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Co-curricular Life at TAS

Co-curricular activities are prioritised highly in our educational philosophy for their value in the mental and physical development of our students. At TAS, co-curricular life includes sport (which is mandatory for all students), music, drama, public speaking and debating, chess and student clubs (Cattle Club, Engineering Club).   Find out more.about TAS Sport and Co-curricular activities and get the latest updates and schedules by clicking…..HERE

Head of School Appointment

22 December 2020

On behalf of the TAS Board and in the final week of a very challenging year, it gives me enormous pleasure to announce that Dr Rachel Horton, currently Deputy Headmaster and Head of Secondary School at Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne, will be the new TAS Head of School.

Dr Horton will start at TAS on 1 July 2021 ahead of the beginning of Term 3 2021. Mr Alan Jones, to whom we once again extend heartfelt gratitude for his calm stewardship as Head of School, will retire at the end of Term 3 2021 having generously offered to use that term as one of transition and handover to Dr Horton.

Dr Horton joins us having spent the past three years at Brighton Grammar School, a well-established Anglican boys’ school of 1,394 students. Prior to that she was at the Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in Brisbane teaching physics and chemistry as well as being a Head of House. She has a strong commitment to developing individual academic success and a background in implementing holistic Pastoral Care programs with a strong focus on understanding the current issues facing young people to ensure that school is a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment, as well as a place to learn, grow and participate.

She is honoured and excited about joining us in this leadership role at TAS and is looking forward to working with staff, students, parents and the broader TAS community. Her own articulated aim is for schools to produce independent, empathetic, well-rounded and socially responsible young people who can contribute positively to their communities.

Prior to teaching in Anglican schools, Dr Horton’s career was in the tertiary sector as a science researcher, university lecturer and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Dr Horton has a Bachelor of Science Degree (Hons) in Pathology and Microbiology and a PhD from the University of Bristol in the UK. Her diverse scientific work enabled her to live and work in Canada, Australia and Kenya as well as the UK where she was born.

In addition to achieving significant academic success, Dr Horton’s extraordinary personal
achievements make her appointment to TAS even more fortunate.

As a British Army Reservist, Dr Horton interrupted her PhD to undertake a year’s service with the Royal Engineers as Squadron Operations Officer which included a 6-month tour of duty in Iraq as Captain in 2003-2004, being third in command of 135 men under extreme conditions.

Her passion for sport which includes mountain biking, triathlon and marathon running also led her to Rugby Union where she played as a representative player in England and Canada for
over a decade before retiring to become a referee 11 years ago. She has refereed international VII and XV matches and was the first woman to referee Premier rugby in Queensland.

She is also very keen on the creative arts, participating in school choirs, supporting school plays, musicals and ensembles. Whenever she gets the opportunity in her very busy schedule she also likes to bake.

In Dr Rachel Horton we have a leader who exemplifies the importance of individual academic achievement being complemented by those values of integrity, compassion, service and character that we all recognise are the foundation stones upon which a TAS education is based.

Her career has taken her from tertiary teaching, professional sport and volunteer military
service to the rich world of secondary teaching in Anglican schools to be able to mentor, guide

and shape the lives of young adults.

The TAS Board has conducted an extensive international search for the right person for this role and we could not be more pleased that Dr Horton has accepted our offer to lead the School into the future.

As our parents, alumni and community are well aware, the position of Head of School at TAS is
one that carries with it the importance of 126 years of rich history. However, the person must
also be able to innovate and embrace wholeheartedly the challenges and opportunities of the
future. Dr Horton has impressed the School Board with her strong and extensive leadership as well as her life experiences, her compassion and enthusiasm.

Rachel will move to Armidale with her husband Curtis Coulson who is also a qualified outdoors activity instructor, and former rugby player and is as enthusiastic in his desire to move to
regional NSW as she is. Both were raised in small farming towns and have a deep respect for
rural communities, their challenges and complexities.

During Term 2 next year, a series of events will be held in Armidale, around the New
England/North West and in the metropolitan centres to introduce Dr Horton to our TAS
community of parents, alumni and friends of the School providing you with an opportunity to
meet and talk with her.

Once again, I would like to extend my thanks to our close-knit community for all the encouragement and support offered to the TAS Board over the past 12 months and I know you
will welcome Rachel as she takes up this vital position of leading our co-educational school into a bright and prosperous future.

I take this opportunity of wishing you a very peaceful and safe Christmas season.

Sebastian Hempel
Chairman
The Armidale School