Once great community College under threat from new leadership.The good thingsI spent twenty years at ELTHAM under two principals who were both deep thinkers and genuinely inspiring leaders. They built strong, capable teams and shaped a culture of collaboration and purpose across the school.
The students were the true heart of the place. They were a wonderfully eclectic mix, at times quirky but always kind, curious, and engaging. Working with them was an enduring source of joy.
The staff were great. There was a genuine sense of collegiality and shared commitment. The extracurricular arts and science programmes were particular highlights, offering rich opportunities for students and fostering strong relationships between teachers and learners.
The challengesThe school has undergone significant change under new leadership. Much of what once defined the old ELTHAM College: its creativity, collaboration, and distinctive culture, has been eroded by cuts.
The co-curricular arts programme has been slashed. The current executive appears to lack a clear vision or genuine connection to what originally made the school such an exceptional alternative institution. The character of the student cohort is changing and a some powerful families seem to exert influence.
The expectations on staff are increasingly demanding. The executive leadership seems disengaged from the daily realities of teaching. None of them teach, and it shows: both in their understanding of staff challenges and in the way they communicate decisions that affect learning. Surveys show staff feel unheard and unsupported, particularly around behaviour management, where policy is inconsistent, ineffective or missing. The only positives are the teachers and heads of year & faculty.