Brisbane private schools: All the changes among principals

The shock exits of principals from elite Brisbane schools are set to have “a spectacular domino effect” on other top Queensland schools. SPECIAL REPORT

The shock exits of two principals from elite Brisbane schools are set to have “a spectacular domino effect” on other top Queensland schools as successors are scouted.

Insiders are calling it one of the biggest shake-ups in recent private school history.

And it comes as excellent principals are becoming harder to find due to the unprecedented demands and stresses of the job.

Following the premature departures of Peter Fullagar from Nudgee College and Paul Browning from St Paul’s – both ahead of their contracts finishing but under wildly different circumstances – the Catholic and Anglican churches are hunting for their respective replacements.

The shock exits of Paul Browning and Peter Fullagar will have a “domino effect” on other schools.

This inevitably means plucking principals from the other schools they govern – sparking unwanted upheaval for those students, staff and parents, and potentially threatening future enrolments – or widening the search to religiously aligned colleges.

Principals are generally signed for five-year terms, with the Catholic EREA (Edmund Rice Education Australia) mandating no more than two terms at any one school.

Mr Fullagar’s exit a full year shy of his 10-year limit has sparked widespread chatter in education circles.

Nudgee, in Boondall, is one of Queensland’s biggest boys’ schools and its boarders come from some of the most prestigious rural families.

St Joseph's Gregory Terrace principal Michael Carroll.

St Patrick's College principal Chris Mayes.

“For a while now educational leaders in Brisbane have been wondering what’s going to happen when great principals like Peter Fullagar, Michael Carroll (St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace) and Chris Mayes (St Patrick’s) have to move on after 2024, but Mr Fullagar’s departure has fast tracked the succession planning and the dominoes will fall spectacularly across boys’ schools,” one trusted insider told The Courier-Mail.

“This current batch of Catholic principals is among the most highly regarded in recent memory,” the source said.

“Education providers know that those aspiring to follow in their tracks are becoming harder to get simply because of the massive job it is to be a principal these days.

David Carroll is deputy principal at Brisbane Grammar School.

“Schools are not only big businesses but there is a mountain of compliance, including around child safety, curriculum, NAPLAN and other testing – a lot of people just don’t want to put their hand up.”

As for the co-ed St Paul’s in Bald Hills, the abrupt axing of Dr Browning this month has created fresh problems for the Anglican Church.

“Paul expected he would be there for another five years so his departure has opened up uncertainty for the Anglicans, who have shot themselves in the foot by cutting him early,” another source said.

“Principals shape the culture of a school, and Peter Fullagarand Paul Browning have been larger than life figures so whoever comes in will have big shoes to fill.”

Both jobs are said to attract annual salary packages of more than $400,000.

Chris Leadbetter has been at the helm of St Laurence’s – the largest Catholic boys’ school in Queensland – since 2016.

David Johnston is also well-known at Nudgee, having spent 12 ½ years as its deputy principal.

HERE ARE THE EDUCATORS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT:

St Joseph’s Nudgee College

When Peter Fullagarannounced his surprise resignation earlier this month, EREA swiftly advertised for a replacement to lead the 1891-established college.

From 2024 Mr Fullagar will become regional director of education for EREA Colleges, expanding his influence beyond Nudgee to sporting rival St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, Ambrose Treacy (Indooroopilly), St Laurence’s (South Brisbane), St Patrick’s (Shorncliffe), St James (Brisbane), St Edmund’s (Ipswich), St Brendan’s (Yeppoon) and Ignatius Park (Townsville).

“It’s a great move forPeter Fullagar but parents are pretty upset about him leaving a full year early,” one Nudgee old boy said.

“They send their kids to a private school based on who the principal is – so not knowing is driving them nuts,” he said.

Padua College headmaster Peter Elmore. Picture: John Gass

Applications closed on Tuesday. EREA Colleges advertised for “a Catholic educational leader with a forward-focused vision capable of cultivating a culture of continuous improvement and sustainability” at the school, which has 1710 students from years 5 to 12, including 310 boarders.

