Staff at the Launceston Grammar School have voted to condemn the board of the school in the wake of its continued support for headmaster Richard Ford.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The motion on Monday night was supported by 61 staff who are members of the Independent Education Union and came in the wake of the impending departure of a well-respected member of the staff.
The Head of Primary Jane King is leaving to take up a position at the Port Sorell primary school on the North-West Coast.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Staff at the school have passed three no confidence motions in Mr Ford this year, citing a lack of consultation.
IEU Assistant Secretary David Brear said: "After the second no confidence motion back in March the Headmaster said that he had listened and learned but things just haven't changed"
"Many teachers at the school say that they feel miserable about what's been going on when schools need trust and collegial respect to flourish."
The board has backed Mr Ford after all previous no confidence motions.
In a statement on Tuesday, board chairman Nigel Bailey acknowledged that seven permanent teaching staff had departed the school in 2020, due to retirement, promotion, moves interstate and other reasons.
"One senior staff member has taken up a principal's position on the North-West Coast," he said.
"Recruitment of the School's next Head of Junior Campus will commence immediately.
"Launceston Church Grammar School is a sought-after destination teaching school, with recently appointed positions attracting interest from around Australia and internationally. In 2021, our incoming staff demographic will include teachers from across Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and WA."
Mr Brear said the staff had called on the board to remove Mr Ford from his position.
"Staff say that they are worried about ongoing instability at the school and a lack of transparency around appointments to middle and senior leadership positions," he said.
"Teachers at the school's primary campus say staff are deeply upset over the decision of the Head of Primary to leave the school.
Mr Bailey said :"The focus of the school is on celebrating the achievements of students, staff and the School community in a tumultuous year due to COVID-19."
Mr Brear said staff had told him that there was a lack of clarity around leadership responsibilities and that there was no strategic plan in place at the school.
"Earlier in the year the Deputy Head in charge of Teaching and Learning [Penny Maher] was made redundant less than two years after relocating from the mainland," he said .
"Mid level leaders in the critical pastoral care roles of Head of House at the senior campus are being replaced with staff appointed from the Headmaster's home state of New South Wales.
"Staff say this is unusual as these new staff have no existing relationship with the school's students."