Happy New Year and welcome to the new academic year at Kildare College.
This year, we are living our Core Value of Justice – Making the needs of the vulnerable paramount. Justice sits at the very heart of our Kildare story. It shapes how we see one another, how we respond to challenge, and how we teach our young people to move through the world with integrity, compassion and courage.
Celebrating 60 years of Kildare College
In 2026, we are also proudly celebrating 60 years of Kildare. When the Brigidine Sisters established the College in 1966, they did so with a bold and hopeful vision. They were women who were fierce, courageous, capable, determined and forthright, holding a deep belief that all is possible. This spirit continues to shape who we are today.
This is the legacy we honour and the spirit we seek to instil in every young person entrusted to our care. Through our shared commitment to justice, we encourage our students to grow into confident young people who care about the world beyond themselves and believe in their ability to make a difference.
2026 New Staff and Enrolments
We begin this year as a strong and thriving community of 799 students (the biggest in Kildare’s history) with the largest Year 7 cohort ever of 164 students. This significant achievement reflects the trust families place in Kildare College, and we are grateful for the partnership we share.
This year, we are also pleased to welcome 13 new staff members to our community. Each person brings fresh energy and expertise, strengthening our collective capacity to educate girls who are confident, capable and ready to lead. Our continued growth enables us to expand opportunities for learning, leadership and connection.
We are delighted to introduce the following new staff members to Kildare.
Following a thorough, strategic, and highly considered process, we are pleased to announce the 2026 Director of Teaching and Learning role at Kildare will be shared by two highly experienced and accomplished leaders. This shared leadership model reflects the complexity of contemporary learning and our commitment to excellence, coherence, and innovation across the College. We are delighted to welcome Katina Cornell and Nick Kellett-Southby as our new Co-Directors of Teaching and Learning.
Katina Cornell brings extensive leadership experience in curriculum, pastoral care, and middle school development. In senior leadership roles at King’s Baptist Grammar School, including Deputy Head of Middle School and Middle School Girls’ Pastoral Coordinator, Katina has led whole-school curriculum initiatives, guided teams of educators, and designed structures that strengthen student engagement, wellbeing, and academic growth. Her leadership is characterised by clarity of vision, strong relational practice, and a deep understanding of how learning, wellbeing, and belonging intersect to support young people to thrive. Katina is a thoughtful and values-driven leader, and we are excited by the leadership she will bring to Kildare.
Nick Kellett-Southby returns to Kildare with significant leadership expertise in teaching and learning, digital innovation, and system-level improvement. In 2025, he was seconded as a System Coach with Catholic Education South Australia. Nick worked alongside school leaders to lead data-informed improvement, professional learning, and curriculum innovation across multiple contexts. Previously at Kildare, he held the role of Digital Innovation Coordinator, where he led whole-school approaches to technology integration, staff capability building, and contemporary teaching practice. Nick is a strategic and evidence-informed leader with a strong focus on improving student engagement, achievement and growth, and we are delighted to welcome him back to the College.
Together, Katina and Nick bring complementary strengths, deep educational expertise, and a shared commitment to high-quality teaching and learning. Their collaborative leadership will play a key role in shaping the next phase of learning at Kildare.
We also welcome the following new staff members below.
2025 Year 12 Results – 100% SACE Completion
At the end of last year, we celebrated the outstanding results of our Class of 2025 with 100% SACE completion and 96% of all grades in the A and B grade bands (well above the State average of 78.12%). An impressive 58.6% of grades were awarded in the A band, with 41% of students achieving an ATAR in the top 20% nationally. We congratulate each student on their achievement and look forward to remaining in contact with them as Old Scholars.
Girls’ Education Matters
At Kildare, every girl is known and encouraged to find her voice, to take risks in her learning, and to step forward with confidence. As we welcome students back, there is a real sense of excitement as we begin the year together with purpose, optimism and belief in what our young women can achieve.
We are excited for the year ahead.
Best wishes,
Tina Neate | Principal
