More resignations at private school

More staff have resigned from a prestigious private Anglican school since parent outrage over its use of modern learning techniques came to light.

Board chair Hans van Schreven said he was ‘‘comfortable’’ with staff turnover at Christchurch’s Cathedral Grammar School (CGS) as three more senior and longserving staff handed in their notice last week.

They bring the departures expected by year’s end to at least five, reinforcing parents’ concerns Cathedral Grammar is struggling to retain teachers. More than half its staff have resigned in the past two years.

A source close to the school said the resignations were related to ‘‘dissatisfaction with the leadership style’’ of principal Scott Thelning and the school’s board, which ‘‘refuses to acknowledge the severity’’ of discontent with the school’s operation.

Thirty-four signatories wrote to Bishop Victoria Matthews and the Cathedral chapter earlier this month, concerned there was ‘‘no longer a Grammar way’’ as the school turned towards ‘‘a quagmire of modern learning’’ with ‘‘8-year-olds ‘self-directing’ on iPads and Twitter’’. They claimed the school’s principal and board appeared ‘‘intent on ignoring the reasons why many of us have sent our children to this school – a traditional education that is the basis for a successful life’’.

On Friday, van Schreven told parents the school’s education strategy was ‘‘clearly designed to ensure that important traditions are maintained and nurtured while new practices are adopted that are backed up by international research’’.

‘‘The schools that children will attend after leaving CGS have been on this journey for a number of years already,’’ a letter to parents read. ‘‘The need for evolution is being faced by every school, as technology, society and other areas continue to change the shape of life and workplaces.

‘‘We are a very diverse group of people with one thing in common: we all want to ensure CGS pupils receive an education with the right balance of tradition and futurethinking, to prepare them for life and work to come.’’

Van Schreven said families had asked how the board planned to ease tension in the school community. He called The Press’ reporting on it ‘‘a distraction’’ and said the school was operating on a ‘‘business as usual’’ basis.

A source said the board’s failure to address parent and staff concerns put the school in a ‘‘downward spiral’’. ‘‘The number of resignations and staff vacancies that have occurred since Mr Thelning became principal is unprecedented in the history of the school ... it is obvious the school is in very deep trouble.’’

On Monday, van Schreven said the board wanted to ‘‘continue a process of dealing with these matters within the school’’.

Departing staff declined to comment on what spurred their resignations. A spokesman for the Cathedral chapter said they had been told it was ‘‘a matter for the board to deal with’’.