Haileybury Rendall School is the 2026 Australian Regional School of the Year!
On Friday, 7 August we attended the Australian Educator Awards in Sydney and were thrilled to win the award for the Australian Regional School of the Year for 2026.
All schools that are not in an Australian state capital are eligible for this award.
HRS is a unique school and this award serves as a wonderful affirmation for all members of our community. Our award nomination included the celebration of all parts of our School.
Our ELC has again been rated as “Exceeding” in all categories for 2026. The outstanding leadership from Michelle Shaw and the commitment and skill of her team help explain the kudos and recognition that has been garnered by this important part of the HRS journey.
In Junior School, Lisa Doyle leads a highly skilled and dedicated team of educators who are experts in the acclaimed Explicit Instruction pedagogy. This year, Haileybury Rendall School was recognised as the Northern Territory’s leading independent primary school, building on five consecutive years of outstanding NAPLAN results as the top-performing primary school in the Territory. Alongside academic excellence, student wellbeing remains a key priority, with House activities, sport and a wide range of co-curricular opportunities playing an integral role in the lives of our young people.
Our Middle School, led by Katherine Ziebell, was recognised for its commitment this year to reviewing and enhancing our curriculum offering. At the same time, our Ochre student achievements for remote boarders have been hugely impressive with dedicated staff helping ensure that clear learning growth is achieved.
In Senior School, led by Kylie Mobilia, the VCE ATAR results from 2025 formed a compelling argument of the quality of teaching and learning and student dedication with over 40% of that cohort achieving an ATAR of 90 or better, placing them all in the top 10% of students nationally.
Our Boarding School was able to celebrate its growth when we enrolled 30 students from St John’s College following their boarding house closure. At the same time, we now have 10 Chinese students, and our total boarding cohort exceeds 130 students. Under the leadership of Tom Ziebell and his staff, the learning and living experience of our boarders continues to be invaluable and widely appreciated.
When we consider our amazing Music department where 1 in 5 HRS students are involved, our show-stopping musical, We Will Rock You, and our burgeoning Sports and Creative Arts faculties, we can see just a few of the reasons we are regarded as the best in Australia.
Congratulations to all of us!
Andrew McGregor
Principal
