The Haileyburian

The Haileyburian

SUMMER 2025
Celebrating our sixth primary school of the year award

Hayley Berry

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Why we love our school

In August Haileybury was honoured to be named the Primary School of the Year – Non Government in the prestigious Australian Education Awards. This was the sixth time that Haileybury has won the award. 

To celebrate we asked the school community to share what makes Haileybury so special to them. 

From students

“I love reading groups and spelling because I love learning new words”, Sienna, Prep, City

“I love Art and Science because you do things like experiments,” Clodagh, Prep, City 

“I love it because my teacher Mrs Jackson is so kind and helpful. Another thing is that my friends and classmates are funny and dazzling.” Sebastian, Year 1, Castlefield (Brighton) 

“I love PE because it helps us exercise,” Destiny, Year 1, Edrington (Berwick) 

“I like choir because we learn to sing,” Aaron, Year 1, Edrington (Berwick) 

“I love Haileybury because of the kind-hearted people that work here,” Lena, Year 2, Newlands (Keysborough) 

“I love Haileybury because I get to go on very exciting excursions like the one up to Chesterfield Farm and they are very fun,” Jayden, Year 2, Newlands (Keysborough) 

“At Haileybury I like writing because I get to express my ideas,” Emily, Year 3, City 

“I love Haileybury because every time I go there my teacher helps me whenever I’m stuck with a question,” Eamon, Year 3, Newlands, (Keysborough) 

“I love PE because I love learning new games and building my running skills.” Eponine, Year 4, Castlefield (Brighton)

“All my teachers at Haileybury are very understanding and always make learning educational and fun.” Theo, Year 4, Castlefield (Brighton)

From families

“Haileybury is not only academically strong but also attentive to students’ social, emotional, and physical development, while engaging families in the process. This holistic approach has made a very positive impact on our children and on our family as a whole.”  Huidi and Lifeng, Castlefield (Brighton) 

“What we appreciate most is that while academic excellence is fostered, equal emphasis is placed on ensuring that the students genuinely enjoy their time at school and develop a love of learning. The students work hard but also have moments of fun and new experiences.” Jonelle and Adam, Newlands (Keysborough) 

“We love  Haileybury’s Junior School for the way it nurtures both the academic and personal growth of our children. It’s a place where curiosity is encouraged, and learning feels exciting, meaningful and tailored for each of them. We know this from the excitement and joy they share at the end of the day on pick up.”  Michelle and Sam, City 

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Haileybury has developed a proud tradition of producing talented athletes and this is no different with American football, where Old Haileyburians have found success as punters in the United States’ National Football League (NFL) and college competitions.  

In American football, the punter is responsible for kicking the football downfield. The main objective is to give their own team the best possible field position. Punters need a range of skills, such as accuracy, good timing and the ability to read the game. Many of the Old Haileyburian punters in the USA first developed their skills while playing Australian Rules football during their time at the School.  

Head of Sport Matthew Dwyer, reports positive feedback from the US colleges regarding Haileybury students. “When I speak to US Colleges and tell them that Haileybury offers the largest school sports program in the Southern Hemisphere, balancing mandatory participation in sport with high academic expectations, for both boys and girls, they definitely lean in. The feedback we get is that Haileybury students are extremely coachable and the American college coaches love that we have a ‘team-first’ philosophy to sport.” 

Matthew also says that Haileybury’s programs inspire international perspectives, helping students to feel more comfortable in pursuing their goals overseas. “Initiatives such as Haileybury’s overseas Explore and Expeditions foster a global curiosity in our students, and we are extremely proud of how many students are now getting a quality education on the back of their passion for sport.” 

Old Haileyburian punters in the USA include Tory Taylor (OH 2015) who played American college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He won the prestigious Ray Guy Award in 2023 which recognises the best punter in college football. In the same year he was named a First-Team All-American, an annual honour which recognises the best college football players in the USA. He signed with the Chicago Bears in the NFL in 2024.  

At college level, several Old Haileyburians have also excelled. Harry Traum (OH 2019) took his talents to the Indiana State Sycamores in 2022, where he played for four seasons.  

Riley Thompson (OH 2017) is another punter who currently plays for Penn State’s Nittany Lions.  

Archie Wilson (OH 2024) made his US college debut with the Nebraska Huskers this year.  

Clayton Taylor (OH 2018) has represented the StonyBrook SeaWolves since the 2022 season and was recently nominated for the National Football Association’s prestigious William V. Campbell trophy. 

Jakob Anderson (OH 2022) has played two seasons for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Rutger University in New Jersey), while Jakson Ross (OH 2017) has been signed as a punter with the Tennessee Volunteers at the University of Tennessee since 2023.   

Collectively, these punters’ achievements provide inspiration for future Haileyburians to pursue their dreams. 

Filed Under: OHA

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Haileybury has been recognised as Australia’s leading private co-educational school in a national report. 

The Australia’s Top 100 Private Schools list was compiled by News Corp and considered more than 20 different metrics. These included academic results, student-teacher ratios, subject choices, facilities, co-curricular activities and sports programs. 

With more than 1,200 independent schools operating across Australia, it is a significant achievement for Haileybury to be ranked as the country’s leading co-educational school and second overall in the national independent school rankings. 

