Sydney's Cranbrook school has enlisted the chair of a lower North Shore girlsâ school to investigate claims of a toxic culture, and allegations its ex-headmaster didn't disclose a teacherâs sexual misconduct to the schoolâs council.
Cranbrook's council president Geoff Lovell wrote to Cranbrook's school community last Thursday announcing Dr Amanda Bell, Queenwood school chair and educational consultant, had been appointed to review âserious concerns reported to the schoolâ, alongside an unnamed law firm.
The former principal, Nicholas Sampson, resigned on Friday morning after he allegedly failed to notify the school board about a male teacher currently employed at Cranbrook who had sent explicit emails to a former female student at a previous school.
Mr Lovell said Dr Bell was a âhighly experienced education leaderâ, who has previously held a temporary principal position at Rose Bay girlsâ school Kambala, and was head of Brisbane Girls Grammar School for four years in the early 2000s, and was âwell placed to assist the school in this workâ.
âDr Bell and the law firm will ensure that the review is conducted rigorously and independently of the school,â he said.
âThey will provide advice to the school council on the schoolâs response to the relevant matters.
âThey will also provide advice on the schoolâs policies and procedures relating to child protection, workplace health and safety, whistleblowing, and discrimination and bullying.â
Head of Cranbook's junior school Michele Marquet was appointed Acting Head of School after Mr Sampson's resignation, and told parents and families she was âworking to restore the harmony of the schoolâ.
A recent ABC Four Corners report interviewed former staff and students from multiple schools Mr Sampson has lead in Sydney, Melbourne and the UK, and aired allegations that he did not adequately address issues of bullying and sexist behaviours.
The ABC presented evidence to the schoolâs council that a current teacher had sent sexually explicit emails to a female ex-student at their previous school.
The external review is expected to be wrapped up by mid-year, but the council president made no mention of whether its conclusions would be made public.
Cranbrook plans to begin transitioning to co-education in 2026.
Speculation about Sampson's payout
News Corpâs Annette Sharp was told by legal sources Mr Sampson may be entitled to a multimillion-dollar payout by the school.
âIf he was pushed to resign, as it appears he may have been, he could still be looking to negotiate a settlement that he could very well be entitled to,â one legal eagle said.
This could mean a payout worth as much as $3m may still be coming to Sampson, who signed a new three-year contract at Cranbrook last year, potentially knocking back offers from other schools to do so.
The new contract extended his term until 2026, and includes almost three yearsâ pay.
His resignation package may also potentially include damages for reputational loss due to adverse publicity.
Mr Sampson was believed to have a $1.5m a year salary at the top school, which costs up to $46,497 for domestic year 12 students.
âTo resign he had to give 12 months notice. They were the terms of his contract,â one person with knowledge of Sampsonâs contract said.
âHis absence now might be a case of him being stood down and advised to give notice to resign.
âThat would be considered constructive dismissal and he may say the school council has no cause to request this.
âPotentially he might win that argument, plus damages.â
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