Foundation principal named for Canberra newest independent school

The foundation principal for the new Anglican secondary school in the Molonglo Valley has been named ahead of construction starting soon on the Wright campus.

A former acting and interim principal of Radford College, Andy Gordon will lead the Early Years to Year 12 school, which was designed by Cox Architecture and will be built by Canberra firm Construction Control.

Mr Gordon has also been Head of Junior School at Radford and held previous appointments at John Paul College and Highlands Christian College in Queensland.

Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn Dr Mark Short said Mr Gordon was experienced at building and leading dedicated staff teams by demonstrating authentic Christian leadership and service.

He said that as a result, these school communities grew in both their teaching and learning performance as well as in enrolments.

“Andy Gordon is known for his commitment to and passion for education, particularly his experience in the Early Years and teaching Secondary, which matches the requirements of growing Canberra’s newest independent school where the Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten is scheduled to open from the beginning of 2026,” Dr Short said.

Mr Gordon said he was thrilled at the appointment.

“As I speak with residents of the Molonglo Valley and surrounding areas, they are eager to see what Stromlo Forest Anglican College will bring to their community,” he said.

“It is truly an honour to walk with them to establish an Early Years to Year 12 learning community in the fastest growing region of the ACT.

“It will be a joy to meet the prospective students, staff and families who have already expressed an interest in joining the college.

“Reflecting both the local Molonglo community and the learning communities represented by every Anglican School in our region, Stromlo Forest Anglican College will welcome the diversity of the national capital and encourage and equip all our students toward a future filled with hope and promise.”

From January, Mr Gordon will be welcoming and meeting new enrolments, prospective students, families and staff for commencement in 2026.

More than 400 expressions of interest have been received.

The Territory Planning Authority gave the green light for the school’s construction in August, with conditions concerning roads, set-down areas, landscaping, and tree management.

The school is expected to take until 2040 to be complete.

It will occupy a five-hectare site in Wright fronting John Gorton Drive that the ACT Government set aside for an independent school.

It will cater for all ages and eventually enrol about 1850 students and employ about 150 staff.

The plans show five main buildings ranging from one to five storeys set around most of an AFL/cricket oval.

A campus common and a 1000-seat auditorium overlooking the oval are also planned, but they won’t be completed until 2040.

The single-storey Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten will open in 2026, followed by the four-storey Junior School catering for Years 1 to 6 in 2027, five storey Senior school building for Years 7 to 10 in 2028, five-storey College building for Years 11 and 12 in 2029, and the two-storey gymnasium in 2030.