DAVID Gates, the headmaster of The Scots School Bathurst, has been appointed as headmaster of the integrated All Saints’ and Scots School when they become one in 2019.
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The announcement was made to parents at the respective schools on January 17.
General manager of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW, Jeoffrey Falls, said he met with head of All Saints’ College Steven O’Connor to advise him of the decision, and discuss with him options available to him.
In a letter sent out to all parents, Mr Falls said Mr O’Connor has opted to leave All Saints’ College prior to the commencement of the 2018 school year, so that he and his wife Trudy can focus on ensuring their children are settled as they start the new school year.
Mr Falls said it is an unfortunate reality that there can only be one head of the new school and the trustees felt that it was important to take this decision when they did to provide clarity and certainty to both Mr Gates and Mr O’Connor and to the school communities.
Mr O’Connor will be replaced by Stewart Ross as acting head of college while the two schools operate independently this year.
Mr Falls said he wanted to place on record his sincere thanks to Mr O’Connor as head of All Saints’ College.
“Mr O’Connor led the College through a particularly challenging and difficult time and has done so with great professionalism and integrity. The trustees and I are very grateful for the unqualified support Mr O’Connor gave to the due diligence process and to the prospect of integrating these two great schools.
“This decision does not reflect on in any way the professional achievements, capabilities and performance of Mr O’Connor as Head of College.”
He said a formal function will be organised as soon as possible in the new school term to provide staff, students and parents the chance to thank Mr and Mrs O’Connor for their contribution and to farewell them.
