We’re delighted to announce two new significant appointments to the St Margaret’s College staff for 2021.

The first is filling the large shoes left by long-standing Associate Principal, Chris Wyeth, which will be very capably done by Jennie Nairn who is currently Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning at SMC. The other is to a newly created position, the Head of Senior School, and will be taken up by Sian Evans, previously Head of Advanced Learning and Head of English at Christ’s College.

The role of Associate Principal attracted considerable interest from education professionals from both around New Zealand and overseas with roles of this calibre rarely available. However, Jennie’s proven ability in developing staff and bringing out the best in students, her passion for innovative, contemporary education and her capacity to lead collaborative change made her stand out as the best candidate for SMC. Jennie will work with Executive Principal, Diana Patchett, to deliver the strategic educational priorities of SMC while ensuring consistency and cohesion across the academic, wellbeing and co-curricular areas of the school. Jennie has been with SMC for five years and prior to that, at Woodford House for 12 years where she was Associate Principal for much of that time.

Sian Evans has a wealth of experience both in New Zealand at Christ’s College as Head of Advanced Learning and Head of English and previously in Australia at Knox Grammar School and Sydney Grammar School. Her newly established role of Head of Senior School will enhance the support available to senior students by ensuring the curriculum, teaching and assessment practices inspire a high level of engagement, achievement and progress for students in Years 11-13. Sian’s leadership will also have a strong focus on both student and staff wellbeing as she works in conjunction with the Deputy Head of Senior School, James Evans as well as other Heads of School.