Driver in Scotch College Adelaide Principal’s Seat

Scotch College Adelaide has appointed Trent Driver, formerly of Newington College, Sydney, as its next principal, starting in 2023.

Driver spent seven years in the role of Deputy Head (Academic) at Newington College, and prior to that was Dean of Academic Development at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, where he oversaw the development and implementation of the school’s curriculum and teaching practices.

Mr Driver will be engaged by Scotch from Term Four this year and will take on the leadership role on January 1, 2023. His wife is a librarian, and they have two high-school aged children who will attend Scotch.

“It is exciting to become part of a school that prioritises student wellbeing in a proactive way as much as it does academic and character education,” Mr Driver said.

“The best learners, athletes, performers, friends, partners and leaders in life are as resilient and self-aware as they are skilled and capable. Scotch’s reputation, fostered by the outstanding leadership of Dr John Newton, is grounded in this.”

Mr Driver has a strong understanding of the complex and diverse demands of independent schools, is a strong advocate of co-education and will work with Scotch to shape the future direction of the school and the students.

“I hope that my work ethic and grounding in the diverse life of independent schools will contribute to the Scotch College community. Having no history in a Principal’s chair affords me the opportunity to be shaped by the school as much as I may shape it.”

Former Principal, Dr John Newton who joined Scotch in 2015, will return to the UK with his wife Catherine at the end of 2022 to be closer to family.

Scotch College Chair of Council, Todd Roberts, said Dr Newton had made a significant contribution to the school community and would leave a lasting legacy, including the commissioning of the $27 million Purruna Spencer Newton Centre.

Mr Roberts welcomed the appointment of Mr Driver, and said, “Trent has a strong connection to the future of education and a clear commitment to wellbeing – the core of everything we do at Scotch,” Mr Roberts said.