Churchie parents lobby Anglican Church not to extend contract of headmaster Alan Campbell

Parents of prestigious Brisbane boys’ school Churchie are lobbying the Anglican Church not to renew the contract of its controversial headmaster.

Parents at prestigious Brisbane boys’ school Churchie have raised concerns over the management style of headmaster Dr Alan Campbell. Picture: Liam Kidston.

A group of influential parents is lobbying the powerful Anglican Church in a bid to stop the renewal of the contract of a controversial headmaster of a prestigious boys’ school.

The unprecedented step comes after the parents were told by school insiders that Dr Alan Campbell would have his contract extended by five years at the Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in East Brisbane.

The church’s Anglican Schools Commission says no final decision has been made.

Parents were told the contract renewal would take effect from 2024.

Anglican Church Grammar School headmaster Dr Alan Campbell.

The Courier-Mail understands Bishop Jeremy Greaves has been directly contacted, and at least one member of the school council is prepared to resign if Dr Campbell is allowed to stay in the job amid concerns about his management style.

“The sh*t is about to hit the fan at Churchie,” one parent said.

“We’ve heard Alan Campbell has been reappointed for another five years. No consultation with the board, which usually has some ‘say’.

“So many parents and staff will be seriously pissed off.

“There are some quiet workings going on behind the scenes now, with people of influence trying to sway the church to reverse any decision.

“At least one board member has or is going to quit in disgust.”

Another parent said if Dr Campbell was reappointed it would cause “severe dissatisfaction” among a number of parents and staff, and “the clergy will be expecting backlash over this and demanding answers from the schools commission”.

Sherril Butterworth, executive director of the Anglican Schools Commission, said Dr Campbell’s contract didn’t finish until the end of the year.

“The process for review is only about to begin,” Ms Butterworth said.

“The council will be involved in that process.”

Several staff members are said to be concerned about Dr Campbell’s potential reappointment.

Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane’s east. Picture: Liam Kidston.

One teacher said Dr Campbell’s “focus on leaving scores” rather than the general education of all students was a “blight on Churchie’s reputation”.

“Every child has merit but kids with learning problems have been actively discouraged from participating in assessments – it’s all about image,” the teacher said.

“This is not a Christian way to behave, and the church should be dealing with this.”

Back in 2019 The Courier-Mail reported claims that children with poor grades and learning difficulties were being excluded in a bid to boost academic performance.

At the time, Dr Campbell said “high academic and behavioural expectations have always been part of the school” and “we are unashamedly a grammar school in the Anglican tradition”.

The Anglican Church runs the school – and 10 others in Queensland, including The Southport School and St Hilda’s on the Gold Coast and St Paul’s in Bald Hills – through its schools commission.

The commission website states its purpose is “to provide strategic direction and policy development to, and monitoring of, Anglican schools of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland”.

The schools commission is led by the clergy, with other members including lay people such as lawyer Dan O’Connor, who was chair of the Churchie council (board) from 2013 to 2022.

The council is responsible for the school’s facilities, finance and funding and curriculum, culture and communications, according to the Churchie website.

Dr Campbell, appointed headmaster in 2014 after eight years as deputy, also sits on the council due to the position he holds.