Somerville House protest students score detention

Students who attended a protest with their parents outside a prestigious private college have been issued with detention notices.

Parents hold a street protest at Somerville House Girls School in Brisbane.

Parents have defied a gag order from a church body that runs four elite Brisbane schools with a protest outside a girl’s college calling for state government intervention in the scandal.

The Australian understands teachers at Somerville House photographed students who attended this morning’s protest and have begun issuing detention notices to those who joined their parents at the demonstration.

It comes just days after Somerville House principal Flo Kearney was immediately stood down by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association.

Protesting parents this morning called for state government investigation into a widening scandal at the school and disbandment of the PMSA after it kept secret a proposal to merge the operations of the four schools.

The protest follows a letter this week from lawyers for the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association — which oversees governance of Somerville House, Brisbane Boys College, Clayfield College and Sunshine Coast Grammar — which sought to gag parents from discussing the controversial plan.

On Tuesday, The Australian revealed that the PMSA had commissioned a report by Deloittes that proposed merging the running of the four PMSA-controlled schools into a centralised model — which was opposed by senior staff — was behind a widening scandal.

The fallout has resulted in allegations of data theft, lewd texts and a string of high-profile resignations.

A spokeswoman for the protest — headed by a newly-formed parent’s group “Beyond PMSA’’ — was about bringing awareness to the wider school community and holding those in power to account.

The group has called for state Education Minister Kate Jones to step in and hold an inquiry.

“But they have responded with intimidation and now punishment,’’ she said. “Teachers were taking photographs of the students that were with their parents and detention is already being handed out to these kids.’’

On Tuesday, the PMSA lawyers confirmed the existence of several Deliotte reports and warned against disseminating any copies or discussing the reports at the Tuesday meeting or in any other forum.

“Release by the Association of any of the Deloitte reports or any information contained in or derived from them, at a meeting of the Association or otherwise, would perpetuate what appear to be breaches by persons presently unknown of obligations of confidence they have to the PMSA including under the Code of Conduct,’’ the letter said.

The PMSA yesterday appeared to change tact, issuing a statement saying “no plans exist to centralise the operations of our schools.’’

“The Deloitte report was a step in an ongoing process, which will continue with the support of the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches and will also involve consultation with all stakeholders at the appropriate time,’’ the PMSA said.

“The PMSA has at all times sought to engage constructively with all stakeholders while balancing the need for sensitivity and confidentiality where it is required.’’

Another parent-run town hall meeting will be held next week and it is understood there will be a motion to remove the PMSA as the school’s governing body.