By Lucy Carroll
When Tim Petterson was appointed headmaster of Shore School in January 2020, he became only the eighth principal of the prestigious all-boys institution in its 131-year history.
His predecessor, Timothy Wright, was head of the private school for 17 years, while Robert Grant, who served before that, held the position for just over 18 years.
But exactly halfway into Petterson’s five-year contract, he became the first principal to serve less than a decade in the role after the school’s governing board, then led by Bay Warburton, said a review of culture had found new leadership was needed.
Sydney Church of England Grammar School.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
Veteran headmaster John Collier, the former principal at St Andrew’s Cathedral School and St Paul’s Grammar, was called in as a temporary head at the $46,000-a-year school. At the time, Collier said his role was to bring stability after months of turmoil at the North Sydney institution.
Last year, the Herald revealed Petterson had started legal action against Shore, alleging a breach of employment contract. In his statement of claim, Petterson asks the council to declare it “acted in a misleading or deceptive manner” by saying he had “performed his contractual obligations” but later ended his contract “without cause, explanation or justification”.
That claim, filed to the NSW Supreme Court last year and released this week, seeks a court order that the school “perform the contract” by reinstating Petterson as Shore headmaster. He is seeking damages for breach of contract.
Shore’s defence statement says Petterson received feedback from the council and common room regarding “concerns raised by staff about his performance and conduct”.
The school’s defence details staff complaints about Petterson following a year 12 parent forum in March 2022, and meetings and emails between Petterson and Warburton regarding “the plaintiff’s content, style and management issues” and concerns about “pedagogy and lack of direction”.
It says between about July 2021 and March 2022, Petterson received feedback from the council, the school’s communications firm Cato & Clive, and a business management consultant regarding the concerns.
In his statement of claim, Petterson says neither Warburton nor other council members advised or informed Petterson of any unsatisfactory performance by him “in the performance of his duties as headmaster and his general administration of the school”.
Petterson became Shore headmaster after seven years as principal of St Philip’s Christian School in Port Stephens. He began his career as a teacher at The King’s School.
Tim Petterson served as the eighth headmaster of Shore School.
His dismissal in July 2022 came after Shore’s council hired consultant Rhonda Brighton-Hall to review the school’s leadership following concerns raised by teachers, old boys and parents.
He faced a string of challenges during his tenure, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the “Triwizard Shorenament” scandal, a muck-up day prank in which final-year students gave each other points for assaults, trespassing, drug-taking and other tasks.
Shore, officially known as Sydney Church of England Grammar School, is one of the state’s oldest schools and was founded by an act of parliament. The North Sydney school has an annual revenue of $88 million.
The Sydney Church of England Grammar School in North Sydney.
Warburton, a one-time chief of staff to former premier Mike Baird, left the school’s council in late 2023. The Brighton-Hall review, presented to Warburton at the end of first term in 2022, involved confidential interviews, submissions and an anonymous survey.
A source close to the matter previously said the review and recommendations were not shared with Petterson.
“This decision is not based on any suggestion of improper conduct on [Petterson’s] part,” Warburton wrote to parents in July 2022. “However, Council has concluded that in the interests of unity within the school [that] leadership renewal is required.”
Concerns were also raised that almost 90 staff members had left the school during 2020 and 2021. A statement from the school at the time said the turnover was consistent for Shore and other schools.
The school’s defence states that Petterson’s contract would continue for five years “subject to termination at an earlier date by either party” and that the plaintiff was offered a severance package over and above contractual entitlements.
A Shore spokesperson said last year that the school was “saddened” by Petterson’s decision to begin legal action and would defend it.
Late last year Shore announced it had hired Peter Miller, principal of co-educational The Geelong College in Victoria, to replace Collier as its 10th headmaster.
Shore has recently lodged a planning application to add 450 students and 45 staff. It is also planning three new buildings, including an extension of the campus onto the Graythwaite site, a heritage-listed former private home and former hospital.
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