Speculation Cranbrook headmaster Nicholas Sampson could help choose new school council

Parents at elite Sydney school Cranbrook say allowing the headmaster to help choose some members of its new school council would make a mockery of its governance.

Parents at elite Sydney school Cranbrook are fuming over speculation the headmaster could help choose some members of its new governing body, saying it would make a mockery of its governance.

All but one member of Cranbrook’s current governing council resigned on Monday amid conflict over headmaster Nicholas Sampson’s plans to make the boys’ school co-ed.

School council president Jon North, who was said to have suggested Mr Sampson step down over his desire to bring girls into the 104-year-old school from as early as 2023, is leaving the council at the end of this year.

Parents are concerned about speculation Mr Sampson could be appointed to a nominations committee that would select some of Cranbrook’s new councillors.

Others are chosen by the Anglican Church, and old boys’ and parents’ associations.

Cranbrook headmaster Nicholas Sampson plans to make the school co-ed.

Cranbrook Council president Jon North has tendered his resignation.

The new council would sign off on when girls come to the school, but some parents are unhappy about Mr Sampson potentially holding sway over some of its members.

“It makes a complete mockery of the governance of the school … he will be able to do whatever he likes,” one parent told The Daily Telegraph. “The only people the principal reports to is the school council, the council is the body that has the right to hire and fire the principal … so he’s going to hand-pick the people he will report to, that’s absurd.”

Girls could be enrolled at Cranbrook as early as next year, in moves that have split the school community.

Mr Sampson’s plans to introduce girls to the school have divided parents.

While some insist most support Mr Sampson, others say girls could distract their sons, and many who send their boys to the Bellevue Hill institution because of its “boutique size” believe it will become too big.

“It’s not just about the gender mix, it’s about the resources of the school, it’s about how many students will be in each year group and the ratio of teachers to students,” the parent said.

“I spoke to one parent who has no issue with co-ed at all, their concerns are about class sizes and the size of the cohort.

“They chose Cranbrook because of its boutique size.”

Cranbrook has 1300 pupils in its junior and senior schools.

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