Governance and Leadership
Clayfield College is an independent day and boarding school in Brisbane for girls and boys from Pre-Prep to Year 12. The College is one of four outstanding schools owned by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA) along with our sibling schools Brisbane Boys’ College, Somerville House and Sunshine Coast Grammar School. The Parallel Learning model that offers both coeducational and single sex learning when it makes the most difference for students, is unique to Clayfield College only.
The PMSA, established in 1918, is a joint mission of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod and the Presbyterian Church of Queensland. The Churches formed the PMSA to purchase Brisbane High School for Girls (now Somerville House) and Clayfield College (now Brisbane Boys’ College) in 1918. Read more about the PMSA.
Clayfield College commenced on 9 February 1931 when Brisbane Boys’ College moved to their Toowong location. Today it proudly provides outstanding opportunities for boys and girls beyond the regular curriculum and across all ages so students can let their light shine.
More than 100 years since establishment, the PMSA is a financially strong, not-for-profit organisation that plays a vital role as the connecting link between the schools and the two churches and in setting the direction of each school. Most recently this included the transition to Parallel Learning at Clayfield College, to maximise each student’s growth at all stages of their development. All PMSA schools offer a unique ecumenical learning environment where children learn Christian values common to two churches, not the beliefs and practices of just one church.
The PMSA works together with the Clayfield College Council and Principal to provide:
- a caring, Christian-based culture
- high quality programs for developing teaching excellence
- financial strength and support
- human resources, legal and compliance support
- governance and policy-making support, particularly around child safety.
The PMSA Board
The PMSA is governed by a Board which comprises of up to 8 members. Three Board members are each appointed by the Presbyterian Church and the Uniting Church and up to two members are directly appointed by the PMSA Board. The PMSA Board is support by three committees, a school advisory council for each of the Schools and the PMSA Group Office.
Learn more about the PMSA Board.
Clayfield College Advisory Council
The School Advisory Council is made up of five members drawn from both the School and wider community and the Principal who is a non-voting member.
The Clayfield College Advisory Council is a sub-committee of the PMSA Board and is an advisory body that informs, advises, and supports the Principal, CEO and PMSA Board.
The School Principal reports to the PMSA CEO and is responsible for the daily operations of the school.
A call for expressions of interest will be advertised for vacancies of all positions on the School Advisory Council.
Each School Council’s Charter outlines the School Advisory Council’s objectives, responsibilities, and governance framework as well as their relationship to the PMSA.
Senior Leadership Team
The Clayfield College Senior Leadership Team (SLT) provides strategic and operational leadership for the College.
Chaired by the Principal, the SLT oversees all academic, co-curricular, community and operational issues and decisions on behalf of the College:
- Dr Andrew Cousins, Principal
- Mrs Audrey Fellowes, Deputy Principal - Pastoral, Head of Primary
- Mrs Lakshmi Mohan, Deputy Principal - Academic, Head of Secondary
- Ms Leesa Taylor, Director of Corporate Services
- Mrs Kathryn Searle, Head of Boarding
- Ms Emma Dixon, Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement
- Reverend Paul Yarrow, Chaplain