Steven has over 25 years’ experience in the banking industry working with both domestic and international financial institutions. He has a broad experience in corporate and institutional banking in relationship management, lending and risk management. Steven is currently focusing on the area of Conduct Risk with a major Australian bank. He married with two children and has attended Menai Baptist Church since 2001.
Principal's Welcome
Welcome to the Inaburra community.
Since its beginning in the early 1980s, Inaburra School has built a strong reputation as a school of first choice in the Sutherland Shire and the surrounding areas. Inaburra continues to be a community in which every individual is known and loved – a place where every student is valued as a person made in the image of God. It is, first and foremost, a learning community in which staff and students learn with, and from, one another in a Christian environment. While we seek to encourage all students to grow in their understanding, we recognise that students will need more than just knowledge and understanding to flourish today and into the future. They will need to become competent and confident learners, ready to learn, perhaps even unlearn and relearn, how best to engage in different activities throughout their lives.
Education at Inaburra, however, is not about ensuring that our graduates, as a result of developing their capacity to learn, are empowered to accumulate more resources over the course of their lifetimes. Our desire for our students rather is that they might become people of generosity rather than accumulation, humility over arrogance and compassion opposed to self-importance. We seek to encourage our students to be generous in the classroom, humble enough to admit when they don’t understand something and compassionately supporting their classmates who are struggling with a particular concept or idea. As a Christian school, our focus is on the development of character. Staff and students alike are encouraged to become people who are gracious, compassionate and self-controlled learners, ready, willing and able to be a blessing to those around them now and into the future.
You are very welcome to come and experience for yourself the life and ethos of Inaburra School.
Dr James Pietsch became Principal of Inaburra School at the start of 2018. Prior to commencing at Inaburra, Dr Pietsch was the Dean of Professional Development and Learning at St Luke’s Grammar School in Dee Why where he had previously been Head of Mathematics. He has also held positions as the Dean of Residents at New College at the University of NSW, and as a lecturer and tutor in educational psychology at the University of Sydney. He holds a doctorate in educational psychology and brings a wealth of experience in education and leadership to his role as Principal.
Our Values
Inaburra exists to be a Christ-centred learning community pursuing excellence in education with every individual known and loved. Based on this mission our values are as follows:
- We commend and cultivate FAITH in God, who makes himself known to us in and through His Son, Jesus Christ.
- We pursue KNOWLEDGE, delighting in the gift of learning to live well in God’s world.
- We commit to LOVE, because Christ first loved us.
- We strive for EXCELLENCE in thankful response for all that God has provided.
- We treasure each INDIVIDUAL, recognising and respecting the image of God in every person.
- We cherish COMMUNITY, knowing that relationships are at the heart of living and learning.
Our Story
In the late 1970s, after surveying their local community, Sutherland Baptist Church saw a need to establish a Christian school in the local area. On 10 August 1980, the church accepted the recommendation of an education sub-committee that a high school should be established in the Menai district. Thus, in pursuit of a dream, they sold their church property in Sutherland and crossed the Woronora River to establish Inaburra School and a new church now known as Menai Baptist Church.
Facing significant financial risk and overcoming many obstacles, a portable building was erected on the corner of Billa Road and Bangaroo Street for the use of the preschool and church in 1980.
Inaburra High School opened in 1982 in temporary accommodation at Gymea Baptist Church. The School comprised of 60 Year 7 students and 24 Year 8 students. Stage One of the Inaburra Complex was still being built and it wasn’t until Term 2 of that year that the School moved to the present site. On Monday, 24 May 1982 at 8:30am the staff and students of Inaburra High School began their first day in their newly built facility on the Billa Road site.
Over three decades later, the dream of the founders has now been realised and continues to be realised with over 1000 students.
Our Future
2022-2025 Strategic Directions
Since it was founded in 1982, Inaburra has built a strong reputation as a school of first choice in the Sutherland Shire and surrounding suburbs. Historically, the school’s strengths have been in Christian education, pastorally-caring relationships, creative and performing arts, and future-oriented innovation. In recent years these strengths have been broadened to include the quality of our facilities, the professionalism of our operations, the use of ICT for student learning and the holistic nature of our education. Inaburra is increasingly becoming an exemplar school in the independent sector in NSW.
Our Goals
As we look ahead to the next three years, Inaburra will be focusing on building three aspects of our school community. We will seek to be:
- A kingdom-of-God shaped community – in which students, parents and staff are encouraged to put on the virtues of grace, humility, kindness and compassion.
- An academic community – in which students engage regularly in rigorous and challenging learning activities designed to build learning character and understanding.
- A flourishing community – in which students and staff are supported so they might flourish as lifelong learners.
How we go about achieving these goals is outlined in the Strategic Directions 2022-2025 publication.
Governance
Inaburra School is operated by Inaburra School Limited ABN 51617812558 (ISL). ISL is a company limited by guarantee and is the legal entity responsible for the conduct and operations of the School. Inaburra Communications Limited ABN 78001998876 (ICL) is the sole member of Inaburra School Limited.
All affiliated activities including: Inaburra School Canteen; Inaburra School Uniform Shop; Inaburra School Parents & Friend’s Association and Inaburra School Foundation are operated under ISL.
The Principal and all staff are employed by ISL. The Principal attends ISL Board meetings by invitation. The School’s Administrator acts as Company Secretary.
ISL may form committees, either standing or occasional, with particular briefs for oversight of aspects of the School’s operation. These committees may be chaired by a Director of the company and will include the Principal. These committees may include other Directors, staff or members of the community as deemed appropriate and necessary. These committees are advisory bodies that report to ISL.
The Principal is appointed by ISL. The Principal has general authority to conduct the operations of the School on a day-to-day basis. The Principal is effectively the Chief Executive Officer of the School. One of the Principal’s primary functions is to ensure that the NSW Education Standards Authorities (NESA) requirements are met for School registration/accreditation.
