Pittwater House is different from most other non-government schools in Australia. It is one of only a handful of 'private schools' that is not owned or funded by a church or religious group. This unique twin school campus is owned and managed by The Pittwater House Schools Limited, a public non-profit company limited by guarantee reporting to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. The Council of Governors offer these services as Directors at no charge and no profits are distributed from the School's operations.
The Pittwater House Grammar School for Boys (and Preparatory School) and The Pittwater House Girls' College (and Junior Girls' College) is separately registered and accredited by the NSW Board of Studies and the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training and receives per capita grants from State and Commonwealth governments for each Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident enrolled (K-12). The Pittwater House Schools Limited is also a Registered Training Organisation accredited by the NSW Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board and offers a number of vocational Diploma and Certificate programmes to the wider community. The Department of Community Services is responsible for the licensing of the Pittwater House Early Childhood Centre, its staff and facilities.
The Chief Executive Officer of The Pittwater House Schools is Principal, Mr Richard Morgan (son of the Founder Rex Morgan). Mr Greg Alderson manages the business and financial operations and Mrs Robyn Beaumont is the Director of Admissions and Marketing for all areas of enrolment on the campus.
The Twin Schools are divided into Secondary and Junior Schools and are led by the Secondary Schools Headmaster, Mr Martin Orrock and the Head of the Junior Schools, Mrs Janice Gonczi.
Richard Morgan - Principal & Chief Executive Officer
MA GDipMuseumStud Syd DipORec AQF, FRSA MACE, JP, Major (AAC)
Richard Morgan is an old boy of Pittwater House, first joining the Preparatory School in Transition B in 1964. He then completed his secondary education at boarding school in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and his tertiary education at Sydney University where he studied Archaeology and Museum Studies. He returned to the School in 1978 as an Officer of Cadets and joined the Pittwater House Cadet Unit.
After a career directing museums in Newcastle and Sydney he joined the full time School staff as Executive Officer in 1991 and was appointed Vice Principal of the School and Chief Executive Officer of the company in 1999. He was appointed Principal at the end of 2004. He is also an officer of the School Cadet Unit and through this maintains a strong link with many Secondary School pupils. What other Principal camps outdoors with his students?
He is a musician, playing the pipe organ, piano and tuba both for the School and in the community. Mr Morgan has interests in Middle Eastern Archaeology and has participated in a number of long-term projects in Southern Jordan for the University of Sydney.
He was awarded a Recognition Badge in the International Year of Volunteers 2001 by the Commonwealth Government, the Australian Cadet Forces Long Service Medal and bar in 2002 by the Department of Defence and the Centenary of Federation Medal by Her Majesty the Queen in 2003 for services to the community. As Principal of Pittwater House Richard Morgan leads his team of academic and administrative staff with enthusiasm with the welfare and enriched academic experiences of the pupils his primary concern.
Mr Martin S. Orrock - Headmaster Grammar School and Girls College
MA, DipEd, MACE
Martin Orrock was educated at Newcastle and Macquarie Universities specialising in Economics and Urban Geography. After commencing his teaching career in Sydney, he worked at Quintin Kynaston School in St Johns Wood, London for a number of years teaching A Level Geography. Whilst living in Europe he broadened his experience studying urban environments and indulging his passion for skiing.
On returning to Australia Mr Orrock completed a Masters Degree focusing on Urban Planning which was very beneficial to his teaching of HSC Geography. He commenced working as a teacher of Geography and Economics at Pittwater House in 1974, became Master of the Middle School in 1978, Headmaster of the Girls College in 1980 and Headmaster of the College and Grammar School in 1983. Over the years Mr Orrock has observed the enormous growth and change of the Pittwater House Schools' campus.
He is very passionate about young students having the basic skills of literacy and numeracy in addition to public speaking skills and the ability to work co-operatively in teams. The recognition and mentoring of individual talents in our student body has also been crucial. It is also hoped that Pittwater House graduates have a keen international perspective so they feel they can take opportunities of studying, working and living anywhere in the world.
Mr Orrock keeps abreast of the educational scene through membership of the Harvard International Principals' Network and the Association of Curriculum Development (USA). He has delivered papers at conferences on boys' education and individuality in schools and travels regularly to conferences and visits other schools to ensure that Pittwater House Grammar School and Girls College are able to evaluate and implement the latest approaches.
He is a past Chairman of HICES, past Secretary of ISA, current Chairman of CDSSA and AICES, is on the Headmasters' Advisory Council to Combined Independent Schools Association (CIS) and on the Languages Advisory Committee for Association of Independent Schools. Mr Orrock lists swimming, food, reading and architecture among his many interests.
Dr Robert McLeod - The Director of University Foundation Studies
Principal Administrator of Northern Beaches English College
BA MEd EdD Dip Ed (Syd) Major (AAC)
Dr Robert McLeod attended the University of Sydney and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and Diploma of Education in 1970. He returned to the University of Sydney in 1991 - 1992 and completed a Masters and followed this with a Masters Honours in 1994 and a Doctorate of Education 1995 -1998.
After graduating with his initial degree he moved to Papua New Guinea where he taught high school before working with the Department of Trade and Industry. Dr McLeod joined Pittwater House in 1982 and became the Social Science Co-ordinator in 1983 and was appointed Master of the Senior Grammar School in 1986. He was appointed Director of the University Foundation Studies in 1995 and the Principal Administrator of the Northern Beaches English College in 2005.
He has a keen interest in sport and still enjoys playing tennis and golf. He played grade cricket at the senior level and coached the School 1st XI for many years. He held the rank of Major in the Australian Army Cadet Corps and was awarded the Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal in 2000 by the Australian Government.
Dr McLeod's research interest in organisational learning and systems theory has allowed him to present papers at International Conferences since 1995. He was honoured in 2004 when he was invited to present a paper on research methodology at Oxford University and was invited to chair the session. Dr McLeod has a firm view that to be an effective educator one must endeavour to be a 'lifelong learner' and thereby be better able to prepare young learners for the experiences and challenges ahead.
