At Blackburn Lake Primary School, our staff work collaboratively to provide a learning environment where students feel safe, engaged and enriched. Our Leadership Team is comprised of our Principal, Assistant Principal, and two Learning Specialists, who together bring extensive experience and deep knowledge of our school community.
The leadership profile at Blackburn Lake Primary School is one of exceptional stability. Both our Principal, David, and Assistant Principal, Rebecca, have each served the school for over 12 years, offering consistent and trusted leadership. Our Learning Specialists — Natasha Rodrigues (Curriculum) and Kathryn Taylor (Wellbeing) — have each been part of the Blackburn Lake team for more than 15 years. Their long-standing commitment to the school ensures a leadership team that not only understands but embodies the core values and vision of our community.
This continuity in leadership supports a strong, united school culture and allows us to remain deeply connected to the needs of our students, staff and families.
Message from the Principal
Blackburn Lake Primary School (BLPS) is located in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, approximately 15 kilometres from the city centre. Nestled alongside the beautiful Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, our school is set in a peaceful, tree-lined environment that offers a natural retreat from the busy pace of urban life.
This unique setting provides a calm, welcoming atmosphere that enhances student wellbeing and supports personal and academic growth. The tranquil surrounds of the sanctuary enrich our learning environment and reflect the school’s commitment to fostering curiosity, connection, and care for the natural world.
In 2025, BLPS is proud to be a vibrant learning community of 540 students across 24 classes. Our diverse and dynamic curriculum is enriched by five specialist programs: Physical Education, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, STEAM, and LOTE (Italian).
At Blackburn Lake Primary School, student wellbeing is not a standalone initiative—it is deeply embedded in everything we do and guided by our core values of Thinking, Respect, Responsibility, Attitude, and Caring. These values are the foundation of our whole-school wellbeing approach and inform every program, practice, and interaction across our community.
Through interconnected programs such as Visible Wellbeing (in partnership with Professor Lea Waters), School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS), Respectful Relationships, Rights and Resilience (RRRR), and our values-based Buddies program—including a unique intergenerational link with Forest Hill Retirement Village—we foster a connected and compassionate culture. Our dedicated wellbeing staff, supported by tools like Pulse and Pivot, monitor student needs and ensure timely, responsive support. With a comprehensive wellbeing framework in place, we continue to build a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child feels valued, supported, and able to thrive.
Our comprehensive wellbeing framework creates safe, happy, and calm routine-based learning environments, laying the foundation for outstanding academic achievement.
At BLPS, a deep commitment to learning underpins all we do. Our dedicated staff consistently reflect on their practice, analyse data, engage with the latest research, and participate in ongoing professional development to support every student’s growth.
This unwavering focus on continuous improvement is reflected in our exceptional NAPLAN results, which consistently surpass state and similar school benchmarks across all key areas. BLPS is proud to be recognised as a leading school for academic performance.
Our motto “Learning Together” reflects the strong, collaborative partnership between students, teachers, and parents. We believe that student success is built on this triangular foundation — where families, educators, and learners work together to create a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive school community.
Through shared commitment, we foster student voice and agency, deliver engaging and differentiated curriculum, uphold clear expectations, and create safe, caring learning environments where all children can thrive.
Our incredibly active Parents Association plays a central role in the life of Blackburn Lake Primary School, helping to foster a warm and connected community that extends well beyond the school gates. Through their ongoing involvement in both curricular and extracurricular activities, as well as numerous social events throughout the year, our parents are not just supporting their children’s education — they are building lasting connections, contributing to a vibrant school culture, and strengthening the sense of belonging that defines our school community.
