Mystery surrounds principal change at St Leonard’s College in Brighton
The principal of St Leonard’s College in Brighton has left the school in mysterious circumstances, with the school keeping his resignation a secret for weeks.
Education
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Intrigue surrounds the departure of the principal of Brighton private school St Leonard’s College amid “wild and uninformed speculation” about the school’s finances.
The school says it kept the resignation of the long term principal Stuart Davis secret for weeks because it did not want to disrupt Year 12 students before their exams.
School council chair Mrs Jennifer Neate announced to a surprised school on October 25, in an email close to 5pm on a Friday, that Mr Davis had resigned early in September. He will stay at the school until the end of term 1, 2020.
The school council said Mr Davis was leaving after a “decade of inspiring and visionary leadership” at the co-ed Brighton East school.
One of the key issues has been The Leonardian Centre, a state of the art performance centre, due to be completed around April, 2020.
When the project went out to tender it had an approximate budget of $30m – $50m and quotes closed on 10th of July, 2018.
In recent months the community has been asked to tip in $1000 “to make a lasting and meaningful contribution to the cultural history of St Leonard’s College by donating to our seat naming campaign”. Donations of $1000 will be recognised with a name plaque on a seat in The Leonardian Centre, which was inspired by Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. There will be 511 seats available.
It is claimed at two events this year Mr Davis stood up and did a hard sell on parents to donate to the school.
These included a Mother’s Day event and the music event.
Mr Davis’ wife Bronwyn is alumni manager. It is unclear if she will continue in that role but a foundation manager job is currently being advertised.
“The music is a lovely event and it is all about the kids. Mr Davis got up and asked everyone to donate. There was this ripple around the room. It was not appropriate,” the parent said.
The parent also said that all families, past and recent, were telephoned to consider a donation to the school.
“The school does not have the big active, rich alumni that many schools have to call on,” an insider said, suggesting families were more noveau riche than old Brighton money.
On May 9, through the Charidy platform, the school ran an Inspired Giving Day,
Donors were asked to give money which would be matched dollar for dollar by select benefactors.
Mr Davis, in the video promoting the day, said he and his wife had agreed to be fund matchers.
The day made $415,000, $15,000 over the target.
It had been rumoured that a big donation the school anticipated was not forthcoming after a falling-out between the family and the school.
The Herald Sun is not suggesting the complaints are true, only that they have been speculated about.
Mr Davis passed on any questions to Mrs Neate to speak on behalf of the school.
School chair Mrs Neate has rejected claims about the school, including speculation it has substantial debt. A figure of $55 million has been floating around.
“I can confirm that this is wild and uninformed speculation. Mr Davis has driven significant physical change to the college during his tenure with extensive building and refurbishment programs to ensure we offer our students and staff the very best teaching and learning spaces,” Mrs Neate said.
“The current level of college debt has been secured with the full support of the college board and comprehensive financial risk management and compliance. The college is in a strong financial position underpinned by extremely healthy waitlists.”
School fees have gone up and in Year 12 will be $33,351 plus other costs. IB students pay more.
Mrs Neate said Mr Davis, who has worked at Wesley and Geelong Grammar, made an “independent and personal” decision to resign from the school.
“His tireless energy, dedication and enthusiasm in the pursuit of excellence are immensely appreciated and valued, and he is much loved by our college community,” she said.
She said the school board was saddened to see him go.
Some insiders said they were surprised that the announcement was withheld. “I don’t think knowing that their principal is leaving was going to affect any of their studies,” one said.
“It was important to Mr Davis and the board to delay the announcement to enable the class of 2019 to conclude their schooling at St Leonard’s without being distracted by the announcement. Our students and their success were at the very heart of this decision,” she said.
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Some believe the VCE results were not as high as hoped but with St Leonard’s, a trailblazer for the alternative International Baccalaureate, those results were not out yet.
“To date we have only received our year 12 VCE results which we were delighted with. We are awaiting our Year 12 International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) results which are due for release on 3 January 2020. A full overview of the college’s results will be made available once all of our Year 12 cohort’s aggregated data is available,” Mrs Neate said.
“Mr Davis has steered the College to achieve outstanding academic results and operational performance, installed dynamic, world-class educational programs across the College, engaged excellent teachers who are supported by our exceptional professional development program and fostered a deep connection with our students and the wider community.”
However, an educationalist said with a growing Chinese population looking for education bayside the school needed to do better.
The introduction of a Year 12 tie proved controversial with claims the girls, who don’t wear a tie as part of their uniform, would miss out.
After some lobbying the girls were able to wear the tie.
Mrs Neate dismissed concern about a cut in teacher numbers.
“Our current student: teacher ratio of 9:1 is a very healthy model that is focused on relationships. The restructuring of roles within the college has been undertaken to ensure the most efficient allocation of resources to meet the ever changing needs and preferences of our students. We annually review our human resources model to ensure the best possible educational framework to meet student demands,” the school said.
There also some disquiet among teachers about the workplace, teacher lodes and lack of support for mental wellbeing.
One parent also raised concern about kids being expelled instead of counselled. While not condoning bad behaviour, including kids on excursion in Vietnam drinking alcohol, the parent felt it was a very heavy handed approach.
In her letter announcing the resignation of Mr Davis, Mrs Neate said:
“The College is thriving with impressive academic outcomes, world-class future focused curricular and wellbeing programs, and a strongly supportive community in which each child is known, nurtured and loved. Coeducational with over 1600 students from ELC to year 12, we have a record level of enrolments and strong waitlists. Next year will see the completion of significant new buildings that will further enhance our innovative learning spaces and vibrant campus.”
“Our next Principal will continue this commitment to providing exceptional and holistic educational experiences that prepare our students for life, supporting the social justice agenda, encouraging student voice, engaging globally with the latest thinking, further developing our impressive staff and building on our warm, inclusive and open culture.”
Initially a Presbyterian girl’s college, St Leonard’s College opened enrolments to boys in 1972.
The council appointed Odgers Berndtson to headhunt for a successor. Applications closed on December 11.