‘Disruptive and unhappy’: St Paul’s principal role in limbo as new leaders appointed

After prolonged anguish and unrest at one of Brisbane’s most prestigious schools following the abrupt axing of its long-term headmaster, a new leadership team has been appointed.

After prolonged anguish and unrest at one of Brisbane’s most prestigious schools following the abrupt axing of its long-term headmaster, a new leadership team has been appointed.

But who will be the next permanent principal of St Paul’s School remains in limbo as the Anglican Church moves to overcome a “disruptive and unhappy couple of weeks”.

Dr Paul Browning was cut loose after 15 years on September 11 and finished at the Bald Hills school four days later, sparking rolling protests from his supporters demanding the Anglican Church reinstate him.

Elliot Zylstra and Georgia Petterson (both 16), protesting against Paul Browning’s sacking.

On Monday, exactly two weeks after Dr Browning was told he would not see out his contract until the end of 2023, the church announced a three-strong team to guide the pre-Prep to Year 12 school from term four.

Suzanne Bain will be executive principal, bringing broad experience in accreditation and legislative compliance, including as a member of the audit risk and compliance committee for the Brisbane Diocese and a council chair member of West Moreton Anglican College.

Mrs Bain, a lay canon, was also principal of St John’s Anglican College in Forest Lake from 2005-2018 and deputy principal of Cannon Hill Anglican College for 10 years.

Suzanne Bain.

As The Courier-Mail exclusively reported on Saturday, the church said Dr Browning was sacked for refusing to stop commercialising a multimillion-dollar learning tool that failed to meet federal government standards and therefore would have jeopardised federal funding for all of its 11 schools in Queensland.

Dr Browning, a practising Baptist, has maintained the Realms of Thinking program was being monetised to help pay a current $7.2 million liability bill for compensation of victims of historic child sexual abuse at the school in the 1980s and 1990s.

The church disputes this.

Dr Browning was notified in March his contract would not be renewed for another five years from 2024. He was ordered to stop commercialising Realms of Thinking in April.

He later lodged a bullying complaint against the Anglican Schools Commission before asking the church in August to give him the intellectual property for Realms of Thinking so he could sell it himself after leaving St Paul’s.

He requested it as part of his severance package so he could “commercialise it independently as my new employment prospect” and offered to lease it to St Paul’s for at least five years free of charge at an estimated saving to the school of $451,000.

John O’Sullivan Williams will step in as acting principal until a permanent replacement for Dr Browning is found.

Mr O’Sullivan Williams is a former deputy at Saint Stephen’s on the Gold Coast and has been most recently working in the Anglican Church’s head office in Ann Street, Brisbane.

He has also taught at West Moreton Anglican College, St Margaret’s and Hillbrook.

Simon Gipson, who was speedily brought up from Victoria as intermin principal after the sacking of Dr Browning, will stay on to advise the leadership team and staff on strategy and culture. He is a respected education consultant and former head of a Melbourne Grammar School.

Making the announcement, Bishop Cam Venables said: “It has been a disruptive and unhappy couple of weeks and I hope that this news will help to build a more positive approach towards the future.

Paul Browning’s contract was not renewed.

“During this interim period before a new principal is appointed, we have engaged three highly regarded educators and administrators to identify the areas that need immediate support and attention.

“As we prepare for the last term of 2023, we want to ensure the best possible outcomes for staff and students. The Year 12 cohort is obviously a priority. Their wellbeing will be our focus.”

Students and parents gathered at the corner of St Paul’s School protesting against the sacking of the school principal Paul Browning.