Staff Return for 2026
The beginning of a school year carries a particular energy, a sense of renewal and purpose. Staff came together to mark the beginning of 2026 in a way that reflected who we are and why our work matters.
For new staff, this period provided time to connect, learn and become oriented to life at Guildford Grammar School. Through a dedicated induction, they met colleagues across the School, engaged with our leadership team and gained a deeper understanding of our history, values and the many parts that come together to form the whole. It was an opportunity to build relationships and develop a shared understanding of the culture and purpose that guide our work.
The Chapel of St Mary and St George then provided the setting for a Welcome Service that brought new and returning staff together as one community. New staff were formally welcomed into the life of the School, while returning staff were invited to pause and look ahead to the year before us.
In his address, our Principal Mr Allen posed a simple question: how can you help the person next to you improve? It was a reminder that excellence at Guildford Grammar is never an individual pursuit. It is built through collaboration, generosity and a shared commitment to lifting one another, staff and students alike.
Our Chaplain, Father Thomas, reflected on the deeper purpose of schooling, grounded in our Anglican ethos. He spoke of school as a place where character is formed. Where young people learn not only knowledge and skills, but the values that shape who they become.
As students step into the wider world, they carry that character through service, relationships and contribution. Whether consciously or not, every member of staff plays a role in shaping that character and in living our purpose: inspiring students to achieve personal excellence and to be outstanding citizens who work to create a just, loving and peaceful society.
A Shared Sense of Purpose
This shared sense of purpose continued with the blessing and opening of the new Senior Administration Building, a space designed to support collaboration, connection and wellbeing. A Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Ash Penfold grounded the moment in respect and reflection. Our new Chair of Council, Bill Ryan, formally opened the building, before Father Thomas led staff through the space, offering a blessing that concluded in the new staff common room.
The new common space became a place of connection, with staff sharing morning tea and conversation. The care and attention of our catering team helped create an environment where staff could pause, connect and begin the year together.
Alongside these moments of gathering, teaching staff engaged in thoughtful analysis of the Class of 2025 ATAR results. Time was taken to understand what the data reveals and how it informs continual improvement, ensuring insights are translated into practice. This reflective approach reinforces our commitment to excellence. Recognising outcomes and using them to strengthen teaching and learning.
Professional learning also included a range of School-specific sessions, supporting staff to remain aligned, informed and ready to serve students well. Among these was a dedicated focus on Compassion Lab, supporting our Theme of the Year: SEARCH — Compassion in Action.
In 2025, our community embraced the theme SEARCH for Excellence, expressed through learning, service and everyday effort. Excellence was reflected in outcomes, but also in growth and character. Building on this foundation, and strengthening our Visible Wellbeing approach, the 2026 theme SEARCH: Compassion in Action draws directly from one of our core values.
Compassion in Action reflects our Anglican ethos of love and care, shaping how we learn, serve and work together. It reminds us that flourishing is found not only in achievement, but in the way we treat others, and reinforces our commitment to creating a community where every child is known, valued and supported.
We begin 2026 with renewed focus and commitment to our shared mission, grounded in our Anglican ethos and community values. New staff are now part of our community, and returning staff bring the experience and dedication that continue to define our School.
The year ahead will be demanding and rewarding. These moments of reflection remind us why our work matters. Shaping learning, character and community, and all of us contributing in our own way, to a just and peaceful society.