Castlecrag Montessori School’s lease cancelled over religious dispute

The families of a longstanding north shore kindergarten are set to lose their beloved, all-inclusive childcare after its lease was terminated.

Parents of Castlecrag Montessori School, which has lost the lease to operate at St James’ Anglican Church. Photo: Troy Snook

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One of the north shore’s longest running kindergartens is facing closure and the loss of seven jobs after its lease to operate at St James’ Anglican Church in Castlecrag was terminated.

Staff at Castlecrag Montessori School say a disagreement with the church about the amount of religious education taught to children has resulted in the cancellation of the lease it has held at the site since 1992.

The preschool has been given until the end of the year to find a new home — a move staff say has caused “significant uncertainty” for the 30 families currently enrolled.

Staff at Montessori are looking for a new site to relocate the school from next year. Picture: Troy Snook

School committee member Theresa Paredes said the lease was terminated after the school declined a request by the church to include compulsory religious learning into the syllabus.

“We found out after we were approached by the warden who said the church would like to inject faith into the teaching which isn’t really in line with the Montessori method. We’re an all-inclusive school, regardless of faith,” Ms Paredes said.

“We tried to reach a compromise by offering optional faith based teaching that families could opt in to, but unfortunately it wasn’t good enough.

Thirty families are currently enrolled at the school. Picture: Troy Snook

“The school’s been at the church for 27 years and we’ve now got until the end of the year to find another site.”

Church senior minister Tim Swan said the request to incorporate a “bible story segment” into the syllabus had factored into the church’s decision to find an alternative operator.

He said Montessori had also “struggled to meet our below market facility fees.”

“(Montessori) have been wonderful tenants for around 25 years however their numbers have not remained strong,” he said.

“We’ve been effectively subsidising (the school for) a program which isn’t aligned with our mission and does not allow any teaching about God to be included.

Montessori has operated at the church for 27 years. Picture: Troy Snook

“We believe children benefit from knowing God, so have invited (the new operator) Integricare to open an extended hours early learning centre in line with community needs.

“The site was originally built so local children could know there is a God that loves them. We would love that ethos to continue.”

The church did not confirm if Integricare would pay higher fees as part of the new lease arrangement.

The North Shore Times understands Montessori’s lease involved hire fees of approximately $4000 per month.

Ms Paredes said the search for an alternative location in the local has proved futile due to a shortage of available facilities during school hours.

She said the kindergarten was one of the few in Sydney’s north that taught the Montessori method — described as a child-centred approach that has “children learning and leading, not on teachers teaching.

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“The school’s entirely parent run and over the years we’ve done a raft of maintenance work as and when it’s been needed. We also have a working bee once a term. It’s a fantastic school community.

“Our staff are concerned about what will happen to their jobs if we can’t find another location.

“We’re the only Montessori school in the area. The hope is that we’ll be able to find a place within the next couple of months.”

St James’ Anglican Church said the lease agreement with Integricare involved opening from 7.30am to 6pm for 40 children. Montessori opens from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

Mr Swan said classes would be taught in accordance with the Early Years Learning Framework.

The new lease is due to start in January 2020.