“Both matters have now reached the courts because our internal systems of accountability within the Sydney Anglican Church appear insufficient.
“Yet in the case of The King’s School and Shore, it is not obvious who the ‘members’ actually are in any meaningful sense. In practice, there is no avenue for genuine accountability. This ambiguity allows councils to become self-perpetuating bodies, largely insulated from the voices of parishioners, alumni, staff, and families – the very people whose faith, generosity, and reputation sustain these schools.”
She urged members of the Anglican Church to question how the schools were governed and to whom they were accountable.
“Decisions of school councils shape the daily lives, values, and opportunities of tens of thousands of children and young people, thousands of staff, as well as the stewardship of hundreds of millions of dollars entrusted to church-related charities,” she said.
“I therefore urge members of the Sydney Anglican Church – parishioners, clergy, families, alumni, and donors alike – to call for genuine accountability and transparency from our school councils.”
Chairman of The Council of the King’s School, Ken Chapman, wrote to current parents on Tuesday morning advising that the headmaster had commenced legal proceedings in relation to his employment.
“As the proceedings are now before the courts, the school will not make further comment at this time,” he said.
The King’s School was established 194 years ago. Its fees range from almost $30,000 for kindergarten to $49,980 for year 12.
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