Headmaster

Dr John Kinniburgh was raised in Gunnedah in north-west NSW and this regional upbringing provided a strong foundation and work ethic. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Sydney University, where he studied a Bachelor of Arts degree and upon completion of his degree, he was offered the role as a Geography teacher at The King’s School in Sydney in 1996.

In 1998, Dr Kinniburgh was offered a scholarship to Oxford University in England where he completed a Master of Science degree in Environmental Change Management before returning to The King’s School for the next twelve years. During this time he was an academic leader, worked in boarding and was involved in various co-curricular activities including Cadets and as coach of the 1st XV.

Dr Kinniburgh then moved with his young family to the UK to teach at Wellington College, one of the world’s leading independent co-educational boarding schools, initially as Head of Geography and then as Assistant Head of Teaching Schools.

In 2016, he was appointed as Head of Secondary School and Deputy Headmaster at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, an all boys’, Early Learning to Year 12, day and boarding school. During his four and a half year tenure at Prince Alfred College, Dr Kinniburgh made significant contributions to the areas of pastoral care and wellbeing, student leadership, teaching and learning.

Dr Kinniburgh’s qualifications include a PhD in Education from Macquarie University, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Change Management from the University of Oxford, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of New England. He is a qualified Chartered Geographer, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Member of the Australian College of Educators and also the UK-based Chartered College of Teaching.