BBC principal Paul Brown rejects letter from anonymous teacher

Outgoing Brisbane Boys’ College principal Paul Brown has rejected claims of arrogance and “parachuting in” preferred staff.

The prestigious Brisbane Boys’ College is in danger of being turned into a “rugby academy” as influential old boys lobby for a significant increase in sporting scholarships.

A disgruntled staff member has written to The Courier-Mail outlining a number of concerns about the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association’s governance of the 119-year-old Toowong GPS college.

The teacher also separately criticised the management style of its outgoing principal Paul Brown, who has dismissed the claims against him and defended his time at the school.

In an unsigned letter, the teacher said turning BBC into “some sort of rugby academy”, as old boys were allegedly pushing for, “would not go down well with the staff”.

“There is obviously concern about what direction the ‘new’ PMSA wants BBC to take, with a new headmaster.”

The Courier-Mail understands BBC already has one of the highest percentages of sporting scholarships in Australia.

Outgoing Brisbane Boys’ College principal Paul Brown

The teacher also slammed as “arrogant” the leadership of Mr Brown, who announced his resignation in February amid allegations he was “unfairly pushed” by the PMSA to quit after only three years in the top job.

The staffer, who said the workload on junior school teachers was excessive and morale was low, said certain staff had been forced out during Mr Brown’s time as principal, and queried his friendship with deputy headmaster Peter Franks and his wife, director of community engagement and foundation executive officer Lea Walker-Franks.

Mr Franks announced his decision to leave BBC in March, a week after Mrs Franks resigned.

Responding to allegations in the unsigned letter, Mr Brown said it contained “bald-faced lies”.

“I have never been accused of being arrogant before in my life; I run an open-door policy and have set up teams so people can contribute to the way the school operates,” he said.

“Leadership styles can be in the eye of the beholder.”

Mr Brown said many of the staff who had left the college during his time had gone on to promotions, with his backing and support.

The Brisbane Boys’ College junior school

“No one has been ‘parachuted in’ – we always look to employ the best person for the job,” he said.

“I had never met Peter Franks until he came to Brisbane to be interviewed; I didn’t know him from Adam, and he was selected by a panel of people.

“As for Lea Walker-Franks, she was the standout candidate for the job. There are plenty of husband-and-wife partnerships in education.”

Regarding the rugby scholarships, Mr Brown said under his leadership the direction of the school was to provide an individualised, holistic education for every boy, and there was an emphasis on all areas including academics.

BBC has suffered a mass exodus of staff this year, totalling 10, and this excludes high-profile resignations from the school council and PMSA board.

Mr Brown’s decision to expel four Year 9 boys at the centre of an alleged sexting and gang-bashing last year was sensationally overturned by the PMSA after the parents of the students took the college and Mr Brown to court with a $750,000 negligence claim.

The claim has since been settled.

The PMSA has denied allegations that the recruitment process to find a new headmaster was “farcical” and that a preferred candidate was identified months before Mr Brown officially resigned.