Samantha Bolton quits Clayfield College in another blow for Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association

Another shock departure has rocked the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association with a senior leader unexpectedly quitting prestigious Clayfield College.

The much-loved head of Clayfield College’s senior school has unexpectedly quit, adding to the long list of shock departures from within the ranks of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA).

Samantha Bolton joined the prestigious school as deputy principal in 2018 after a successful career in curriculum leadership at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School and Brisbane Girls Grammar School.

Samantha Bolton has quit as head of Clayfield College's senior school.

She commenced Term 1 but then announced her resignation, effective May 4.

Well respected in the independent education sector, Ms Bolton was tipped to replace principal Kathy Bishop who left, also unexpectedly, in 2019.

The PMSA appointed Andrew Cousins, previously deputy principal of Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Perth, to the top job.

In announcing Ms Bolton’s resignation to the school community, Dr Cousins said the “outstanding educator with an incredible intellect” had decided to pursue academic studies full time.

He thanked her for her leadership at “a critical time” in the college’s history and for her “exceptional level of care for students and staff”.

“The recruitment process will commence in the coming weeks for a suitable candidate to lead the secondary school at Clayfield College,” he said.

Clayfield College.

Ms Bolton’s departure follows the resignation in February of Paul Brown, headmaster at PMSA affiliate Brisbane Boys’ College, and last week’s mass exodus of BBC senior staff including Lea Walker-Franks, director of community engagement, Kristie Welsh, director of marketing and communications, Lee Pickering, director of technology services, and Simon Cox, facilities manager.

February also saw Bridget Cullen quit her positions on the PMSA and BBC college council after a social media scandal, and the resignation of council member Michael Goss.

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

The Courier-Mail understands two PMSA staffers, Erin Black and Chanel Cargill, have also resigned in recent weeks.

More departures are expected.