Not Holding His Breath, Says McIntyre Of CBHS Board of Trustees

The NZR has received Trevor McIntyre's letter to the Christchurch Boys' High School Board of Trustees. In this article it examines 4 of his main critiques. The NZR is a member of the NZ Media Council.

Former headmaster Trevor McIntyre (pictured) has delivered another blistering salvo in the direction of Christchurch Boys’ High School board of trustees.

Source: NZME/ NZ Herald

A critic of the school’s management, McIntyre sent a four-page letter to the school board in time for its most recent meeting of 17 September.

Click below to listen to McIntyre during his previous interview with The NZR.

McIntyre did not attend the meeting, during which Michael Singleton acknowledged they had received a letter from a former staff member.

Singleton told attendees he would respond.

He said “the fact that it was even recommended [to prosecute the school] by WorkSafe investigating staff is a very sad indictment.”

“To have just one staff member scared to speak out is bad enough but to have many as reported by WorkSafe is sad indictment of the Board’s governance of the situation.”

Trevor McIntyre, former CBHS headmaster.

CBHS’s board has yet to respond to The NZR’s request for comment. The NZR has also asked CBHS for an interview.

McIntyre says he gave the board until 5pm yesterday. He told The NZR he would not release it if Singleton responded.

McIntyre said he had not received a response and had not been holding his breath.

As the letter was tabled in the public section of the meeting, he says it will form part of the minutes. They will be open to access from the school’s website.

On the opening page, McIntyre is at pains to explain his motives for going public with his concerns and goes on to elaborate in a 5-point essay covering his concern for the school’s culture, media image, government involvement, and “Constant denial and aggressive responses to criticism”.

McIntyre has also widened his net to cover the school’s NCEA Level 3 and University Entrance student performance. The NZR will examine his claims in a separate article and be seeking comment from a senior staffer from within the school.

“I make them with genuine intent that it may contribute to the deep hole you find yourselves in, becoming shallower or, at best, disappear altogether,” writes McIntyre.

“I make these points out of a genuine love for CBHS.”

“It is hurting me and so many who have been chatting to me about it. I had a wonderful 9 years there, but not without its challenges and issues.”

“I would like to think that we had relationships and respect within the school that managed the issues as they arose.”

“It has been particularly personally painful for me (as it has for many others who have related it to me) to witness this very serious situation arise.”

After concluding his time at the school, McIntyre says he purposefully distanced himself from his old school to allow space for new headmaster Nic Hill.

“However, as time has progressed, I have found myself being engaged by increasing numbers of staff, parents, Old Boys, and the community in general.”

Media Image

“Since 2018 there have been over 40 media articles that are of a derogatory, negative theme that reflects badly on the school. I know of no other school in the country that has had anything like that.”

The NZR has not independently verified this figure.

“It has been a major talking point in the many communities that I move in. I have accepted that as the culture of the school has become a substantial talking point in the community, that as the ex-Headmaster of a school, I am going to be drawn into it.”

“I attend many functions and events across many communities - rural, education, local authority, and volunteer organisations - and I now just accept that it is commonplace that people will come up and pass critical comment or seek clarity on the negative press and community perceptions.”

“There was one such negative media story several years ago just before the NZ Young Farmer of the Year. I attended the dinner and, due to previous experiences, I decided that I would deliberately keep count. I had 34 people approach me! Members of Parliament, Mayors, Local Body leaders, Old Boys (older and very young), parents, and public. It was an unfair imposition on my night, but it was what it was.”

“It was particularly sad for me when working in and around Young Farmers to come across so many young Old Boys from the last 10 years who were so negative about their experience.”

Staffing Issues

“Over the last 7-8 years there have been 31 staff I have supported, advised and guided. My first response to them was always to go back into the school to resolve the matter through the school processes. That advice was almost always met with frustration with the school processes, a lack of trust and respect for the management of the school, and a fear of retribution if they complained (having seen others who had complained being castigated and pilloried).”

The NZR has not verified these claims.

Morena Peter

The following response to your enquiry can be attributed to the CBHS Board of Trustees.

Thank you for your enquiry of 28 August 2024.

We understand you are now in receipt of a draft report prepared by Worksafe in 2023.

Worksafe conducted a prolonged investigation into complaints led by a group of former staff. Worksafe decided NOT to prosecute. While CBHS respects your right to seek a copy of the report we consider the decision by Worksafe to release, an incomplete and inaccurate report to be both irresponsible and damaging.  

The matters raised in that report are the untested opinions of Worksafe and not those of the school. Worksafe admits the report was not completed to a “finalised standard” and following a review of the investigation file, Worksafe decided the investigation did not uncover enough evidence to file charges under the Health and Safety Work Act, 2015.

The fact that senior Worksafe officials signed off and commented on an incomplete and inaccurate draft report before its own investigation process was even finished, completely undermines their credibility.  We are shocked a government agency can behave in this way. Given its shortcomings we won’t be commenting on the detail of that report other than to note CBHS would have welcomed the opportunity to properly respond and put those allegations to the test.

Prior to the completion of the investigation CBHS the Board of Trustees had already engaged a firm of experts to do an independent assessment of the School’s policies and procedures. They recognised CBHS were doing well in a number of areas as well as identifying opportunities for improvement. That work is underway and progressing well .

Culture at CBHS is something the Board is deeply committed to enhancing, improving and monitoring.  While we acknowledge not all experiences are the same, regular check ins and surveys of staff and students show high levels of well-being.  Our staff report feeling safe at work.

You have asked us to reconcile our accounts with those of this small group of staff, many of who haven’t worked at the school for several years. Put simply we can’t. Sadly, over the past six years the Board and Headmaster Nic Hill have been subjected to a deeply personal and sustained campaign of allegations from a small group of disgruntled former staff. 

Despite complaining to the Ombudsman, the Privacy Commissioner, the Ministry of Education, lodging personal grievances with the Employment Relations Authority, the Teaching Council, the NZ Police, to local MPs and the Minister of Education, not one of these bodies has upheld complaints from those within that group.

Those staff have been able to take advantage of anonymity to attack Mr Hill, his family and the Board. Those attacks have come at a personal cost and Mr Hill continues to display courage in constantly bringing his best self to our boys. As a Board we are very grateful to him for that.

There is no link between the investigation and the recent incidents you refer to. With the support of the Board, Mr Hill has been at the forefront of reinforcing a positive and inclusive school culture and calling out unhealthy negative behaviours. The manner in which CBHS has responded to these events is a reflection of that commitment.

Christchurch Boys High School

Board of Trustees

[2 September 2024]

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