A number of staff members at one of Tasmania's most renowned independent schools have come forward with major concerns about low morale, lack of consultation, job losses, and an "erosion of goodwill".
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However the allegations have been refused by the school, Launceston Grammar headmaster Richard Ford said.
"Staff appear to have misrepresented the school and undermined our community for personal satisfaction or to gain leverage in an Enterprise Agreement negotiation," he said.
"There are two factors at play here - the first is that we are midway through an Enterprise Agreement negotiation which will resume in March now that we have the full details of the expected cuts to Federal Government funding," he said.
"The second is that we are in a period of renewal and change which is appropriate given we have enjoyed reasonable stability as a school over the last few decades."
The Examiner understands about 40 members of staff have left the school since term one 2018, with a number of staff members citing issues with school leadership as their main reason for departure.
Mr Ford said the staff turnover at the school was in line with other independent schools.
IEU Tasmania branch secretary David Brear said in a member survey, more than 90 per cent of respondents described the current mood at the school as poor or very poor, and all staff surveyed said there was inadequate consultation around the introduction of change.
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About 75 per cent of respondents also indicated that they were prepared to consider industrial action, including meeting bans and short stop-work actions.
A long serving staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said morale at the school was low.
"What was a very positive, encouraging environment has become extremely negative," they said. "Good will has been eroded. Staff have freely given their time for the students and for the school, and now staff are withdrawing their goodwill because of poor treatment."
They said teachers were trying to support each other, however they weren't getting support from leadership.
"They've got these four new words - compassion, courage, creativity, and curiosity. Compassion is being touted, but certainly not demonstrated," they said.
"So many experienced people with amazing skills and enthusiasm have been lost to our students."
They said with changes taking place without any consultation with staff, "no one knew what was going on".
"There's some plan but no one knows what the plan is. It's very difficult to work under those circumstances."
Mr Ford said the changes introduced were well considered and must be driven by the school board's strategic objectives and evidence surrounding better outcomes for students.
"As a result of recent changes, we are achieving the highest and best academic and sporting results in the school's history, students have increased opportunities and our enrolments have already risen by 6 per cent."