“It is perverse because some of these students consider themselves friends between those administering and those receiving.”
Ballarat Grammar traces its history back to the 19th century, and sets boarding and tuition fees for a year 12 student at more than $49,000.
Heath said police were immediately informed when the school first heard the claims in early February, and that he had been in regular contact with officers from the Ballarat Sexual Offences and Child Abuse team ever since.
Victoria Police has been contacted for comment.
The principal pledged full openness and accountability with the school community and the broader public while both the school and police investigations were conducted.
A respected former principal of Adelaide’s exclusive Prince Alfred College, Brad Fenner, considered an expert in boys’ education, had been contracted by Ballarat Grammar to conduct a sweeping review.
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“He will be working with us to review all of us and all of our processes but also providing advice [on] how we’re managing this situation such that we have a fair, transparent process of natural justice for all who involved,” Heath said.
No-one had been punished, the principal confirmed, with the school wanting to ensure procedural fairness was afforded to any student alleged to have been involved in the punishment ring.
“The key to getting through this is to care for our students who are impacted, whether they are victim or perpetrator, that need to be rehabilitated and cared for,” he said.
“So it’s horrendous, and it’s confronting, but we’ve got to be there for our students and for their families whilst we work to discover what occurred and then You Yes Participant administer appropriate consequences which will all be done decisively.”
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