Mr Michael Horne

The Hamilton and Alexandra College is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Michael Horne as the next Principal, commencing in Term Two 2023.

Mr Horne is an experienced educational leader and is currently the Associate Principal at Braemar College in Woodend, Victoria, where he leads the areas of staffing, operations, curriculum and staff development.

Prior to his role as Associate Principal, Mr Horne was Head of Senior School at Braemar College, and has held senior leadership positions including Deputy Principal at Salesian College and Ave Maria College.  Mr Horne spent his early teaching career at Scotch College in Melbourne, and considers himself first and foremost to be an English teacher, with interests in music, history and outdoor pursuits.

Mrs Rosie Merrin, Chair of The Hamilton and Alexandra College Board said that Mr Horne is an exceptional appointment for the school, bringing skills, highly regarded experience, and a philosophy that will provide inspirational leadership to our school as we head into an exciting future.

“Michael is an established speaker and author of numerous English textbooks, and he is passionate about developing the capacity of staff and students to be continual learners, and is a strong advocate for pursuing excellence in teaching practice. In his current role, he has successfully led and introduced academic programs and brought a renewed focus on improving teaching skills and has been instrumental in developing capacity in middle leaders and forming highly effective teams.

“We were continually impressed by Michael’s optimism and his belief that “schools are wonderful places – busy, exciting, challenging, rich with possibility. The chance to genuinely connect with and follow the trajectory of remarkable young people makes school leadership one of the best jobs in the world.” This perspective is a wonderful fit for the College values and our community.”

“As The Hamilton and Alexandra College enters its 151^st year of outstanding education in Hamilton, we know that Michael will lead the staff and students confidently into the future of new careers, opportunities, personal growth and wellbeing,” said Mrs Merrin.

Mr Horne is currently undertaking a Doctor of Education degree through The University of Melbourne with his research focusing on the development of professional learning using teacher-led action research methodologies. He also holds a Master of Education and Graduate Diploma in Education, both from The University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Monash University.

Mr Horne, his wife Gemma and sons Henry and Theo are looking forward to joining The Hamilton and Alexandra College community, meeting the staff and families, and being active members of the wider Hamilton and South West region.