Pulteney Grammar School Board launches review into leadership

Pulteney Grammar’s school board has launched an independent review of its leadership after a scathing petition called for the sacking of its heads of school.

Pulteney Grammar School’s leadership has been criticised by an online petition. Picture: Dean Martin

Pulteney Grammar School has launched an independent review of its leadership after a damaging petition emerged calling for the sacking of its heads of school.

A letter to parents and old scholars of the prestigious private school, seen by The Advertiser, confirms it has brought in an independent firm to run the review.

It will collect “confidential” feedback and interview school board members, staff, including principal Cameron Bacholer, and “interested groups”.

The letter, dated August 30, follows the creation of a petition on the GoPetition website by self-described “members of the Pulteney community” demanding that “the current heads of school be replaced immediately”.

The petition, which has more than 100 signatures, lists concerns including the “departure or reassignment” of teachers “leading to a void of experience”, an “unreasonable expectation placed upon remaining educators” and changes to the school’s educational model such as the merger of its Middle School and High School.

Pulteney Grammar School principal Cameron Bacholer. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

It also cites a “disconcerting misalignment between the fees charged, which place Pulteney Grammar School among the top 10 (schools) in South Australia, and the academic outcomes, with results falling outside the top 10 for ATAR (university entrance scores) and the top 30 for primary school academics”.

“Should our calls for change go unheeded we are prepared to take decisive action,” the petition reads.

“We declare our intent to explore alternative education institutions that mirror the values and standards we initially sought when choosing Pulteney.”

The Pulteney Old Scholars’ Association has more than 10,000 members.

High-profile former students of the school on South Tce in the CBD include professional golfer Wade Ormsby, SANFL great Michael Aish and former AFL stars Bruce Abernethy and Josh Francou, Adelaide 36ers owner Grant Kelley, late Supreme Court judge Ted Mullighan, his son and current SA Treasurer Stephen Mullighan and Liberal MP John Gardner.

In the letter to old scholars and parents, Chair of Pulteney’s Board of Governors David Reynolds – who is also the chief executive of SA’s Department for Trade and Investment – says the review is expected to be complete by mid-October.

“We will provide a summary of the emerging themes and how the board intends to respond,” Mr Reynolds writes.

“In the interim, Pulteney’s sub-school structure will remain in place.”

The letter describes the concerns raised as centring on “leadership, strategic direction and operations ... school structure and communication with our community”.

Mr Reynolds writes that the board “will not express a position on matters that have been raised, to ensure we do not prejudice the review’s findings”.

In response to requests for further comment, the school referred The Advertiser to a written statement from the school’s board which reiterated themes from the letter.

“This will be a listening and learning exercise to understand current sentiment across the school community,” the statement said.