Elite school principal, Paul Browning, ousted from St Paul’s amid ‘toxic clash’ with church

Deputy Premier and former student Steven Miles has weighed in on the furore surrounding the dismissal of the principal of an elite Brisbane school amid allegations of a “toxic clash” with the powerful Anglican Church.

The award-winning principal of a prestigious Brisbane school has been sensationally ousted amid allegations of a “toxic clash” with the powerful Anglican Church, including over payment of compensation to historic victims of child sexual abuse.

Paul Browning, headmaster of St Paul’s School in Bald Hills, will finish up on Friday after a “spectacular implosion” of his relationship with Anglican Bishop Jeremy Greaves and the Anglican Schools Commission (ASC), of which he is chair.

BELOW: TRAUMA VICTIMS SUPPORT SERVICE LASHES OUT AT DECISION

Deputy Premier and former student Steven Miles on Thursday weighed in on the furore surrounding the dismissal of St Paul’s School principal Paul Browning – saying he felt “confusion and disappointment”.

The school council – which had unanimously endorsed Dr Browning’s contract renewal for another five years from 2024 – has also been dramatically sacked by the Church.

Insiders told The Courier-Mail that Dr Browning’s commitment to refunding the tuition fees of former students sexually abused at St Paul’s during the 1980s and 1990s – long before his 2008 appointment – was a trigger for the hostilities.

Paul Browning at St Paul’s School. Picture: Mark Cranitch

They described the breakdown between Dr Browning and the Church as a “spectacular implosion” resulting from a “toxic clash” that has been months in the making.

On Wednesday at 4pm, Dr Browning issued a heartfelt statement to the school community.

Dr Browning told colleagues, parents and students of his “great disappointment” that the Church had instructed him to leave – despite an “incredibly affirming” review of his performance last year by an education research firm approved by the ASC and a united recommendation by the school council that he remain in the job until 2028.

“I am incredibly sad for the members of the school community,” he said.

“They have been a remarkable group of people who have helped steer the school to what it is today.

“I particularly wish to acknowledge those past students who were victims of sexual abuse while they attended the school either in the 1980s or 1990s who have since had their confidence and trust in the school restored.

“I have been humbled to walk with many of those wounded and traumatised men and their families.”

Mr Miles said he was saying this “not on behalf of the government”, but as a parent and local MP.

“I share the feeling of confusion and disappointment of the St Paul’s community in the dismissal of Paul Browning,” he said.

“A lot has changed about St Paul’s since I was there – and a lot needed to.”

Mr Miles said it was “hard to see” how this sudden decision can’t lead to “instability” at the school.

“Many students are rallying today in support of Dr Browning – which is a testament to his support at the school,” he said,

“I believe the school community deserves a better explanation for the reasons for this decision.”

Deputy Premier of Queensland Steven Miles. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

Dr Browning was named School Principal of the Year (non-government) in the 2018 Australian Education Awards, predominantly for rebuilding a culture of trust following the damning findings of the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse over the school’s past inaction against pedophile counsellor Kevin Lynch and pedophile music teacher Gregory Robert Knight.

Unlike Brisbane Grammar School, also lambasted by the Royal Commission, St Paul’s chose to refund the tuition fees of victims, with the backing of the Anglican Church.

However, in late 2018 the Church decided the fees refund was to be paid directly by the school.

Paul Browning at St Paul’s School with some students. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Allan Hird, a member of the St Paul’s council which was removed by Bishop Greaves on August 18 this year, said he was disgusted by the termination of Dr Browning.

“Paul has pushed hard to look after victims but the Anglican Schools Commission has pushed back,” Mr Hird told The Courier-Mail.

“Paul is a fantastic principal – the Church is shooting itself in the foot by getting rid of him.”

Mr Hird said following the Church mandating St Paul’s personally repay fees, the council approved Dr Browning monetising a creative teaching tool the school had developed.

The plan was to market the Realms of Thinking tool to other schools and use the funds raised to pay for sexual abuse claims so current and future parents wouldn’t be slugged higher fees to cover the compensation.

Currently, fees at St Pauls, formerly a boys’ only school but now coeducational from pre-prep to Year 12, top out at $16,640 per year.

Mr Hird said the Church initially supported the commercialisation of Realms of Thinking but the ASC shut it down.

Bishop Jeremy Greaves.

He said many parents had chosen St Paul’s specifically because of the learning tool and he feared enrolments would plummet without Dr Browning at the helm.

Mr Hird said the ASC had ignored the council’s September 2022 recommendation that Dr Browning’s contract be renewed from 2024.

The Courier-Mail understands Dr Browning lodged a formal complaint about his alleged treatment by the ASC to Bishop Greaves earlier this year, after being told in March that his tenure would end.

