Deputy slams PMSA, BBC council for ‘reprehensible’ behaviour

The former deputy headmaster of Brisbane Boys’ College has taken aim at the school’s governing body and council, accusing them of “reprehensible” treatment of staff and narrow thinking.

Ten senior staff have exited Brisbane Boys' College in recent months.

In a scathing email explaining his shock departure from the beleaguered Brisbane Boys’ College, former deputy headmaster Peter Franks has slammed the school’s governing body and its council, including the “reprehensible” way they treat staff.

Mr Franks has described the decisions of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association and BBC council as “inane” and damaging to an otherwise great school.

“It both saddens and sickens me to see where the directions of the college have gone over the past nine or so months, since the initial resignation of ex- (BBC council) chair Mark Gray (in August 2020), and the inane decision making processes of the PMSA and college council,” he wrote to the BBC executive team and staff.

“Both groups have major problems which they seem either unwilling or incapable of managing or fixing.”

Former deputy headmaster at Brisbane Boys’ College Peter Franks.

Mr Franks, an educator for almost 40 years, said he had never worked in a school where the college executive was not wholeheartedly supported by its networks of past students, and where staff were “continually disparaged” in an “unfounded and reprehensible” way.

In the blistering email, obtained by The Courier-Mail, Mr Franks also took aim at the “narrow” recruitment process to replace the outgoing headmaster Paul Brown, who quit in February.

Insiders have described the process for the top job as “a farce” amid allegations Mr Brown was “unfairly pushed” and that the PMSA and a number of influential old boys had been speaking with the preferred candidate – an interstate-based BBC old boy – for a number of months.

The PMSA has denied the allegations.

In the email, Mr Franks said: “I come from schools where such diversity is fostered, encouraged and celebrated – rather than the parochial mindset that our next BBC leader be ‘a BBC old boy, a Queenslander, and someone who knows the GPS system’ – Wow, how narrow is that in terms of thinking?

“Will such a mindset encourage the college and its constituents to be ‘a leading international school’ (as is our current headmaster’s vision), or are they simply hoping that boys will ‘go beyond Indooroopilly and Toowong’?”

Headmaster Paul Brown quit in February. Picture: Supplied

Mr Franks, a previous deputy headmaster at the elite Newington College in Sydney, said the school’s executive team together had more than 200 years’ experience in some of the best schools across the country, but “this individual and collective wisdom has neither been asked for nor acknowledged”.

“The best thing they (the PMSA and council) could do is leave the educational decision making and the running of the college in the hands of the experts who have been assembled to do so.”

The staff exit tally at BBC now stands at 11, with more departures predicted.

In late March the PMSA, which also runs Somerville House, Clayfield College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School, hired a public relations’ firm which charges up to $500 an hour to handle its crisis communications.

That same month, 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. Financial controller Trish Whellum, technology services director Lee Pickering, facilities manager Simon Cox, payroll officer Carole Thomas and IT department employees Daniel Pye and Zachary Menolotto have also pulled the pin, while print room manager Gerry Gleeson retired.

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”.

Last year Mr Brown and BBC were sued for $750,000 by four parents over the expulsion of their Year 9 sons following an alleged sexting and alleged gang-bashing scandal. The case has since settled.

The PMSA controversially overturned the expulsions and had the four boys to be tutored by BBC teachers in office space only a few hundred metres from the Toowong school campus.

EXCERPTS FROM PETER FRANKS TO THE EXECUTIVE TEAM & STAFF, DATED MARCH 22

Subject: Message from the Deputy Headmaster – College Operations & Special Projects P-12

As Paul (Brown) mentioned this morning, the attached was the courtesy email I had ready on Friday, to inform you that on Tuesday of last week I forwarded a letter to Paul, for BBC Council consideration, to take a voluntary redundancy from my position as Deputy Headmaster – College Operations & Special Projects P-12, which as you read in the paper over the weekend, has now been approved. I will sign a Deed of Release later this morning. I will be here until the end of the term.

This decision has not come lightly, however, I cannot continue to work in an environment where my values and those of our Governing body no longer align. It both saddens and sickens me to see where the directions of the College have gone over the past nine or so months, since the initial resignation of ex-Chair Mark Gray, and the inane decision making processes of … the PMSA and College Council … Both groups have major problems which they seem either unwilling or incapable of managing or fixing.

To add to this, I can honestly say that I have never worked in a school – across three States, in State, Independent, single sex, co-educational, GPS and CAS (Combined Schools Association) – where the College Executive are not wholeheartedly supported by its networks of Old Boys …

To continually disparage staff … regardless of ability is unfounded and reprehensible. I come from schools where such diversity is fostered, encouraged and celebrated – rather than the parochial mindset that our next BBC leader be‘ a BBC Old Boy, a Queenslander, and someone who knows the GPS system’ – WOW, how narrow is that in terms of thinking? Will such a mindset encourage the College and its constituents to be ‘a leading International school’ (as is our current HM’s vision), or are they simply hoping that boys will ‘go beyond Indooroopilly and Toowong’?

I would no more tell a lawyer, a financial/investment banker, property developer, a pilot, a property owner/farmer or any other professional how to run their businesses/companies yet it seems that because ‘they have been to school’ or that ‘they have children who attend a private school’ that they have become experts in the field of education and school management. The best thing they could do is leave the educational decision making and the running of the College in the hands of the experts who have been assembled to do so. Collectively, around our Executive table, there would be 200+ years of experience in some of the best schools across the country, in most of the major capitals and at all levels. It does seem a shame that this individual and collective wisdom has neither been asked for nor acknowledged.

The days, weeks and months to come will be tough. I know that each of you came here to make a difference, to support Paul and each other and to share in his vision, and we have done exactly that. The College currently is the best version of itself in its 120-year history. Academic results are very strong, wellbeing programs are flourishing, co-curricular results are the best in the College’s history, boys are happy and achieving great things – our recent MMG Parent Survey results fully support these claims. The notion that the College needs ‘fixing’ is a nonsense – what is actually broken? Oh, that’s right, we don’t do Saturday detentions anymore and we expect our teachers to be risk takers and occasionally move classes!

I wish you all every good wish as you continue to ‘dream the dream’ and ‘fight the good fight’. Don’t lose sight of the good things we do. I have greatly valued working alongside each of you. I have learnt much from you. Each of you have added great value to your individual areas, as well as making the overall student experience the best it can possibly be. Don’t lose heart ………. we got into the job because we love what we do – turning boys of promise into men of substance …

Kind regards and best wishes for the journey ahead,

Peter Franks.