Haileybury Rendall School was also recognised as one of the best schools in the Northern Territory and also ranked in the best 30 co-educational schools in the country, an impressive achievement. 

Haileybury Rendall School has also previously been awarded nationally as Australia’s Regional School of the Year and as Boarding School of the Year by the Australian Education Awards. 

“The independent school sector is a really dynamic sector, so to be ranked at the top private school of the co-educational sector and second overall in Australia, amongst some very fine schools who are working with great educators, is a great honour and a privilege,” says Haileybury CEO | Principal, Derek Scott. 

Haileybury’s ranking reflects key aspects of the School, including the focus on evidence-based teaching practices, particularly in literacy and numeracy. 

Diversity and inclusiveness are also important to the success and wellbeing of Haileybury’s 5,100 students in Melbourne, as well as those at Haileybury Rendall School. 

“Approximately 46% of our students speak a language other than English at home and we have students from 60 different ethnic backgrounds. We are an incredibly diverse community and we celebrate that and strive for excellence,” says Derek. 

“I would like to congratulate all the schools on the list and also extend a heartfelt thank you to the educators, staff, students and families who are part of the Haileybury community. Your efforts have helped our school be the great world school that it is today,” he said. 

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 David Powell knows how to help students keep their eye on the ball, both in the classroom and on the table tennis court. As Deputy Head of Mathematics (Years 7–8), Head of Table Tennis, and a double Olympian, we asked David to shared how he inspires students to excel in both academics and sport. 

What inspired you to be a teacher?

My sister inspired me. She taught me Biology and watching her made me realise how rewarding teaching could be.  

What are some of the activities or programs you are involved in at the School?

I’ve been involved as the Head of Sport (Table Tennis) since joining Haileybury in 2019. We’ve always had a strong program, and I’ve been fortunate to help build on that success. Outside of school, I’ve also worked with Table Tennis Australia, supporting our National Junior Squads, several of whom are Haileybury students. Being able to share my experience with them has been incredibly rewarding. In fact, Haileybury has now won the past 22 APS titles at firsts level, a remarkable record.  

What was it like to be an Olympian?

I feel so lucky to have been part of the Australian Olympic Team in both 2016 and 2020. Competing on the biggest sporting stage was something I’d dreamed of since I was a kid, and getting to share that moment with our incredible team is something I’ll never take for granted. 

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

The most rewarding part of my role is working with the young people. They are full of optimism and energy, and always bring a fresh perspective. I also value my role in Maths leadership and having the opportunity to help shape the direction of our department and make a meaningful impact on the learning experience of our Middle School students. 

What advice would you give to students who want to pursue their dreams?

Set clear, specific goals, then map out strategies to reach them. Hard work and dedication are key but remember that progress is not always linear. Most importantly, find the joy in what you do. If you’re enjoying the process, everything else falls into place. In the words of gymnast Simone Biles: “At the end of the day, if I can say I had fun, it was a good day.” 

Do you have a favourite maths topic?

I love teaching quadratics and graphing parabolas! There are so many real-life examples that bring these concepts to life, from the design of suspension bridges to the arc of a water fountain, or even the flight path of a table tennis ball. It’s one of those lessons where maths meets the real world in a visual and fun way. 

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Few educators have shaped the landscape of Drama education quite like Philippa Bell. As Head of Drama Curriculum from Prep to Year 8 at the City campus we asked her to reflect on the evolution of Drama education, and what inspires her. 

Tell us about your roles at Haileybury?

My association with Haileybury began in 1985 when I was employed to teach the new Middle School subject of Speech and Drama, to Years 7 and 8 boys. During this time, I was also the make-up designer for Senior productions, which gave me an insight into the broader benefits drama brings to school life. I taught at Haileybury until the end of 1991 and returned in 2001 to take on the role of Middle School Drama teacher and literacy support at the Castlefield (Brighton) campus. I proposed the introduction of primary drama and from 2002 this became a core part of the curriculum across Haileybury campuses. 

In 2016, I was given the opportunity to help establish the Drama program at the City campus, including contributing to the design of purpose-built facilities as part of the steering committee. I was passionate about ensuring a clear Drama pathway to VCE and we are now seeing our second group of City Year 12s complete VCE Drama. I have been fortunate to work at a school where Drama is central to the curriculum.

What has been an impactful teaching moment?

There are special moments every week. Recently I was exploring Shakespeare with my Year 6 boys and a young man from that class gave me an alternative meaning for one of the lines I had been teaching for years, and it blew me away. I love that my students are still teaching me.  

How have you seen the world of drama and performance education change?

Drama is a subject that has always existed at the margins and been delivered by passionate staff. Students have loved the way drama has allowed them to express themselves and given them freedom to create. It has been my privilege to teach and be an advocate for this subject. I was motivated to teach Drama in the eighties by inspiring practitioners, who were advocates for Drama and showed how it develops empathy, critical thinking, collaboration and much more.  With Covid-19 and world political climates, Drama has lost its place in many schools. Although a rocky time for my beloved subject, my hope is we continue to see its worth for students.  

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

The challenge of every class being different and working with students to engage them so they love the drama space.   

What do you hope students will take from your classes?

To be proud of being different and unique and to respect the First Nations peoples of Australia.