Bruce Houghton is the Head of the Middle School (Years 4–9) of the Western Cape College (P–12) in Cape York Peninsula. Made up of four campuses (Aurukun, Mapoon, Napranun and Weipa) with a geographical spread of 300 km, Western Cape College is a unique and diverse college presenting many and varied challenges. Bruce is based at the Weipa P–12 Campus which has 850 students, 50 per cent of whom are Indigenous. Bruce was previously the principal of Pormpuraaw State School P–7.

Since 2002, Bruce has overseen the development and implementation of the innovative New Basics curriculum in the middle school of Western Cape College. The New Basics curriculum was the vehicle for successful middle school reform which focused on curriculum revitalisation, productive pedagogies and a vigorous assessment and reporting framework via the Rich Tasks. 

Having completed the Phase Two New Basics trial in 2004 with outstanding results, the Western Cape College has continued with the New Basics in its entirety. In recognition of the improvements in Indigenous education and outcomes, Western Cape College was awarded the title ‘Excellence in Indigenous Education’ in 2004.