Principal under siege at elite Tasmanian school

Leadership at a prestigious Tasmanian school is under siege with teachers threatening to strike and calling on changes at the top.

THE principal at the prestigious Launceston Church Grammar is under siege with teachers threatening strike action and calling for an overhaul of the school’s leadership.

Fifty-five staff at the school today voted to seek permission from the Fair Work Commission to take protected industrial action.

The staff, who are members of the independent Education Union, also passed a motion expressing dissatisfaction in senior leadership at Launceston Church Grammar and called on the school’s board to implement changes.

Richard Ford took over as principal of the elite co-educational school two years ago and since then there has been a large turnover of staff.

IEU assistant secretary Victoria and Tasmania Branch David Brear said two votes taken at the Junior and Senior schools had passed the motions.

“Sometimes in these cases you get a few squeaky wheels making complaints but in this case there is widespread dissatisfaction,” he said.

“The main issue is about people feeling they are not being listened to about changes at the school.”

Launceston Church Grammar principal Richard Ford. Picture: Launceston Church Grammar

Mr Brear said union membership had jumped from 15 members two years ago to 55 today.

He said a recent survey of those members showed 90 per cent felt the mood at the school was poor or very poor and all had indicated there was a lack of consultation about decisions.

“Many stressed they believed Launceston Grammar is a great school but were unhappy about leadership,” he said.

MORE

TASSIE’S MOST EXPENSIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL COSTS REVEALED

NAPLAN RESULTS: LAUNCESTON’S BIGGEST IMPROVERS

LAUNCESTON AND NW TASMANIA’S TOP NAPLAN PERFORMERS

Mr Brear said staff were also unhappy with a pay offer by the school which did not compare with wages at other independent, Catholic or government schools.

In a letter to parents and carers this week Mr Ford warned of an article to appear in the media “which may be misleading and inaccurate.”

Mr Ford said the school was in the middle of negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement with staff and the school was expecting a cut to federal government funding of 1.7 per cent each year between 2022 and 2029.

“We … wanted to be informed of the extent of that cut prior to committing to another enterprise agreement with staff,” he wrote.

Mr Ford outlines a period of renewal at the school and said there had been a number of changes and input into a strategic planning process by staff, parents and students had “largely been very positive”.

However, Mr Ford acknowledged: “Inevitably changes do not suit everyone and not all staff have been able to make the journey. Staff turnover is a constant reality.

“However, I would note that our staff turnover rates are in line with the average for independent schools.”

In the letter he highlighted strong academic and sporting results by students and that enrolments were up six per cent.

The Launceston Grammar School board chairman Nigel Bailey has been contacted for comment.