Will EREA go for a leader with previous Nudgee experience – internal promotions are unlikely since deputy principal Scott Thomson was only appointed in January – or look further afield?

Chris Leadbetter is considered a front runner. He is highly regarded as a calm and empathetic principal with a great sense of humour. He’s been at the helm of St Laurence’s – the largest Catholic boys’ school in Queensland – since 2016 so his contract isn’t due to expire until 2025. Prior to that, he was principal at fellow EREA school St Edmund’s.

David Carroll is tipped as a dark horse. Deputy headmaster at Brisbane Grammar School since December 2013, the firm but fair educator previously served more than five years as dean of students at Terrace. He is the brother ofMichael Carroll, Terrace principal since 2015.

Ray Celegato, principal of St Edmund’s College. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Peter Elmore has strengthened his reputation since taking over at Padua College (Kedron) in 2017. Padua is a Franciscan school but this is not expected to hinder the chances of Mr Elmore, formerly principal of St Thomas More College (Sunnybank).

Ray Celegato is well known to EREA, having led St Edmund’s College since 2021 and been assistant principal at St Patrick’s. He has done an excellent job at Eddie’s where he also was deputy from 2015-2019.

Rob Corboy has been an impressive performer at St Brendan’s since 2018. It’s also a boarding school which gives him brownie points with Nudgee. He spent four years as principal of Abergowrie College near Townsville and 10 as acting deputy principal and head of boarding at Marist Brothers Ashgrove.

Rob Corboy, who is now at St Brendan’s, Yeppoon.

Waverley College principal Graham Leddie.

Graham Leddie has a strong Nudgee pedigree, having spent 16 years at the school including as deputy principal and dean of learning and teaching. He’s been in Sydney heading Waverley College since 2017. That school was embroiled in a hazing scandal in December last year, and the timing could be right for him to return to his old stomping ground.

David Johnston is also well-known at Nudgee, having spent 12 ½ years as its deputy principal (after Graham Leddie). He was sent to run Christian Brothers College in Adelaide in January so it’s doubtful he’d be brought back so soon.

Chris Mayes would have been a top contender but the esteemed head of St Patrick’s is set to retire when his 10-year maximum concludes in 2024.

Similarly, Michael Carroll will have notched up 10 years at Terrace by next year’s end however there is talk EREA could give him another year to oversee Terrace’s sesquicentenary celebrations in 2025.

St Paul’s School

The Anglican Church has had months to find a suitable replacement after telling Paul Browning in March he would not be back in 2024.

Simon Gipson, when he was headmaster of St Michael’s Grammar School in Melbourne.

But in September it appointed three senior educators to temporarily lead St Paul’s School in place of Dr Browning, who was prevented from seeing out his contract until year’s end after defying orders to stop commercialising a learning tool he wanted to sell globally himself.

Insiders say the church could continue to tap interstate talent, as they did with one of the interim leaders, Victorian education consultant and former Melbourne grammar school headmaster Simon Gipson.

The Anglican Schools Commission runs 11 Queensland schools, including Anglican Church Grammar (Churchie), The Southport School (TSS) and Toowoomba Anglican but it is unlikely any of those principals would move to the younger and less traditionally prestigious St Paul’s.

Churchie’s headmaster Alan Campbell has recently been reappointed for another five years from 2024 – despite protests from now-sacked members of its school council and some furious old boys.

Alan Campbell has had his contract renewed at Churchie.

Andrew Hawkins is a stalwart at TSS, having spent nearly 20 years there and only nudging three years as headmaster.

And while Toowoomba Anglican’s Simon Lees is notching up 10 years in the top job, he is showing no signs of wanting to leave.

The remaining ASC-run schools are Coomera Anglican (Upper Coomera), Fraser Coast, St Hilda’s (Southport), St Andrew’s (Peregian Springs), St Luke’s (Bundaberg), The Glennie School (Newtown) and West Moreton (Karrabin).

Other Diocesan controlled schools are Cannon Hill Anglican College, St John’s (Forest Lake) and The Springfield Anglican College.

Andrew Hawkins, headmaster at The Southport School. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Simon Lees, principal of Toowoomba Anglican School.