ISL Board of Directors
Steven Russell (Chair)
BCom, GDipAppFin
Jeremy Baillie
BBus
Jeremy has worked extensively in the aviation industry for the past 24 years. He has worked in a diverse range of areas including Engineering, Commercial Management and in Operations. Jeremy is currently the Manager of the Integrated Operations Centre for Qantas Airways. Jeremy is also the Chairman of the Leadership Council at Menai Baptist Church where he has attended with his wife and three children since 1996.
David Crawford
MAppLaw, DipLaw
After working in Government, David worked as a solicitor for the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions before practising in private practice in Bathurst subsequently moving to the Sutherland Shire in 1995. He is the Principal of Crawford Ryan Lawyers based at Miranda. He is a Law Society Accredited Specialist in his area of law. He is also a nationally accredited Mediator and Arbitrator. David is married, a former parent of Inaburra School students and has attended Menai Baptist Church since 1996.
Liz Mansour
BA, BCom, DipBibMissions
Liz has over ten years experience as a senior staff member serving the students at the Sydney University Evangelical Union. Prior to this, Liz worked as a Regulatory Analyst for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Australian Energy Regulator. Liz is also an Inaburra graduate, attends Narwee Baptist Church and is married with three children.
David Sadler
MA, BSc, DipEd
David taught High School Mathematics for 36 years at Sydney Grammar School. He was Head of Department for seven years. He has had teaching roles at UNSW and is the author of several senior Mathematics textbooks. David currently works part-time as a consultant and lecturer at three coaching colleges.
Alison Wolf
BCom, CA
Alison has 15 year’s experience working as a chartered accountant for BDO. She spent nine years in audit working with clients in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Alison now works for BDO International’s Financial Reporting Advisory group. Alison is a former student of Inaburra School, attends Menai Baptist Church and is married with two children.
Emma Jonceski
MA, GradDipDiv, BSc
Emma has over 15 years experience in the superannuation sector, including 8 years focussed on investment strategy and operations and now specialises in enterprise wide strategy at Aware Super. Emma also has experience in corporate governance having served on a number of not for profit boards and advisory committees. Emma is married with two children, an Inaburra parent and attends All Saints Oatley West Anglican Church.
Academic Results
Congratulations to the Inaburra School HSC Class of 2023
15 December 2023
Today we celebrate the completion of formal schooling for the Inaburra Class of 2023 and the release of the HSC and ATAR marks. Beyond academic results, we pray that our students are leaving Inaburra with a love for learning and a curiosity that will open up opportunities for them whatever path they may take.
Your teachers, parents and school community are proud of your efforts and dedication. We would like to acknowledge the following achievements:
Notable ATAR results:
- 15 students achieved >90 ATAR
Other notable aspects of the HSC results for 2023 include:
- 69 Distinguished Achiever results (number of Band 6 or Band E4 results)
- 48% of results were in the top two bands (Band 5 and Band 6)
- 32% of students achieved one or more Band 6 results
- 87% of students with extension courses achieved in the top two bands
- 24 courses achieved above state averages
Outstanding individual results:
- Two students achieved a mark of 100 in Mathematics Advanced
- One student achieved a mark of 50 (equivalent to 100) in English Ext 1
- Two students scored marks >95 in two of their subjects
Inaburra received an outstanding 21 nominations for possible inclusion in HSC Showcases in 2023. Congratulations to the following students for recognition of their HSC Major Works:
DRAMA – Individual Performance. Harper Ballantine-Jones, Chanel Mezrani and Kai Taylor were nominated for possible inclusion in OnSTAGE for their individual performances.
DRAMA – Group Performance. Harper Ballantine-Jones, Isabel Chau, Lucy Johnston and Nina Williams were nominated for possible inclusion in OnSTAGE for their group, Wade in the Water.
DANCE – Major Study Performance. Jenaya Gladman and Kai Taylor were nominated for consideration in Callback.
DANCE – Core Performance/s. Jenaya Gladman was nominated for consideration in Callback.
DANCE – Core Composition. Jenaya Gladman, Kai Taylor and Tahli Williams were nominated for consideration in Callback. Kai’s Core Composition was successful in being shortlisted for the final showcase. Callback is a showcase of exemplary HSC Dance Works from across NSW.
MUSIC – Music Performance. Riley Isedale and Philippa Luscombe were nominated for ENCORE.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY – Sienna Dynon and Laura Fattore were nominated for consideration in Shape 2023. Shape is an annual exhibition of exemplary Major Projects developed by HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students.
TEXTILES AND DESIGN – Lauren Tomlin and Sophia Alvarez were nominated for consideration in Shape 2023.
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY – Harper Ballantine-Jones, Lucas Cross, Scott Firth and Isaac Jones were nominated for consideration in Shape 2023.
ART – HSC Visual Art. Christy Hansell was nominated for consideration in ARTEXPRESS, as part of the HSC Showcase season in 2024 for Body of Work titled, ‘He Only Smiled for Me’.
ART – HSC Visual Art. Skye Eder’s Body of Work entitled ‘May I join you for dinner at Chicago’s?’ has been included in the esteemed Art Rules exhibition at Hazelhurst Arts Centre. Art Rules is an exhibition of outstanding works by HSC Visual Arts students.
For our students to be recognised at this level is truly commendable. It’s wonderful to see their major works acknowledged amongst the most talented in the state. We are very proud of their efforts and also want to acknowledge their teachers for the guidance, collaboration and support they have provided for the Class of 2023 across their Stage 6 journey.
NAPLAN results
The My School website profiles Inaburra School and includes details of its NAPLAN results. Click here for a direct link to the website.
