Former Cranbrook principal Nicholas Sampson settles with Cranbrook, lodges complaint about ABC Four Corners

Nicholas Sampson says the harm done to his reputation has been ‘ameliorated’ after the school council ‘clarified’ the claims that sealed his resignation.

Former Cranbrook headmaster Nicholas Sampson.

Former Cranbrook headmaster Nicholas Sampson says he has been “vindicated” and will take on the ABC’s star reporter Louise Milligan, after he received a settlement of up to $3m from his former employers at the prestigious ­private school.

Cranbrook was also forced to “clarify” public comments it made that he had failed to disclose ­allegations of historic misconduct of a senior school teacher.

Insiders at one of Sydney’s most lauded schools hoped a confidential settlement – speculated to be between $1m and $3m – would bring an end to the “sorry saga”, as Mr Sampson and his high-­powered legal team turn their ­attention to taking Four Corners to the ABC Ombudsman.

The divisive headmaster said his “reputation … has now been ameliorated” as the School Council on Tuesday “clarified” public comments made on March 8 that Mr Sampson had failed to report to the School Council allegations a Cranbrook senior school teacher sent graphic emails to a former ­female student of another school in 2014 after she had graduated.

The council said it was referring to the “School Council as constituted on that date” only, and that “the Council wishes to clarify that Mr Sampson did report the matter to a differently constituted Council in 2015 and acknowledges that its statement may have caused confusion”.

Those fresh allegations, which sealed his resignation from the school he had served for 12 years, came four days after an ABC Four Corners episode, which alleged a history of abuse, bullying and mistreatment of staff and students at Cranbrook.

Mr Sampson said he lodged what he called a “detailed complaint” with the ABC Ombudsman about the March 4 Four Corners program by reporter Louise Milligan, which the former principal claimed was “wildly ­inaccurate” and “lacking in im­partiality”.

“I am determined to pursue that complaint to its conclusion,” he said in the statement.

The ABC would not comment on the complaint.

ABC journalist Louise Milligan. Picture: Instagram.

The Australian understands the school community was surprised by the strength of Mr Sampson’s response, which was timed with the release of the school’s public statement at 11am.

Mr Sampson began his statement: “I am extremely pleased that I am no longer in dispute with the Cranbrook School Council.

“The school’s position in ­relation to my tenure and conduct as headmaster has been clarified in its statement today.

“The harm done to my reputation arising out of the mis­information that followed the earlier statement has now been ameliorated and I have been ­vindicated.

“There now cannot be any doubt that I reported the matter to the Council in 2015 and that the ­allegations were externally ­investigated by an independent body, NSW Police and notified to the Office of the Children’s Guardian.”

Mr Sampson also said his ­experience had “shown that the pathway to reform is not always easy but I firmly believe that we have an excellent team that will deliver a first rate co-educational offering, environment and community”.

Former Cranbrook headmaster Nicholas Sampson.

He thanked the many members of the school community who had supported him, as well as his high-profile legal team Arthur Moses SC, Sue Chrysanthou SC and solicitor Rebekah Giles.

The Australian spoke to both supporters and detractors of Mr Sampson, who all agreed that the settlement was an opportunity for the school to move on.

One person close to the school, who said he supported Mr Sampson, referred to the Four Corners piece as an “appalling poor piece of journalism” and said “in the end, (the school) settled and is moving on”.

“It’s still a wonderful school, doing wonderful things. The irony was the ABC tearing down the country’s most progressive headmaster.

“I think the statement that he put out about being held responsible to move forward is consistent with how he’s been (feeling). He just wanted to move on and have the school move on, and act in the best interest of school, while being fair to him.”

Others close to the school, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, were less convinced that Mr Sampson had been “vindicated” and said there were still questions around how much the 2015 council knew.

“They have to get on with running the school … it has to get on with educating kids, and appointing a new headmaster,” one person said.

“Two school councils, two resignations, loss of confidence. Claiming vindication – I don’t think anyone believes he’s been vindicated.”

Another parent, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I am glad this sorry saga is coming to an end … I’m not surprised, and unfortunately this is how these things go. I have no doubt it’s a substantial sum, and I don’t ­believe he deserved it.”