Dr Amy Van Arkkels has officially commenced as Principal of Yarra Valley Grammar as students returned for the first day of Term 3.
Dr Van Arkkels succeeds long-serving principal Dr Mark Merry, who retired at the end of Term 4 last year after leading the Melbourne independent school for 17 years. During the first half of 2026, the school was led by interim principals Andrew Hocking and Julie Hall to support the leadership transition.
Dr Van Arkkels joins Yarra Valley Grammar from Newington College in Sydney, where she served as Deputy, Academic (K–12) for the past four years. She brings experience in teaching and learning, evidence-informed practice and professional development, alongside leadership roles at several independent schools.
The school said Dr Van Arkkels was selected following an extensive national and international recruitment process conducted with executive search firm ANZUK.
In announcing the appointment, Yarra Valley Grammar Board Chair Carrie Edwards-Britt said the Board had focused on finding a leader who would preserve the school’s culture while guiding its future direction.
“Throughout the process, we kept coming back to what matters most: protecting the Yarra spirit, delivering academic excellence, and ensuring every student feels safe, known and supported,” she said.
Across her career, including leadership roles at Wenona, Ravenswood School for Girls and Roseville College, Dr Van Arkkels has built a reputation for advancing teaching and learning through evidence-based practice and thoughtful professional development. She is a graduate of the University of Sydney and Macquarie University, and she recently completed her PhD, focused on teacher self-efficacy, resilience, and the structures that best support early career teachers.
In a message following her appointment, Dr Van Arkkels said she was looking forward to joining the school community.
“Delighted to be joining the Yarra Valley Grammar community in 2026,” she said. “It will not be easy to say goodbye to Newington College but I am excited for the year ahead.”
Yarra Valley Grammar is an independent Anglican co-educational school in Melbourne’s east, catering for students from Early Learning to Year 12.