Dulwich Faculty headmaster steps down after outburst at workers occasion

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The headmaster of one in all Britain’s main colleges stepped down from his function forward of schedule after an incident by which he “misplaced [his] mood” with a colleague led to an unbiased 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 college Dulwich Faculty, stated he was standing down from his function earlier than the varsity 12 months begins subsequent month after an incident at a summer season workers occasion.

“As a few of you’ll have heard, I misplaced my mood with a member of workers on the Employees Social gathering 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 prompted me to mirror on the toll which main a fancy multinational establishment like Dulwich has taken on me, notably given the numerous challenges we’ve got all confronted lately,” he added.

A separate letter from the varsity’s chair of governors stated the incident “led to an intensive investigation by an unbiased investigator appointed by the Governors and applicable motion has been taken to the Governors’ satisfaction”.

Spence, who has served as headmaster of Dulwich Faculty since 2009, was planning to retire on the finish of the tutorial 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 substitute — Robert Milne, present headmaster of rival London non-public college Emanuel College — had already been chosen to begin in September subsequent 12 months. An interim headmaster has been appointed till Milne takes up his submit.

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

Throughout Spence’s tenure, Dulwich Faculty was amongst a gaggle of London fee-paying colleges 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, generally known as Everybody’s Invited.

Extra lately, non-public colleges have come underneath stress from the newly put in Labour authorities, which initially threatened to take away their charitable standing earlier than rowing again on the concept. From subsequent 12 months, nonetheless, non-public colleges will lose their exemption from the worth added tax, underneath Labour plans to fund 6,500 new state college instructing roles.

“I had at all times needed to get to the purpose the place I had seen us by way of these challenges and would have the ability to go 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 Faculty and Spence didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.