Canterbury College is one of Queensland's leading Anglican ELC to Year 12 schools, set on a 31-hectare campus at Waterford and serving families across the fast-growing corridor that runs from Logan through to the northern Gold Coast and the southern suburbs of Brisbane.
As a result of the incumbent Head of Junior School moving into a K to 12 leadership position within the College, we are seeking an exceptional educational leader to join the Executive Leadership Team as Head of Junior School from the beginning of 2027.
The appointment carries leadership of approximately 700 students from Prep to Year 6, together with line management of the College's Early Learning Centre and Outside School Hours Care operations. The role therefore holds a genuine Kindergarten to Year 6 span.
The Head of Junior School reports directly to the Principal and sits on the Executive, which means the role shapes the academic, pastoral and character formation of Canterbury's youngest students while also helping to set the direction of the College as a whole.
About Canterbury College
Since 1987 Canterbury has built a culture that is both high performing and innovative. Our students are known for their academic results and equally for the way they contribute across the full life of the College. We hold that the best education is balanced and ambitious, that learning does not stop at the classroom door, and that children make their strongest gains when the adults around them expect steady progress and know how to help them achieve it.
That conviction is expressed through the Four Dimensions of Academics, Sport, Performing Arts, and Character, Leadership and Service. These are not optional extras at Canterbury. They are how we design learning, build community and prepare young people who are ready for the world beyond school.
The Role
The Head of Junior School provides strategic and operational leadership across the Junior School and the Early Learning Centre, including:
- Leading excellence in teaching, learning and curriculum delivery from Kindergarten to Year 6
- Leading structured and explicit teaching informed by the science of learning, with reading and early literacy the first priority
- Overseeing student wellbeing, behaviour, character development and resilience education
- Leading and developing a large and highly capable team of teachers, leaders and support staff
- Building strong partnerships with families and the wider community
- Managing the operation, resourcing and compliance of the Junior School, the Early Learning Centre and Outside School Hours Care
- Contributing to the strategic direction of the College as a member of the Executive Team
Canterbury is building a learning culture grounded in the science of learning, and the Head of Junior School holds that work from Kindergarten to Year 6. The role calls for a visible and relational leader who is present in classrooms, known to students by name, and trusted by staff and families.
The successful applicant
Education
You will be an experienced and warm educator who understands how young children develop and who takes the education of a four-year-old as seriously as any other work in the school. You will bring:
- Substantial leadership experience in a junior school setting
- Strong working knowledge of evidence-based teaching practice and the science of learning
- Demonstrated success in developing leaders and building the capability of teachers
- Sound judgement and the capacity to make difficult decisions with confidence and integrity
- Commitment to the Anglican values and ethos of Canterbury College
Postgraduate qualifications in education, leadership or learning support, experience in an ELC to Year 12 or Prep to Year 12 environment, and knowledge of the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework will be highly regarded.
Why Canterbury College?
Working at Canterbury is professionally rewarding and personally sustaining. This is a collegial and disciplined environment where teaching is taken seriously, where effort is noticed, and where colleagues support one another to improve.
- A high-trust, collaborative staff culture focused on excellence in practice
- Ongoing professional learning, coaching and clear career pathways
- A clear commitment to staff wellbeing, with strong leadership support
- Free onsite parking, a cafe and a wide-ranging staff wellbeing program
- Generous flexibility and salary provisions.
Work and wellbeing
Sustainable performance depends on balance. Canterbury supports the Right to Disconnect, and we are deliberate about keeping expectations around communication and workload clear, reasonable and respectful of personal time.
Requirements
- A commitment to ongoing professional growth and reflective practice
- A genuine commitment to educating the whole student across the Four Dimensions
- A current Working with Children Check (Blue Card)
A different kind of community
Our mantra, Different Together, describes a community diverse in experience, perspective and background but united in purpose. We are proud of a culture that holds high expectations alongside real care, and that continues to change as the College looks ahead.
How To Apply
Please submit your application, including a covering letter and resume addressed to Mr Daniel Walker, Principal, together with the contact details of three professional referees.
Canterbury College is committed to being a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. Successful applicants will be expected to uphold the College's unwavering commitment to the dignity, safety and wellbeing of every student across all aspects of College life.
The closing date for applications is 17 September 2026. Interviews may commence prior to the closing date.
