Our academic year is already well underway through Term 1A, and this early momentum promises a smooth and confident commencement to 2026. A special welcome to the new families, students and staff joining our Senior School community. We trust that your time at Haileybury will be enriching, rewarding and filled with success.
Before we begin in earnest, it is important to pause and acknowledge the remarkable achievements of the past academic year. Hard work, curiosity, resilience and the steady inspiration of dedicated teachers saw our students achieve some of the most outstanding VCE results in the state. Five students secured the highest possible ATAR of 99.95, and 94% of our Year 12 cohorts were placed in the top 40% nationally. An extraordinary 50% of graduates earned an ATAR of 90 or above, with 12% in the top 1% of Australia.
These accomplishments reflect the strength of our academic culture: 46 perfect Study Scores across 23 subjects; more than half of Haileybury Girls College students and exactly half of Haileybury College students attaining ATARs of 90+; and a combined median ATAR of 90. These successes were not accidental, but were built through discipline, curiosity, and a community that values excellence and supports each learner to meet their potential. They also remind us that Haileybury’s tradition of high performance is sustained when students work hard, when teachers bring their deep expertise to the classroom, and when families partner closely with the school.
As we enter the new year, these achievements should serve not simply as a celebration, but as an inspiration. How can we build on the considerable success of the Class of 2025? Our task now is to build upon the foundations they have set for us, in order that we can strengthen the ‘value added’ for every learner, to continue striving for excellence, and to approach each challenge with the same determination and curiosity that characterised last year’s cohort. Every student, regardless of their starting point, has the opportunity to grow, to stretch, and to achieve their personal best.
Wednesday, 28 January 2026 begins with tutor groups, which meet prior to classes. This is an important moment for reconnecting, resetting expectations, and ensuring our young Haileyburians step confidently back into the routines that support flourishing. A few gentle reminders about uniform, hair and presentation are often all that is needed to help everyone settle into the rhythm of purposeful school life; small disciplines that build a culture of learning and of hard work where focus, pride and learning thrive.
Looking ahead, our ambition is straightforward: to strengthen a culture grounded in hard work and real purpose. Central to this is our Wellbeing Curriculum, which offers the age-and-stage-appropriate supports which our high-performing, high-achieving students need to flourish with resilience throughout a demanding academic year.
Equally important is our One Haileybury commitment, which brings our Senior Schools together at the Keysborough campus each Tuesday. These occasions carry real significance; they enable shared learning, connection and the cultivation of a unified Senior School culture. In supporting strong attendance expectations across the term, I encourage all families to appreciate the value we place on these collaborative Tuesdays and the distinctive sense of community they foster.
Educational excellence, and sustained success, can only be achieved while balancing it with a deep commitment to individual and collective wellbeing. At Haileybury, we believe these two elements, high performance and healthy disposition, work in harmony. Learning to live and living to learn are held in equal measure, shaping confident and capable young people who are ready for the world beyond Haileybury’s gates.
We ask all parents and carers to support us by ensuring students arrive immaculate and in the correct uniform for the season, well-presented, and ready for a positive start on day one. We are proud of our Haileybury uniform, and we trust that students will wear it with the dignity and pride it represents. Furthermore, students are once again reminded that mobile phones are switched off and put away securely in lockers from arrival at school until the end of the day.
Should you have any questions about our expectations, please feel free to contact Head of Senior School Culture, Ms Catherine McCraith, or Head of Senior School Wellbeing, Ms Fiona Gontier or, in the first instance, your child’s Head of House or Head of Pre Senior.
Together, with gratitude for the achievements of the past year and confidence in the promise of the year ahead, we look forward to a 2026 school year filled with purpose, progress and shared success. Go well and good luck!
Dr Nicholas Grigsby
Deputy Principal
Head of Senior Schools
