Headmaster

Mr Jamie Dorrington BADipEd MA MEd.Admin AIMM MBA

Jamie Dorrington was educated in Sydney before completing his undergraduate degree and teaching qualifications at Macquarie University . He began his teaching career in Darwin before moving to New Zealand for a year. He spent nine years as Head of Economics and Assistant Housemaster at The Scots College and one year teaching at Tonbridge School in Kent before moving to the Sunshine Coast . Jamie helped found Matthew Flinders Anglican College in Buderim, where he was Deputy Principal before taking up positions as Head of Senior School at All Saints Anglican College and then Principal of Trinity Anglican School, Cairns. Jamie has Masters degrees in Politics, Educational Administration and Masters in Business Administration.

Jamie has a particular interest in leadership development. As such he emphasises the need for each student to develop their own set of values and principles to guide them through their lives. He encourages each senior student to develop their own definition of success as a measure of their performance. Jamie believes that school should be fun as well as challenging. Once this is achieved, most other things fall into place.

Jamie is married to Grace and has three children.

Headmaster's Perspective

"It has been my privilege to be involved with the education of young people for almost three decades. However, my views on the role of schools and teachers have changed dramatically since I began my career.

When I first stood in front of a class I thought my job was entirely to do with imparting knowledge and getting my students through tests. It was my interaction with a student when I taught in England that opened my eyes to the real role of educators, that of inspiring people to reach their potential inside and outside of the classroom. I still place a lot of emphasis on the acquisition of knowledge, but I see my primary role as helping each student to develop faith in their own ability.

While I returned from England a much better teacher, I still did not understand why so many parents appeared overly anxious about their children. My understanding grew when I became a parent myself. It was then that I realized that we all want our children to have opportunities, to shine, to enjoy themselves, to make friends, and to be safe. These things cannot be underestimated, nor can they be taken for granted. My role is to create a community where children feel at home.

Somewhere along the line I came to understand the three ‘P's of education – People, People, and People. Facilities are important, but they can be purchased; curriculum documents are necessary, but they can be constructed; good people are vital, and they are much harder to develop. I feel honoured to be the Headmaster of a school full of very fine people. I have them in offices, in classrooms, on sporting fields, and in the playground. My role is to develop and support the people who have already made Saint Stephen's a very special place.

The true measure of this and any other school cannot be found on paper; it is found in the hearts of its people. It manifests itself at the moment our students open their reports and assess their own success, or when they tell themselves to get up when they fall over towards the end of a hard game, and when they go out of their way to be a friend or do a job knowing they will never be publicly recognized for their efforts."