Clayfield College principal Kathy Bishop gives no reason for shock resignation from elite school

The shock resignation of one of Brisbane’s elite private school principals follows staff unrest, plunging student numbers, and concerns about a push to make the embattled college co-educational to Year 12.

THE shock resignation of one of Brisbane’s elite private school principals follows staff unrest, plunging student numbers, and concerns about a push to make the embattled college co-educational to Year 12.

Clayfield College principal Kathy Bishop today announced she would quit at the end of 2019 after four years in the top job.

Mrs Bishop gave no reason for her shock departure in a statement sent to parents by Clayfield College Council chairwoman Anne Bennett.

Dr Bennett said: “Kathy has given enormously of herself and has energetically led the school”.

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She said a recruitment process would begin immediately.

Mrs Bishop has led the school through some of its most turbulent times which last year saw the unfair dismissal of fellow leading headmistress Flo Kearney at sister school Somerville House.

Clayfield College, run by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association, became embroiled in a long-running scandal over governance of the four PMSA schools, including Somerville House, Brisbane Boys’ College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

Early last year a report by breakaway group Beyond PMSA alleged the church body had mismanaged funds, and it identified “a continuing cycle of reduced enrolments requiring cost reductions” leading to “an effective death spiral”.

Clayfield College principal Kathy Bishop has resigned.

Since 2011 enrolment numbers have fallen from 933 to 598, records show.

Clayfield College is co-ed from pre-prep to Year 6 but has a proud tradition as one of the state’s leading all-girls schools from Year 7-12.

The Courier-Mail asked the PMSA if the principal’s resignation was linked to any secret mergers plans to make the school co-ed to year 12.

The PMSA did not comment and instead referred to the notification issued to parents.

It also declined to respond about the findings of an internal survey of the executive and teachers questioning the leadership of Mrs Bishop.

Mrs Bishop, did not respond to a request for an interview, but promotes the motto: “Be happy, laugh often, work hard and give back to the community’’.

In the letter to parents, Dr Bennett said Mrs Bishop’s resignation was regrettable.

Mrs Bishop, only the sixth principal of the college since it opened in 1930, was praised for her “outstanding stewardship, strong work ethic and dedication to Christian servant leadership”.

“Through her tireless efforts, she has created a community where students feel a sense of belonging and strive to genuinely try their best in all aspects of life,” Dr Bennett said.

“The Clayfield College Council will immediately begin the recruitment process working with a specialist recruitment firm to appoint another outstanding principal.”

Mrs Bishop, who previously held executive positions at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School and St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School, will stay until the end of the school year.