Christchurch Boys' High School: 13 Complaints and 11 "Individuals"

Board Chair Michael Singleton responds in the matter of Ministry of Education complaints and other allegations. The NZR provides a timeline for the complaints going back to July 2021.

The Ministry of Education’s Nancy Bell (below) has apologised for omitting 5 complaints made by staff and non-staff against Christchurch Boys’ High School going back to July 2021.

Source: LinkedIn.

On 18 November 2024, she confirmed 13 complaints were made “by or on behalf of staff (current or former) about CBHS”. 11 individuals were involved.

Michael Singleton, CBHS board of trustees chair. Source: CBHS website.

“I have passed on your message to Mr Singleton. He notes that the CBHS position remains unchanged from your earlier email.”

On 9 December, in response to The NZR requesting comment on allegations and a prior media statement (indented below), Lowe wrote on behalf of the Singleton-

“CBHS will not be commenting on your investigation or allegations.

“Separately, it is aware of the requests you have made to various agencies. In those requests, amongst other claims, you have published a specific allegation [redacted]…”

New Executive Assistant to Headmaster, Nic Hill, Jenny Lowe, on behalf of board chair Michael Singleton.

11 Complainants - 21 October 2024

In a media release on 21 October 2024, Nancy Bell, the then South Island Leader confirmed that -

“Between 2019 and mid-2022 the Ministry received formal complaints from 11 people directly and indirectly connected with the school. We accepted aspects of two of the complaints as being protected disclosures. The 11 complainants [emphasis added] were directed to the Board, and/or advised of other appropriate avenues to pursue their complaints.”

8 Complaints - 3 December 2024

On 3 December 2024, Bell, the deputy secretary for the South Island, said it had received 8 complaints.

11 Complainants and 13 Complaints -

On 18 December 2024, Bell explained that 13 complaints had been made (not including the hostel) and that MOE had mistakenly omitted “Complaints from five individuals”. It blamed this on a lack of a “centralised system for filing complaints” and internal consultation and misunderstanding an information request.

Most of the 11 complainants directed their concerns about the school at its headmaster, Nic Hill, or his senior leadership team.

On 28 July 2021, the MOE received the first complaint. It described this as a “Morale problem within the school” and “employment issues”.