Brisbane Boys’ College deputy headmaster Peter Franks to leave school

The mass exodus of staff from Brisbane Boys’ College continues, with the prestigious school’s deputy headmaster set to leave.

Deputy headmaster Paul Franks is the latest staff member to confirm departure from Toowong’s Brisbane Boys’ College. Picture: Tara Croser.

The mass exodus of staff at the beleaguered Brisbane Boys’ College continues, with deputy headmaster Peter Franks confirmed to also be leaving the prestigious school.

The respected educator is the most high-profile exit after headmaster Paul Brown, who quit in February.

A controversial recruitment process for the top job – described by insiders as “a farce” – is under way amid allegations the school’s governing body has been speaking with the preferred candidate, an interstate-based BBC old boy, for months.

Peter Franks, deputy headmaster at Brisbane Boys' College, Toowong.

The Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association has denied the allegations.

Mr Franks, deputy headmaster – college operations and special projects P-12, joined BBC in 2018.

The staff exit tally now stands at eight, with more resignations tipped before the end of this month.

A source said the mass exodus “was not normal, especially in term 1”.

“They are going because they no longer want to work in a PMSA school,” the source said.

Last week Mr Franks’ wife Lea Walker-Franks resigned as director of community engagement and foundation executive officer, as did Kristie Welsh, director of marketing and communications, Lee Pickering, director of technology services, and Simon Cox, facilities manager. IT department employees Daniel Pye and Zachary Menolotto have also pulled the pin. Print room manager Gerry Gleeson retired.

Eight staff have left Brisbane Boys College at Toowong, with more expected in coming weeks. Picture: Tara Croser.

Prior to BBC, Mr Franks was director of domestic recruitment at Bond University, and deputy headmaster at the elite Newington College in Sydney.

In February, BBC council member Michael Goss resigned, and Bridget Cullen quit her positions on both the council and the PMSA after a social media scandal.

BBC council chair Mark Gray quit in August, citing an “unreasonable increase in the school contribution in 2020 to fund the PMSA corporate office”.

Two PMSA staffers, Erin Black and Chanel Cargill, have also recently resigned. Last week a former old boy and former CEO of RM Williams Hamish Turner joined the PMSA board.