The new leader in charge at Kogarah High School, Darren Hamilton, believes a school is the heart of community. Picture supplied

While many professionals are fleeing the city for a tree change, Darren Hamilton has done the exact opposite.

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After serving as the principal of Junee High School since 2021, Mr Hamilton has traded the quiet of regional NSW for the bustling halls of Kogarah High School, officially stepping into the role at the start of Term 1.

Growing up in central western NSW and later teaching in locations ranging from Sutherland Shire to Bathurst, Hamilton brings a country town philosophy to the urban landscape. He believes the secret to a successful school lies in the strength of its community ties.

"A lot of country towns have the mentality that their community is the central focus point," Mr Hamilton said. "There is a strong link and community network with council and businesses, and that's essentially what I'm trying to bring into this position at Kogarah High."

Mr Hamilton is inheriting a school with a diverse profile, including a critical Intensive English Centre and a strong tradition of transitioning students into the workforce. For him, the goal is to ensure students have the academic foundation to choose their own path, whether that leads to a university degree or a trade.

Interestingly, the man now leading the school never actually intended to sit in the principal's office. During a recent leadership meeting, Year 10 students asked him what sparked his career path.

"I never wanted to be a principal - it was the last thing I wanted," Mr Hamilton said. "I got into PDHPE teaching, so sport was my main focus. But through mentoring, I wanted to have the ability to make others better... then it just rolled on."

Now, he is focused on building that same leadership capacity within Kogarah, citing the school's high academic aspirations and positive transition programs as the base of its future success.