Brisbane Boys College headmaster Andre Casson looks back at first 12 months on job

The man headhunted from overseas to lead one of Queensland’s most prestigious schools after a series of public scandals and a mass exodus of staff has outlined his vision for a crucial year ahead which will include the release of the college’s Master Plan.

He was headhunted to turn the tide at a prestigious college in transition. One of Queensland’s most elite schools that was fighting from within, rocked by scandal after scandal.

Andre Casson had inherited an institution in turmoil. One where staff turnover was high and culture low.

While Brisbane Boys’ College was delivering on the academic and sporting scale, damage was being done to its reputation at a rate of knots.

In the 12 months prior to the announcement of Mr Casson as BBC’s 10th headmaster, no less than 14 staff had departed amid claims around a “poor culture” and a recruitment process that was a “farce”.

Sit down chat with Brisbane Boys' College at Toowong principal Andre Casson looking back at his first 12 months in the job. Pictures David Clark

BBC’s ninth headmaster Paul Brown, who presided over the school’s controversial handling of an alleged sexting and bashing events, was part of the mass exodus.

In 2020, four boys were alleged to have bashed another student on a school sports fields after they learned he had allegedly been bombarding a classmate’s girlfriend with explicit texts and photos.

The expulsion of the four students over an alleged gang bashing at Brisbane Boys’ College was sensationally overturned after their parents sued the elite school and its principal for up to $750,000.

On the outside, the 120-year-old school had lost its way.

At a time when stability was needed amid the ongoing health and economic crisis.

Enter Mr Casson, plucked from the esteemed Australian International School in Singapore following a worldwide search.

In a sit down interview with The Courier-Mail, Mr Casson opened up on his first year as headmaster, its challenges and his long-term plans for his tenure.

School sources say his appointment, alongside other leadership changes, has been key in putting the GPS giant back on track.

Mr Casson, a former deputy of rival Anglican Church Grammar School, said he had not agreed to take the reigns on a whim.

Former Brisbane Boys College headmaster Paul Brown. Picture: BBC

He’d done his homework and was under no illusion of what he’d be dealt with.

“I had an enormous regard for the school. I did do my due diligence and knew completely what I was getting into, but I can say with complete confidence on every criteria that you would assess a school, that it was doing brilliantly well,” Mr Casson said.

“Yet in the public domain, and we are all aware of it, the school was going through some challenges. The real important thing was to try and work on those areas of development.”

One of Mr Casson’s first points of call was to bring alignment to a divided school community.

Mr Casson knew a “my way or the highway” approach would not work. Nor is it his style.

From the powerful Presbyterian Methodist Schools Association, the Old Collegians, to the school rugby community and parents, Mr Casson wanted, and BBC needed a united front.

“I think that’s the most important thing looking back. We worked really hard on the community approach. All those passion areas in the school and bring them in collectively,” he said.

BBC school council chairman Don O’Rourke said while the “slip-ups” had been in the public eye, they were very much in the minority.

Boosted by a string of leadership changes, Mr O’Rourke said he was confident the turmoil was in the past.

School council chairman Don O’Rorke says a string of leadership changes have smoothed any turmoil at Brisbane Boys College. File picture: David Clark

He said there was “complete alignment” between the PMSA board, the school council, the school community and the old collegians “for the first time in a long time”.

“There’s a harmony, no wasted energy on fighting,” he said.

“There’s still things to improve on but all of this new energy is now being directed at doing the job properly.”

While his official start date was January 2022, Mr Casson’s real tenure began months earlier, some 6000km away at his desk in Singapore.

“He’d be calling in every day for the first three months. Just to listen and check in to get feedback,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“It really demonstrated the commitment he had.”

That energy witnessed early became the norm.

Mr Casson was also key in coining the WeAreBBC vernacular which has largely been embraced.

“I took them along in the journey with me. I’d be foolish if I didn’t speak to the likes of the Old Collegians, so I could get a sense of why we do things this way,” Mr Casson said.

“The ultimate outcome is BBC being the best it can be.

“And the support I have received every day from all bodies has been very humbling and gratifying.”

New Brisbane Boys College Headmaster Andre Casson with his wife Jodie and daughter Remi. Picture Supplied

Ahead of 2023, which shapes as a crucial year for BBC with the release of its master plan,

Speaking from the school boardroom where portraits of previous headmasters hang, Mr Casson said he wanted to continue the legacy set by those before him.

“I stand on the shoulders of giants … These men in this room wrote the legacy all the way through and right now I am the custodian of that legacy,” Mr Casson said.

“I’d like to see out my career at BBC.

“I like to stay at a school for long enough that you can effect positive change. I’d really like to finish what we have started this year.”