

I hope that you enjoyed a relaxing Christmas and New Year period and able to celebrate the birth of Jesus with family and friends.

Over the past few days, we have enjoyed welcoming staff back to the College for professional learning opportunities, including sessions from our diverse learning team, external consultants, senior leaders, Heads of Faculty, and Heads of House and Wellbeing.

Next week, we look forward to welcoming back students, in particular those who will formally wear the Iona College uniform for the first time.

Much has happened over the break, and I would like to acknowledge the work of the College grounds and maintenance team, as well as our IT department, who have worked so hard to have the College and our infrastructure ready for 2025.

New Senior Leadership Structure

This year, we introduce a new Senior Leadership Structure – a significant change to better support students and staff, enhance strategic and operational decision making, and improve management.

Introduction of a Deputy Principal

A key change is the appointment of a Deputy Principal, who will be instrumental in managing both pastoral and organisational aspects of the College.

Mr Adam McPhee has been appointed to this role, which will involve overseeing the newly structured Deans of Primary, Middle, and Senior Years, as well as the Dean of Academic Staff and Administration.

Adam will serve as the second-in-charge, aiding myself as Principal in strategic planning and implementation, and ensuring that all educational activities align with regulatory and accreditation standards.

Key Responsibilities of the Deputy Principal Include:

• Direct oversight of the pastoral and care of students and staff.
• Leadership in strategic planning alongside the Iona Leadership Team, promoting a faith-filled culture.
• Operational management, including the development and implementation of policies and procedures to enhance operational effectiveness.
• Leading initiatives for staff professional development and mentoring, ensuring a culture of continuous learning.
• Engaging with the community to strengthen relationships and meet community needs.

Restructuring to Deans of Primary, Middle and Senior Years

The new leadership structure includes the appointment of Deans of our Primary, Middle and Senior Years to provide targeted leadership, meet specific needs and enhance support, management and oversight of students in these different phases of learning.

Mr Peter Holmes remains as Dean of Primary Years, Mr Steven Hohn has been appointed as Dean of Middle Years, and Mr Ben Devlin is the new Dean of Senior Years.

• Dean of Primary Years: Manages the overall strategic and operational aspects of the Primary Years, focusing on educational aims, objectives, and policies. This role includes active involvement in teaching, curriculum development, and ensuring a supportive and challenging learning environment. The role is responsible for student academic care within the Primary Years and the behaviour management of Primary Years students.
• Dean of Middle Years: Provides leadership for Middle Years student support, wellbeing and behavioural programs, ensuring an environment that facilitates the smooth transition of students from Primary to Middle Years, and then to Senior Years. The role is responsible for student academic care within the Middle Years and the management of escalated behavioural issues within the Middle Years.
• Dean of Senior Years: Focuses on preparing students for life beyond school, overseeing pastoral and behavioural support as well as academic care initiatives that support student needs and challenges them to know and grow into their potential. The role is responsible for student academic care within the Senior Years and the management of escalated behavioural issues within the Senior Years.

These roles replace the now-redundant Dean of Students position.

Expected Benefits

The new leadership structure is designed to bring clarity and efficiency to leadership roles, provide robust support for managing the students’ growing needs in the different phases of learning, and enhance the overall educational experience for all students.

Our goal is for all Ionians – students, staff and community members – to know and grow into their potential, and achieve personal excellence, whether that be in academic pursuits, co-curricular interests, or their personal or spiritual development.

We look forward to these benefits throughout 2025 and beyond.

Best wishes for the 2025 school year to every member of the Iona community.

God bless,

Mr Trevor Goodwin
Principal