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There is something special about the way our staff, parents and students engage with one another at Pittwater House.
Our talented and committed teachers nurture and develop each student to help them grow into intelligent, confident and well-rounded adults who are prepared for the challenges of life.
Our esteemed Principal
Principal Dr Nancy Hillier has more than 30 years of teaching and leadership experience. She is adept at meeting the academic leadership and operational demands of running a high performance school. Dr Hillier is committed to academic success and development.
Dr Hillier has held a number of roles as Head and Principal, including Principal roles at Rivermount College and Annesley College, Head of Forest Lake College and also Head of Senior School at Marymede Catholic College.
Dr Hillier has a Doctorate of Education, Masters of Educational Studies, Diploma in Education and a Bachelor of Arts. She is a professional member of The Australian College of Educators and The Australian College of Educational Leaders. Dr Hillier is also a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia.
Our dedicated Executive Team
Dr Nancy Hillier, Principal
Mr James Walmsley
Ms Anne-Maree Ironside
Mrs Katie Thomas
Mr Andrew Goldrick
Mrs Katie Jackson
Mr Adam Demasi
Our passionate teachers - the heart of our school community
We believe great teaching begins with great support.
That’s why we place a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing and professional excellence – upholding high standards of practice and nurturing a culture of ongoing growth, goal setting and reflection.
We encourage staff to pursue higher levels of accreditation and postgraduate qualifications.
Our teachers meet fortnightly in dedicated professional learning teams. These collaborative sessions allow staff to share ideas, reflect on outcomes, and learn from each other’s successes to drive continuous improvement across every classroom.
This school-wide commitment to professional excellence raises teaching standards, models lifelong learning and strengthens relationships between staff and students.
Our explicit teaching practices are grounded in evidence. We draw on Cognitive Load Theory, using insights from bran science to craft lessons that support memory and understanding; and Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction, which blend research and real-world results to identify the strategies with the greatest impact on student learning.
“At Pittwater House there is a great spirit of friendliness, mutual respect and recognition of achievement, all reflected in the school motto 'semper diligens' — Latin for 'always hardworking’. I am proud to be leading a school that offers a truly unique, balanced and nurturing approach to education from Pre-Kindy to Year 12. The School's philosophy is based on providing single-sex education within a co-educational environment. We offer smaller class sizes, a balance between traditional values and modern technology and a focus on academic growth with outstanding extra-curricular opportunities; we specifically focus on the development of each and every child at Pittwater House. This approach mirrors my own principles, which are focused on cultivating student potential, encouraging strong personal values and creating well-rounded young people.”