Churchie old boys want meeting with new chair of school council

A group of influential Churchie old boys is seeking a private meeting with the new chair of the elite school’s council, amid concerns of interference by the Anglican Church.

A number of Churchie old boys have sought a meeting with new school council chair Paul de Jersey.

A group of influential Churchie old boys is seeking a private meeting with Paul de Jersey, the new chair of the elite school’s council, amid concerns of overreach in the running of the school by the Anglican Church.

The men want to establish “a direct line of communication” with Mr de Jersey – the former governor of Queensland who was appointed to the council after the swift exit of Russell Smith last week.

It comes as other concerned members of the Churchie community have written directly to Bishops Jeremy Greaves and Cam Venables to try to stop the reappointment of headmaster Alan Campbell for another five years from 2024 because of concerns over his management style.

The intervention comes amid claims the school discriminates against and mistreats children with learning disabilities, and that its Anglican Schools Commission wields too much power over the running of Churchie.

“We have grave concerns about the present running of the school,” one of the old boys told The Courier-Mail.

Churchie headmaster Alan Campbell, newly appointed school chair Paul de Jersey and former school chair Dan O’Connor, who is now a member of the Anglican Schools Commission.

“We would like to have a peaceful chat with Mr de Jersey about where the council sits and how it can influence the direction of the school,” he said.

The old boy claims many parents are disgruntled, as well as “the majority of the 20,000-strong old boys’ community”.

“We want to get a direct line of communication going with Mr de Jersey,” he said.

Another old boy said he hoped a meeting with Mr de Jersey, who previously also served as Queensland’s Chief Justice, would result in the council “having greater input”.

“While the Anglican Schools Commission does play a role in the running of the school, the council – like at most other Anglican schools like TSS (The Southport School) – should have a big say in the direction of the school, including who the headmaster is and other matters of school policy,” he said.

“That’s why council members are elected.”

Mr de Jersey attended Churchie from 1962 to 1965 and was a member of the school council from 1990 to 1997.

Russell Smith began as council chair this year, following the move to the Anglican Schools Commission of long-serving chair Dan O’Connor.

Mr Smith, who quit only a few months into the job, has declined to comment but those close to him say he resigned “as a matter of principle”.

A day after Mr Smith’s exit, fellow council member and prominent property developer Russell ‘Rusty’ McCart also quit.

Sources say Mr McCart was a huge loss as he was an outspoken force willing to question the running of the school.

Anglican Schools Commission executive director Sherril Butterworth has denied that Dr Campbell has already been given another five years, saying the renewal process has only just begun and the school council will be consulted.

Addressing claims that students are discriminated against on the basis of learning difficulties or neurodevelopmental disorders, Dr Campbell has said: “We have many students with learning support needs who are thriving members of the school community and who receive dedicated teaching and pastoral care from our staff.”

Email Kylie Lang