Dulwich School headmaster steps down after outburst at workers occasion

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The headmaster of considered one of Britain’s main faculties stepped down from his function forward of schedule after an incident wherein he “misplaced [his] mood” with a colleague led to an impartial investigation, in accordance with correspondence seen by the Monetary Instances.

In a letter to instructing workers and oldsters of pupils, Joseph Spence, headmaster of the as much as £55,000-a-year non-public faculty Dulwich School, stated he was standing down from his function earlier than the college 12 months begins subsequent month after an incident at a summer season workers occasion.

“As a few of you might have heard, I misplaced my mood with a member of workers on the Workers Get together of 4 July — the one time in my profession that something like this occurred,” wrote Spence, including that he had apologised to the colleague concerned.

“That incident has brought on me to replicate on the toll which main a fancy multinational establishment like Dulwich has taken on me, significantly given the numerous challenges we now have all confronted in recent times,” he added.

A separate letter from the college’s chair of governors stated the incident “led to a radical investigation by an impartial investigator appointed by the Governors and acceptable motion has been taken to the Governors’ satisfaction”.

Spence, who has served as headmaster of Dulwich School since 2009, was planning to retire on the finish of the educational 12 months in August 2025, however will now step again into “an ambassadorial and advisory capability”, the letter from Adrian Carr, the chair of governors, stated. Spence’s alternative — Robert Milne, present headmaster of rival London non-public faculty Emanuel Faculty — had already been chosen to start out in September subsequent 12 months. An interim headmaster has been appointed till Milne takes up his submit.

Dulwich School is amongst Britain’s most elite non-public faculties — which counts Oscar-winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and parliamentarian Nigel Farage amongst its former pupils. Final 12 months it generated £36mn in internet faculty charges and it has lent its title to a sprawling community of worldwide faculties, largely in Asia, owned by international faculties supplier Training in Movement.

Throughout Spence’s tenure, Dulwich School was amongst a gaggle of London fee-paying faculties that confronted allegations of sexual assault by former and present pupils and permitting a “rape tradition” to take maintain, which emerged as a part of an internet marketing campaign, often known as Everybody’s Invited.

Extra not too long ago, non-public faculties have come below strain from the newly put in Labour authorities, which initially threatened to take away their charitable standing earlier than rowing again on the thought. From subsequent 12 months, nonetheless, non-public faculties will lose their exemption from the worth added tax, below Labour plans to fund 6,500 new state faculty instructing roles.

“I had all the time needed to get to the purpose the place I had seen us by means of these challenges and would have the ability to cross on the torch,” stated Spence within the letter. He stated his advisory function would focus “on the ambition of elevating funds for bursaries and on finishing up ambassadorial duties as required”.

A consultant for Dulwich School and Spence didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.