Cranbrook School community backs headmaster Nicholas Sampson ahead of ABC Four Corners story

Parents and old boys have come out in support of Nicholas Sampson, ahead of an ABC program they believe will inquire into his reporting of sexual misconduct across a number of schools.

Cranbrook is set to be the centre of a new episode of Four Corners on the ABC.

Several Cranbrook School parents, associates and old boys have come out in support of headmaster Nicholas Sampson, ahead of an ABC program they believe will inquire into his reporting of sexual misconduct across a number of schools.

The elite Sydney school, which has been in turmoil over its decision to bring girls into its classrooms, will be the focus of a Four Corners episode on Monday that some sources believe will reference Mr Sampson’s handling of sexual abuse when he led Geelong Grammar.

Allies of Mr Sampson have told The Australian they believe critics interviewed by ABC reporter Louise Milligan are partly driven by their dispute with Mr Sampson over coeducation.

While many parents and old boys were reluctant to speak openly until they had seen the documentary, Sydney fund manager and Cranbrook parent Doug Tynan said he was sceptical of the ABC’s investigation.

Doug Tynan has been a Cranbrook parent for 10 years, with three sons attending.

“As parents, we couldn’t be happier with the culture of Cranbrook. It’s a supportive and inclusive environment where bad behaviour isn’t tolerated from students or teachers,” he said.

“My sense is the entire school community is excited by the move to coeducation and the school is doing a great job preparing for this transition.

“If the ABC has uncovered real issues that are at odds with our experience then that could be a cause for concern.

“But the promo materials suggest the Four Corners team is working with weak material.”

Sources close to the school believed that Milligan travelled to Britain and has looked into Mr Sampson’s time at both Geelong Grammar and at Marlborough College in Wiltshire, England.

Mr Sampson previously appeared at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and was ­accused there by its assisting counsel of failing to properly report alleged sexual abuse against children at Geelong Grammar.

At least two close associates of Mr Sampson, who did not want to comment publicly, claimed that several people who had co-operated with the ABC had been seeking to stymie Cranbrook’s move to coeducation.

Cranbrook headmaster Nicholas Sampson.

Former Jewish community leader Vic Alhadeff, chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies for 17 years before retiring in 2022, continues to consult at schools, including Cranbrook.

“I have not seen the upcoming program but having worked with a large number of schools on the need to call out bigotry, combat discrimin­ation and race hate, and nurture respect for diversity, (I must say) Cranbrook has been one of those which regard these issues with the gravity they warrant.”

The private school in Sydney’s eastern suburbs charges $41,800 a year per student.

The Four Corners program comes during a period of greater scrutiny on Sydney’s private education institutions.

“We don’t discuss stories in detail before they’re published,” an ABC spokesperson said when approached for comment.

“Cranbrook has been given detailed information and ample time and opportunity to par­ticipate. The public can watch the program and make up their own minds.”