Dr Browning said late on Wednesday there was nothing further he wished to add about the matter.

Bishop Greaves and the Anglican Schools Commission were also contacted for comment.

In response, a spokesperson said the Anglican Church Southern Queensland had decided that after 15 years as headmaster, Dr Browning’s contract would not be extended.

”As with any organisation, the needs of the school change over time and leadership should be renewed to ensure the necessary perspective and energy for the future,” they said.

“The St Paul’s school council does not make the decision about who is appointed principal. Its recommendation is a part of a much bigger process for the selection of principals for our schools.

“The school council was disbanded last month on the recommendation of its chairman (David Ruthven, rector of North Pine Anglian Church) who believed the council was no longer working harmoniously and productively.”

The Church did not respond to questions around why it decided that St Paul’s should pay personally for the refund of tuition fees to sexual abuse victims or the outcome of Dr Browning’s complaint against the ASC.

In 2019, St Paul’s was named School of the Year in the Australian Education Awards.

Under Dr Browning, St Paul’s opened a centre for research, innovation and future development which has been visited by leaders from more than 150 schools.

A Cambridge University affiliated body has acknowledged St Paul’s as one of the top 100 innovative learning organisations in the world.

Dr Browning himself has been internationally recognised, invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK’s Sutton Trust to speak at an education summit in Washington DC.

In 2020 Dr Browning’s book Principled, which offered key practices to help build more trustworthy leaders, was published by UQP.

TRAUMA VICTIMS SUPPORT SERVICE LASHES OUT AT DECISION

A support service for victims of trauma, including childhood sexual abuse, has lambasted the Anglican Church over its shock axing of St Paul’s School principal Paul Browning.

Cathy Kezelman, president of Blue Knot Foundation, said Dr Browning’s dismissal “brings into question the decision-making integrity of the Anglican Church”.

“Dr Browning is an exemplar as an educator as well as a lauded leader in rebuilding the culture of a school decimated by child sexual abuse,” Dr Kezelman said.

“Sadly some institutions, it seems, despite the watershed recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, have not taken responsibility for crimes committed under their watch,” she said.

“Dismissing Dr Browning seemingly is an example of absolutely shooting the messenger. Not only was he a messenger for healing and repair, but a force for constructive change.

“Sadly, it seems the Anglican Church has not begun to support that change – far from it. This act is a massive slap in the face to Dr Browning, his visionary leadership, and to the countless victims and survivors seeking justice and accountability.”

Dr Browning announced his termination by the Church to the St Paul’s school community at 4pm on Wednesday.

There was no formal communication to parents and students from the Anglican Schools Commission and its chair Bishop Jeremy Greaves before Dr Browning’s announcement.

As furious parents rally to have Dr Browning immediately reinstated, insiders have said the “spectacular implosion” of the relationship between the principal and Bishop Greaves and the ASC was triggered by hostility around the compensation to victims of child sexual abuse at the school in the 1980s and 1990s.

Dr Browning, appointed in 2008, was named Australia’s best principal (non-government) in the 2018 Australian Education Awards, predominantly for rebuilding a culture of trust following the damning findings of the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse over the school’s past inaction against pedophile counsellor Kevin Lynch and pedophile music teacher Gregory Robert Knight.

Unlike Brisbane Grammar School, also lambasted by the Royal Commission, St Paul’s chose to refund the tuition fees of victims, with the backing of the Anglican Church.

However, in late 2018 the Church decided the fees refund was to be paid directly by the school.

Allan Hird, a member of the St Paul’s council which was removed by Bishop Greaves on August 18 this year, said: “Paul has pushed hard to look after victims but the Anglican Schools Commission has pushed back”.

Mr Hird said following the Church mandating St Paul’s personally repay fees, the council approved Dr Browning monetising a creative teaching tool the school had developed.

The plan was to market the Realms of Thinking tool to other schools and use the funds raised to pay for sexual abuse claims so current and future parents wouldn’t be slugged higher fees to cover the compensation.

Mr Hird said the Church initially supported the commercialisation of Realms of Thinking but the ASC shut it down.

He said the ASC had ignored the council’s May 2022 recommendation that Dr Browning’s contract be renewed from 2024.

The Courier-Mail understands Dr Browning lodged a formal complaint about his alleged treatment by the ASC to Bishop Greaves earlier this year, after being told in March that his tenure would end.

Dr Browning said late on Wednesday there was nothing further he wished to add about the matter.

Bishop Greaves and the Anglican Schools Commission have been contacted for comment.

Blue Knot Helpline and Redress Support Service can be contacted on 1300 657 380.