The headmaster of one of Australia's oldest and most exclusive private schools has launched a Federal Court lawsuit against the institution after he was issued with a termination notice. Tony George, the 20th headmaster of The King's School in Parramatta, is suing the school council for damages following allegations he struck a student during a heated classroom discussion.
The Alleged Incident and Immediate Fallout
The controversy centres on an event in mid-2024 inside the school's historic Futter Hall. During a Biblical studies debate about religion and free speech, attended by roughly 100 boys, Mr George is alleged to have struck a student on the back of the head. The action was later characterised as a 'clip to the ear'.
When pupils returned for Term Three in late July, the school informed parents via letter that an investigation was underway. The correspondence confirmed that Mr George had taken two weeks of leave, partly due to contracting the shingles virus. In his own communication to families, Mr George stated he was extending his leave to ensure the investigation's integrity, adding that he "support[ed] the integrity of the school's processes".
Legal Action Halts Termination
Mr George's termination notice was served by The King's School Council following the allegations. However, the headmaster's legal response, lodged in the Federal Court of Australia between Christmas and New Year, has successfully delayed his dismissal. Court orders have postponed the effect of the termination notice until at least January 19, the date set for a hearing.
The filed documents are subject to confidentiality rulings protecting the identity of the student involved and a chronology of events submitted by the school. The court has indicated that mediation between the parties, presided over by leading Sydney barrister Max Kimber SC, can begin this week.
A Prestigious School and a Controversial Head
Founded in 1831, The King's School is a prestigious boys-only institution with around 2,200 students. Fees are substantial, reaching up to $49,980 per year for day students and soaring past $88,000 for Year 12 boarders. The school reported a surplus of $4 million in 2024.
Tony George, a highly qualified figure, was not without controversy during his tenure, which began in July 2017. Parents described him as bluntly critical of 'victimhood' and 'wokeness'. In 2023, he publicly criticised "toxic masculinity" as a "memetic cliché of progressive extremism" and lamented the rise of cancel culture.
He was also at the centre of a 2022 financial controversy when the school paid for business class flights to London for him and his wife to attend the Henley Royal Regatta, where schoolboys were competing. The school's deputy headmaster and his wife also travelled on the trip.
In its initial letter to parents after Mr George stood aside, the school emphasised that "the wellbeing of our students and the integrity of our learning environment are of paramount importance". The outcome of the impending legal mediation will now determine the next chapter for both the headmaster and the elite Sydney institution.
