Newcastle Grammar School has welcomed Matt Macoustra, a leader with more than 30 years of experience in education, as its new Head of School.
Macoustra who was Deputy Head of Barker College in Hornsby for the last seven years, will formally take up the role on 21 July after being commissioned at Christ Church Cathedral as part of the School’s Founders’ Day service.
Newcastle Grammar’s previous Head of School, Erica Thomas announced her resignation in June last year after accepting a position at Principal of Kincoppal-Rose Bay School, where she will commence this year.
Following Thomas’ resignation, the school undertook an “extensive local, national and international search” for her successor, finally deciding on Macoustra in December 2022.
Macoustra, a graduate of the University of Sydney and the University of Newcastle, began his career at Macquarie Boys' High School before moving to Barker College in 1997. There, he taught multiple subjects and served as Director of Sport. In 2008, he joined the Senior Executive Team, holding positions such as Head of Middle School and Deputy Head of School (K-12). Macoustra is also a graduate of the NSW Association of Independent Schools Flagship Leadership program.
Responding to the appointment, the School’s Chair of the Board, Catherine Wilkinson said Macoustra would help the School build on its current successes and move into the next phase of its strategic plan “to be recognised as the leading regional school and a world-class centre for learning and wellbeing”.
“Mr Macoustra’s warmth and authenticity underpin his enthusiasm for the role of Head of School which can be both challenging and rewarding. The Board is committed to a smooth transition for Matt and [will] provide him with support as he takes on this important leadership role,” Wilkinson said.
Macoustra called his new role “an absolute privilege”.
“It is an absolute privilege to be afforded the opportunity to lead a school that so clearly values the holistic development of young people within its care,” Macoustra said.
“Newcastle is a city that offers so much. There can be no doubt that the School is in an exceptionally strong position to be an institution that leads the way as the city reinvents itself and continues to thrive. There are so many strengths to this school community, none more so than the wonderful young people with whom we have the privilege of working.”
Newcastle Grammar School has been named *one of eight Excellence Awardees for Prime Super Regional School of the Year ahead of the Australian Education Awards 2023.