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Cranbrook to hold ‘independent’ review into scandal
By Lucy Carroll
Embattled private boys’ school Cranbrook is set to announce an independent review into the scandal that forced out its high-profile headmaster Nicholas Sampson.
The school’s governing council was expected to be in crisis talks late on Sunday after allegations Sampson knew about claims a serving teacher had sent sexually explicit emails in 2014 to a former female student from another school.
Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.Credit: Brook Mitchell
A Cranbrook spokesperson said its council would provide an update in the coming days on the “next steps [the board] will implement to ensure they are fully informed of all matters within the school”.
“This will include reviews by independent parties. The school, together with the council, is currently focused on looking after the students, staff and parents within the community.” The school is also believed to be considering a separate audit of its culture.
The allegations relate to a male teacher now employed at Cranbrook who allegedly sent multiple graphic emails in 2014 to a former female student he had previously taught at Mount St Benedict College in Pennant Hills.
The teacher was immediately placed on leave by Cranbrook pending an investigation by the school.
It is alleged that Sampson was aware of the emails in 2015, but kept the teacher employed and promoted him while he was at Cranbrook.
Mount St Benedict College sent a statement to its school community on Friday, saying it became aware in March 2015 that email communication had occurred between a former teacher and the ex-student in 2014.
“The college responded promptly and reported the matter to all required agencies including NSW Police, NSW Ombudsman, Association of Independent Schools NSW and the school at which the teacher was subsequently employed,” the statement said.
The teacher was employed at the girls’ school from 2005 to 2008.
“The college discharged its legal responsibilities as required at the time in relation to this matter,” it said.
The emails included comments about looking up girls’ skirts in class and sexual fantasies about the students. NSW Police said they had investigated the matter in 2015 but found insufficient evidence to press charges against the teacher.
Cranbrook’s council said Sampson’s failure to disclose the matter to the school council, in the context of other allegations aired on last week’s ABC Four Corners program, led to “an irrevocable breakdown of trust” between the headmaster and the board.
The acting head of Cranbrook, Michele Marquet, said in a letter to parents on Friday she would work with senior school head Bob Meakin to ensure “the stability and continuity” of the school’s operations.
“I understand there may be feelings of disbelief and sadness, which we are all experiencing. I am grateful for everyone’s support and together we will navigate through this transition with resilience and grace,” she wrote.
“I firmly believe that by coming together as a community we can overcome any challenges that may lie ahead.
“It is during these testing times that our bonds must grow stronger, and our commitment to our school’s vision and mission must deepen.”
The Bellevue Hill Anglican school, which counts among its alumni billionaires such as James Packer, Mike Cannon-Brookes and Will Vicars, is set to become co-educational in 2026.
Division about the speed of the co-ed move contributed to the mass resignation of its governing board in late 2022, and a new council was appointed early in 2023, elected by former council presidents Helen Nugent and Roger Massy-Greene.
The current board includes Old Cranbrookians Association president Martin Cayzer, and the Anglican Archbishop’s nominee Geoff Lovell, who was previously deputy chairman of SHORE’s school council and on the University of Sydney’s St Paul’s College council.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare announced an investigation into the events that led to Sampson’s resignation, requesting his department look into “the issues raised in the media relating to Cranbrook and take any appropriate action”.
One current parent, who spoke anonymously in order to speak freely, said the council must urgently reassure the school community that “the issues raised are being dealt with”, and give parents and the community the chance to ask questions openly.
“You need an appropriate independent investigation into all allegations,” they said, including behaviour towards female staff.
“It is a relief that the head has left but many parents they want stability, but the problem is you have to examine the culture of the institution. That means the school will need to go through a painful process to guarantee the integrity of the school’s leadership.
“The council needs to reassure that the school community that the issues are being dealt with, And give the school community a chance to ask questions in and bring the whole school community along for this.”
Sampson, who resigned from his more than $1 million position on Friday, was due to oversee the school’s transition to co-ed in 2026 after he had his contract extended by the council last year.