Kyle Thompson is the seventh principal of SCOTS PGC College and commenced in late 2017.

He is a highly experienced educator and leader with a passion for bringing out the best in people – be it on the sports field, in the classroom or the workplace.

What started as a career in sports, after gaining his Masters in Sports Management, led to a life in education with Kyle discovering his natural aptitude for teaching after time spent coaching professional players and young children cricket, while studying at Sydney University.

After gaining his qualification in education, Kyle went on to spend seven years in the Department of Education and Training in New South Wales, before joining Cranbrook School in Sydney, serving as Sportsmaster for six years. This was followed by 11 years at Brisbane Boys’ College where Kyle led significant change first in his role as Director of Sports and Activities and later as Deputy Headmaster / Head of Senior School.

During this time Kyle contributed significantly to the strategic direction of the College and was instrumental in the activation and ongoing management of a range of initiatives from pastoral care, to student leadership, to classroom learning and pathway creation.

Kyle believes a good education is all about relationships and while much of it involves academics, learning about life and how to take one’s place within it is just as important.

Blake has a passion for creating innovative and engaging learning experiences that promote quality teaching both in and out of the classroom. He has experience in education leadership roles at MLC School, the NSW Educational Standards Authority, and the International Baccalaureate Organisation. Blake’s approaches to teaching and learning are underpinned by the strong theoretical understanding he gained through completing a Master of Education (Leadership and Management) in 2021.

Blake is a strong advocate for learning that extends beyond the classroom. He believes as educators, we have a responsibility to support our young people to become positive, active, and engaged global citizens, and offer more than just academic knowledge and qualifications. His commitment to the holistic development of students is demonstrated through the extensive experience he gained designing a teaching and learning framework to support the valuable learning that takes place outside of the traditional classroom setting. During his 20-year teaching career, he has led arts programs, co-curricular programs, partnerships with Round Square schools, and interdisciplinary units, while working extensively in the pastoral care space. He prioritises programs that are characterised by a strong student voice and parent/carer inclusion. Forming positive, respectful relationships with students and their families is key to success in schools.

With a passion for the Creative Arts, Blake has experience choreographing, directing, and producing musical, dance productions, and eisteddfod items. He has success at state and national levels placing at numerous competitions including Rock Eisteddfod Challenge, Cheerleading Competitions, and the Wakakirri Story Dance events.

Building strong relationships and contributing to community have remained guiding principles throughout Richard Dobrenov’s time in education.

With his career spanning more than 30 years, Richard is an experienced and innovative educator dedicated to creating learning environments that support, challenge, encourage and celebrate all students.

Beyond his belief in developing the talents of each individual, for Richard, a great school is a supportive community; a group of people that collectively can relate, contribute to and draw from the broader community within which they exist.

He has always encouraged students to move beyond their comfort zones both inside and outside the classroom and believes relationships, based on mutual respect, are key to student engagement.

Richard holds a deep understanding of independent education and has worked in day and boarding schools across metro and regional Queensland. His experience at the coalface, and at a strategic level, has enabled Richard to acquire diverse skills and perspectives. It has also seen him implement a range of initiatives designed to respond to the changing educational landscape.

Before joining SCOTS PGC, Richard was Head of Middle and Senior School at Fraser Coast Anglican College in Hervey Bay. Prior to this, he spent 29 years at The Southport School (TSS) on the Gold Coast working in various roles including Dean of Students, Day Housemaster, Boarding Housemaster and Head of Department.

Amy Woodgate is an experienced and committed educator with a strong background in Early Years and Primary education. From teaching in the classroom, to leading and managing academic programs, Amy has spent the last 16 years creating high quality learning environments focused on developing the ‘whole’ child.

As the Director of Girls’ Boarding and the Head of Middle School at SCOTS PGC, her role is wide and varied.   It encompasses students in Years 6 right through to Year 8, while also caring for all the girls who board at the College in the residential facilities at Glenbrae House.

For Amy, working closely with staff, students and families is the most rewarding part of her role and she’s passionate about helping young people to thrive in their learning.

Whether it’s building a strong foundation as students transition into Middle School, or providing students with the confidence to investigate, question and collaborate as they grow and develop, Amy draws on her diverse experience and a range of age-appropriate strategies to support students as they journey through their education.  Equally,  Amy’s leadership in the Girls’ Boarding House provides a strong and supportive environment for the girls in boarding to flourish as they discover their place in the world.

Prior to joining the College in 2019, Amy was the Assistant Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning) at Somerville House for five years. She also spent eight years at Brisbane Boys’ College as a classroom teacher, year level coordinator and in acting leadership roles and before that was a classroom teacher at Moreton Bay Boys’ College during its foundational years.

When it comes to managing everything that happens outside of the classroom at SCOTS PGC College, our Director of Co-Curricular Activities, Jarrod Turner, is a seasoned professional.  His experiences in education, sport and co-curricular are quite extensive. For many years, Jarrod was the Head of Sport at Ambrose Traecy College in Brisbane, before he and his family traded the city lights for Warwick’s wide open spaces.  Jarrod also has experience working within the Advancement areas of Independent Schools and systems, having been the School Partnership Manager at the Edmund Rice Foundation, as well as having various other roles such as Director of Alumni and Community Relations, and Director of Cricket within a school and University context.

In addition to Jarrod’s technical and organisational skills, he has demonstrated a strong adherence to the relational nature of his roles – a character trait and skill that will stand him and our College in good stead as we move into the future. His commitment to helping others (students and staff) improve, feel supported and valued, and understanding that schools such as SCOTS PGC are community and people-focused, will ensure his and our success from a co-curricular and whole-school perspective

Andrew Millard is the Business Manager at SCOTS PGC, responsible for overseeing finance, facilities and business services at the College. Andrew commenced in 2002 and has played a key role in ensuring the College can financially respond to an ever-changing educational environment and provide facilities that are fit-for-purpose.

As a long-standing staff member, Andrew holds a deep understanding and passion for SCOTS PGC and its people. Most of all, he enjoys working within a learning environment and the variety of work his role offers.

In the same way teachers work to unlock the potential of students, Derek Naughten’s role is to foster a culture that allows staff at SCOTS PGC to do their best work.

With more than 20 years of service at the College, Derek holds a deep understanding of its history, values and community.

Beyond developing and implementing contemporary human resources practices, much of Derek’s role is about empowering people to bring the school’s values to life. He believes every person, regardless of their position, has a role to play in the College’s mission of ‘inspiring students to be their best’ and that great things happen when all staff work together in unity.

For Derek, the school’s culture is reflective of its regional setting – everyone has a role to play in shaping the experience and there’s a strong sense of community and belonging.