We are delighted to announce that Mr Luke Ritchie has accepted an invitation to be the next Principal of St Andrew’s School.

He will take the helm with us at the start of the 2023 school year but is already on campus to enable a smooth transition with Interim Principal Cathie Egarr and the Leadership Team.

A proud South Australian, Luke joins St Andrew’s from Annesley College where he was its highly respected Principal since 2017. During Luke’s tenure at Annesley, enrolments hit record levels, significant master plan works began and, earlier this year, Annesley was celebrated as a leading International Baccalaureate World School through its outstanding external evaluation results. Luke is a strong advocate for building Child Safe organisations and, as such, is a member of the key Uniting Church Committee with oversight of Uniting Venues SA, which provides camps, retreats, outdoor education, group and holiday accommodation across South Australia.

Strategic leadership, active listening, student-focused communication and impressive global networks are hallmarks of Luke’s professionalism. Luke is the current Board Chair of the peak body for independent schools, the Association of Independent Schools of SA (AISSA). He is an in-demand speaker, facilitator and executive coach who presents at global education events, such as The Schools of the Future Conference in the United States, and coaches school leaders and business executives in Australia and overseas.

Luke’s career spans 20 years… he previously was Director of Years 3 to 6 at Canberra Girls Grammar School, which is noted for its outstanding academic outcomes, Senior Boarding Master at Prince Alfred College and Coordinator of School Improvement at the Hills Christian School. He holds a Master of Leadership and Management (Education) from Deakin University and in 2021 completed the Principal’s Leadership Academy through the Harvard Business School. He was an Australian delegate to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and holds a Centenary Medal for service to Australia’s young people.

We chose Luke in consultation with Hender Consulting’s General Manager, Andrew Reed, and after a series of outstanding presentations to the School Board and Leadership Team. Luke’s deep analysis of St Andrew’s, his appreciation of our rich ethos and distinct values, his respect for our strong academic focus and high standard as a national leader in primary education, his vigour, enthusiasm, insight and passion for teaching and leading, made unanimous the decision to appoint him as our next Principal.

Luke highlighted to us his high regard for St Andrew’s outstanding academic achievements, strong focus on music and performance, the delivery of explicit, meaningful teaching by the School’s dynamic staff, along with St Andrew’s student-centred focus on learning. He emphasised the need to continue to build the reputation of St Andrew’s upon these distinctive pillars and respected strengths.

School Leadership and the Board also sought the views of staff on their desired qualities in the next leader for St Andrew’s. It was clear from their responses that they wanted the right fit for an Adelaide school… someone who understands the South Australian community, a positive and engaging communicator and an E-6 specialist with a strong grasp of the IB. This aligned with the Board’s thinking, sharpened our focus on the essential criteria and cemented our decision.

The Board is confident that, with Luke as our Principal, St Andrew’s will continue to thoughtfully adapt as it prepares children for the challenges they face and the choices they make when they complete the most critical and crucial years of learning, the early years and the primary years.

Luke is the right person at the right time to work with the Board, the Leadership Team, staff and families to make sure that the values at the heart of St Andrew’s guide us at the forefront of primary education.

Please join the School Board in congratulating Luke and welcoming him to our St Andrew’s community.


Peta St Clair
Board Chair
St Andrew’s School