Dr Alan Campbell will remain headmaster of Churchie for another five years despite opposition from influential parents and old boys

The controversial headmaster of an elite boys’ school has been reappointed for another five years, despite vehement opposition from a group of influential parents and old boys.

The controversial headmaster of an elite boys’ school has been reappointed for another five years, despite vehement opposition from a group of influential parents and old boys who lobbied the powerful Anglican Church.

Alan Campbell will continue at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in East Brisbane until the end of 2028.

Paul de Jersey, recently ensconced school council chair and former Governor of Queensland, formally announced the extension in a joint statement on Friday with Reverend Jeremy Greaves Chair, Anglican Schools Commission Bishop for the Northern Region.

They said Dr Campbell’s leadership was marked by “flourishing enrolments, high performance in all areas – academic and cocurricular – and a strong financial position”.

Dr Alan Campbell, headmaster at Churchie.

“There is a strong commitment to boarding. We wish Dr Campbell well as he continues his commitment to the stability and development of the school,” they said.

“The school council will continue to support the headmaster to ensure the best outcomes for the boys, and our school as the fine and leading Anglican school which it is.”

The announcement has come as a blow to members of the Churchie community who had campaigned vigorously to have Dr Campbell’s contract terminated at the end of 2023 due to concerns over his management style.

A number of people wrote directly to Bishop Greaves over the matter.

It followed the school council, parents and staff saying in March this year that Dr Campbell’s extension had quietly and unofficially been rubber stamped by the Anglican Schools Commission.

This was said to have resulted in the shock resignation of then council chair Russell Smith, closely followed by the departure of council member and prominent property developer Russell McCart, due an alleged lack of consultation from the Anglican Schools Commission.

At the time, Sherril Butterworth, executive director of the commission, told The Courier-Mail the review process for Dr Campbell’s contract was “only about to begin” and the council would be involved.

A social media post by Anglican Church Grammar School (AKA Churchie) headmaster Dr Alan Campbell (right) with Dan O'Connor and Paul de Jersey.

On March 30, just days after Mr Smith quit, the Anglican Church announced Mr de Jersey had replaced him.

Mr Smith had only been in the job for three months, appointed after long-serving chair and lawyer Dan O’Connor moved to the Anglican Schools Commission.

Also on March 30, a third-generation Churchie old boy wrote a scathing letter to the council, outlining his “grave concerns” about practices at the school.

Simon Schmidt – father of a Year 12 student he says was initially excluded due to having dyslexia – wrote the letter after being told Dr Campbell was to be given another five years as headmaster.

Mr Schmidt claimed Churchie had a practice of excluding children with learning difficulties or poor academic records – which contravened the school’s founding principles.

Dr Campbell said at the time that “high academic and behavioural expectations have always been a part of the school”.

“We are proud of this tradition and are open and honest with prospective parents,” he said.

“Every year, in my headmaster’s address to future parents at open day, I state we are unashamedly a grammar school in the Anglican tradition, and our expectations are high in this regard.”

Generic images of Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie). Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Following Mr de Jersey’s appointment as school council chair, a group of powerful old boys had a private meeting with him to air their concerns about overreach in the running of the school by the Anglican Church.

The Anglican Church runs Churchie – 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 Dan O’Connor, who was chair of the Churchie council 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.