Scotch College boys’ school searching for new principal after Matthew Leeds stood down

Elite boys’ school Scotch College is facing renewed scrutiny over the payout given to its dumped principal who was stood down before he started the job.

There are questions being asked about Matthew Leeds’ appointment as principal.

Elite boys’ school Scotch College has started the search for a new principal who will take up the role at the start of 2023 amid rumours of a million-dollar payout for his predecessor.

Fallout following the fate of the last appointed principal, Matthew Leeds — who was stood down before he started the job in January this year — is continuing among council members and former scholars.

The school has denied Mr Leeds was paid out up to $1.5m – the equivalent of two years’ pay – to step aside, with a school representative saying the rumoured figure was way off the mark.

Scotch College in Hawthorn is looking for a new principal to start next year. Picture: Tony Gough

Questions are being asked internally about the process that led to Mr Leeds’ appointment given he had faced an investigation at a previous school over abuse allegations.

The role of Scotch College council chairman Alex Sloan is under scrutiny, as is the process followed by leading school recruitment firm Fish and Nankivell.

Mr Leeds was investigated and cleared by Geelong Grammar in 2018 and has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.

On February 9 Mr Sloan wrote to the school community to advise them that the council has “recommenced a process to appoint a new principal of Scotch College assisted by a leading executive search firm”.

“The council’s determination is to ensure a considered and comprehensive search so that the best person is appointed as principal to embrace and promote Scotch’s values of respect, responsibility and reverence. It will build on Tom Batty’s legacy to define and shape the school for the next decade and beyond. This is supported by strong feedback from our community.”

The existing principal Tom Batty will stay on until the end of term two 2022 then vice principal Rob McLaren will step into the role as acting principal.

No mention in the letter is made of the aborted appointment of Mr Leeds.

In November 2021 Mr Sloan announced Mr Leeds’ appointment in the most glowing terms, describing him as having an “impressive record in academic leadership” who “lives out the Christian values and ethos of Scotch”.