Independent Schools Guide 2025: How Kingswood College is emboldening and inspiring minds

The heart of a Kingswood College education lies in inspiring a passion for learning, encouraging curiosity and nurturing young people who question, take calculated risks and recognise their full academic and personal potential.

“Our vision is to embolden hearts and inspire minds,” says Principal Chrissy Gamble. “We want our young people to have courageous hearts and to be people of good character, so they go into the world and make a difference.

“We are also absolutely serious about student learning and developing our staff. We are aspirational and inspirational in our approach to learning – it is front and centre of everything we do.

“We raise the bar in how students perform academically, and we support the concept of excellence, but sitting alongside that, we work closely with students to ensure their wellbeing.”

A recently published strategic plan reflects the school’s vision and takes a detailed and responsive approach to steering Kingswood College for the next five years.

It embeds the school’s values while outlining bold expectations for students, staff and the wider school community.

The plan also outlines five key pillars that underpin the strategy: bold expectations, exceptional staff, strong connections, being future-ready, and building a sustainable legacy.

“The process of developing the new strategic plan has been fascinating,” Gamble says. “We’ve listened to our community about what matters to them, and we have created a plan that is ambitious for our future.

“We are cultivating a learning culture that challenges everyone to excel and that fosters high standards and a love of learning. Driven by data and evidence, we are setting goals for each student’s academic growth and creating experiential learning opportunities.

“We also want our students to lead healthy lifestyles and to respect their wellbeing so they can excel academically and be part of a culture of respect.”

Head of People and Culture Tina Flyger says attracting and retaining exceptional staff is also pivotal to the school’s continued success and to achieving its vision and goals.

“All our staff show an unwavering commitment to placing students at the heart of what we do,” she says.

“We are here for the students, and when we appoint a new staff member, we look for that same commitment and motivation.

“We want people who are aligned with our vision and values.

“We have also built strong connections across our community and we are establishing a philanthropy committee and celebrating with our alumni.”

Flyger says the school is also supporting its parents and friends association, with every year level being assigned a person who will bring families together socially throughout the year.

“We are also establishing key relationships with tertiary institutions so we can expose students to a taste of university life while they are still at school,” she adds.

Kingswood College’s focus on being “future ready” not only ensures students are equipped with the skills of tomorrow but also plans for the next 50 years.

A master plan will be shared this year that will reinvigorate the school’s learning and shared spaces, including facilities for a leading choral program.

“When students leave Kingswood College, they leave with a love of learning,” Gamble says.

“They see that learning has a purpose, and they know we have challenged them to be the very best version of themselves.

“They have gained academic results that reflect the best of them, and they also have character.