Petition launched to stop change that ‘would adversely affect students, parents, and caregivers’

Angry parents at the prestigious private boys’ school have taken the unprecedented step of launching a public petition protesting a major change.

Parents are unhappy with the school’s plan to finish classes at 1.50pm on Thursdays from next year. Picture: Tony Gough

Parents at one of Melbourne’s most elite private schools have taken the unprecedented step of launching a public petition protesting proposed timetable changes.

Scotch College principal Dr Scott Marsh is planning to finish classes at 1.50pm on Thursdays from next year for all students, as the Herald Sun revealed this month.

The move has been described by members of the school community as “breathtakingly arrogant” and leading to “declining academic standards”.

The school, Melbourne’s oldest, charges up to $40,000 a year and already has three weeks’ less tuition time than some state schools.

Scotch College in Hawthorn charges up to $40,000 a year. Picture: Tony Gough

The timetable change is to allow for more teacher professional learning and better manage traffic around the school, but has not been well received by parents and many staff.

A change.org petition has been launched opposing “proposed school hour changes at Scotch College”.

The petition, started by David Chu, said the change “would adversely affect students, parents, and caregivers”.

“Boys will now be compelled to take up new interests from a limited range of hobby subjects, engage in co-curricular activities, or leave school early,” the petition, which has received 271 signatures, says.

“While some students may adapt to this change, those struggling and requiring additional support risk falling further behind due to reduced class time.

“Our collective concern is that Scotch prioritises these industry-leading experimental changes over the traditional values and reputation of Scotch College,” it says.

“Scotch College is putting its traditions and solid reputation at risk by pushing ahead with these changes without proper due diligence.”

One parent told the Herald Sun there was “definitely a shitty feeling amongst parents” amid “little communication from the school”.

“It beggars belief really.”

Unhappiness over the plan, which includes incorporating Wednesday afternoon extra-curricular activities into the school day, has highlighted dissatisfaction among some staff with Dr Marsh.

One source said he was “struggling to attract wide support from staff”, amid the recent appointment of a number of mid-level leaders.

Another staff member said it was a sign Dr Marsh was “not focused on the important issues”.

“The new leadership team is not well regarded,” the source said.

Recent appointments include former Shelford Girls’ Grammar principal Katrina Brennan, who is the head of senior school, along with Diana Murase as the head of strategy and transformation and Kristy Irwin, vice principal of teaching and learning.

Another academic source from inside the school said staff Common Room Association “does not support the reduced teaching programme and does not support the reduced face-to-face teaching time”.

“We believe that the end result will be a declining academic outcome,” they told the Herald Sun.

“Staff are highly agitated and staff heard parents berating the leadership team at a recent parents’ association meeting,” the source said.

“The expectation that parents can cope with this change is breathtakingly arrogant.”

“We have also heard that the alumni are also deeply concerned with the direction of the college.”

Dr Marsh was appointed after the school’s first choice for the top job, Matthew Leeds, was sacked before he started after the school received a whistleblower complaint relating to his former employment.

The school declined to comment.