Mr Brad Allen – Head of House – Mackintosh Boarding
The new Head of House, Mackintosh Boarding, Mr Brad Allen has a strong rural background and loves the sense of community that comes with boarding in a regional city.
“My experience as a boarder helps me excel in the role of Head of House because I know what the boys are experiencing – I’ve lived it,” stated Brad.
“I understand how challenging it is to be away from home and the sacrifices that families make for the boys to have this opportunity.
“It can be tough, even when you know that it’s what’s best for them. I have real empathy for all the families in that position.”
Brad grew up in Bingara in northern NSW, between Moree and Inverell, and loved the country lifestyle. He was a boarder at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School in Tamworth and relished the opportunities to be fully involved in all aspects of school life.
But it wasn’t until after he spent five years working in customer service at the National Australia Bank in Narrabri, Bathurst and Walgett that he realised he wanted a more rewarding career with more positive outcomes. He embarked on teaching.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Human Movement from Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Brad spent three years as the Coordinator of Co-curricular Sport at Georgiana Molloy Anglican School in Busselton, Western Australia. His wife, Jodie, who was also a boarder during her high school years, was also a teacher at the school. They eventually decided to travel overseas to broaden their education experience. Both were employed with Dulwich Prep School in the UK where Brad was a Boarding Master, as well as the Head of Junior School Sport and the Deputy Head of Junior School.
When their daughter Imogen was born in 2010, they decided to return to Australia to be closer to family and Brad was contracted to various schools before securing the position as Head of Boys Boarding at All Saints College in Bathurst in 2012. In 2018, Brad and Jodie where both appointed to full-time positions at Whitsunday Anglican School, Brad was the Head of Boarding and Jodie a Year 4 teacher.
The family has the unique position where both Brad and Jodie have been involved in boarding for most of their lives and fully understand the support that boarders need. Jodie’s experiences equip her with the understanding that her role is important in the development of the boys when they’re so far from home. Their children, Imogen (12 years old) and Harry (8 years old) enjoy and take advantage of the boarding environment and love the extended family they get to share their lives with.
“We want to provide consistency and certainty for the boys so they can thrive in their journey at TGS and take advantage of the incredible opportunities here,” said Brad.
“We want to make their boarding experience as close to a home environment as possible, while knowing it’s not the same as their home at all.”
Brad plans to get know each individual family to gain a good understanding of each boy’s background, his strengths and challenges so that he can get the very most out of his time at TGS.
“I want the boys to feel safe and supported in Mackintosh House so they grow and benefit from their personal experiences. It is important that they look back on the connections and memories they have made with fondness,” said Brad.
Latest News
TGS 2024 Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) results
Our 2024 QCE graduates have performed very well, and we want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to them. Our School also wants to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of all the teachers who have supported and guided these students throughout their time at Toowoomba Grammar School. In particular, we would like to express our gratitude to all Year 12 teachers and Heads of Department for their exceptional dedication in guiding this cohort. We are delighted to report that 100% of students…
100th anniversary of the TGS Old Chem Lab
It remains a very important and significant building within our School, even a hundred years on. The year 1924, was a little over five years after the end of the World War I, Australia’s Prime Minister was Stanley Bruce, the Queensland Premier was Ted Theodore and the State’s Governor was on hand for TGS’s prize giving and to officiate the start of works on the new chemistry lab. The School had 174 students and after a highly satisfactory Inspector’s report, it was printed in the ‘Toowoomba…
The Gold Standard of Strength and Conditioning
At 26, this is a massive achievement and catapults him into a community of the gold standard of Strength and Conditioning worldwide. With this ASCA qualification he's accredited to provide expert coaching skills, knowledge and leadership for dissemination and application within high performance sport and elite level performance. He joins a very small cohort of accomplished elite coaches from around the world and we're lucky to have him as the School's Head of Athletic Development. Mr Stone…
Jeremy's Road to Paris 2024
During Jeremy's time at TGS he represented the School in numerous endeavours but was particularly known for his contributions to the Arts, particularly music. On the sports field, Jeremy represented TGS in GPS Athletics, Cross Country, Cricket and Football. Under the guidance of Mr Mark Oliphant during his Cross Country days, all Jeremy wanted to do was run fast and be like everyone else. However, unbeknownst to many during his time at TGS, he was suppressing a life-long condition.
Toowoomba Grammar School recognised as a 2024 5-Star Employer of Choice
This accolade recognises schools excelling in offering competitive salaries, employee benefits, professional development opportunities and nurturing a culture of inclusion and respect. This award underscores Toowoomba Grammar School's dedication to creating an outstanding work environment. Out of over 80 submissions, Toowoomba Grammar School was one of only 27 schools selected for this distinguished recognition. The goal of the Toowoomba Grammar School Strategic Plan's People Pillar is to…
International Nurses Day: Honouring the heart of TGS healthcare
International Nurses Day serves as a reminder of the vital role nurses play in our lives. Whether that is as frontline warriors in a global health emergency or a compassionate caregiver in the local community, nurses in many ways are the essence of humanity in healthcare. Today we take a moment to shine a spotlight on these everyday heroes who selflessly dedicate their lives in the service of others, in particular the dedicated healthcare professionals who day in and day out look after the…
Sundowners with Mort and Co
TGS Old Boy (1979 – 1983) Charlie Mort’s significant contribution to Australian agriculture was explored during an interview with fellow TGS Old Boy (1985 – 1989), agriculture legal specialist and Beef Australia Director, Trent Thorne. TGS Deputy Headmaster, John Anderson, shared the School’s plans for Design, Engineering and Technology and Agriculture and Industry Centres and the School’s plans for an innovative ag program. This event was a wonderful opportunity for past, present and future…
The future looks bright for Old Boy Will Anderson
Each year up to ten TJ Ryan Memorial Medals and Scholarships are awarded by the Queensland Government to support exemplary students in their pursuit of tertiary studies. With a history dating back to 1927, the award recognises the outstanding leadership demonstrated by nominees in their school and the local community along with academic excellence in their senior high school years. Will has been awarded a $10 000 scholarship over five years to support his pursuit of a Bachelor of Medical…
TGS Old Boy Uses UniSQ Physiotherapy Degree for Career Dreams
TGS Old Boy (2018-2023), Jimmy White is going from strength to strength. The 17-year-old is proud to be part of the University of Southern Queensland’s (UniSQ) first Bachelor of Physiotherapy cohort. “The Physiotherapy program is great – it’s new and completely different to anything I did at school,” Mr White said. The Toowoomba Grammar School graduate received a UniSQ Academic Excellence Chancellor’s Scholarship, awarded to students who achieve an ATAR 97 or above. “I decided I wanted to stay…
