Schools vary. Possibly by geographic location and size. Having 1500 or so students doesn't help. I went to a similar school (as in, really expensive) as the OP

Schools vary. Possibly by geographic location and size. Having 1500 or so students doesn't help. I went to a similar school (as in, really expensive) as the OP in Melbourne. The principal was universally well regarded, and even got a Member of the Order of Australia (a couple of steps below a knighthood) for his contribution to education, but he knew very few of us students by name. When I was at uni, I noticed a Who's Who book in the library, and flicked it open to the page that my old principal was on...