Education Minister backs Golden Grove High School despite more fights since security change

The Education Minster says “things have settled down” at embattled Golden Grove High, despite more fights and claims security guards aren’t intervening.

The Education Minister has thrown his support behind an embattled northern-suburbs school struggling with new cases of student violence.

Despite the introduction of additional security measures at the school, more videos of fights between students at Golden Grove High have emerged.

Education Minister Blair Boyer told ABC Radio on Thursday he would consider sending his own children to Golden Grove High School once they become of high school age.

“The reports I’ve had back is what we have put in place, the security guards and the behavioural specialists has settled things down,” he said.

“But there’s more that needs to be done … I’ve made it clear we will do whatever it takes.”

Asked point-blank by the ABC if he would send his kids to Golden Grove, Mr Boyer said: “Yes, I would, … we are just out of the zone at Golden Grove where we live but it would be an option for my kids once they are of high-school age.”

Education Minister Blair Boyer has thrown his support behind a northern-suburbs school despite more fights - after security was introduced. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

At least two fights involving students from Golden Grove High School have occurred since security guards were brought in to curtail spiralling violence.

But the guards, a key element of the response to a flurry of fights at the school at the end of last term, did not break it up.

The latest fight, which took place on the school grounds between two brothers, was so brutal, parents say, that blood was spilt on the floor and students were disrupted while it was cleaned up.

An Education Department spokeswoman conceded the fight – over food – had happened, and one of the boys was treated for “a minor injury”.

Both boys were suspended for five days, but security guards did not intervene.

A screen grab from a video of yet another fight between students at Golden Grove High School. Picture supplied

The spokeswoman said they were “not required”.

She confirmed it had, however, been reported to police by the school on Monday.

A mother from the school, who chose not to be named, said the fight had affected other students who were unable to access their locker as a result.

“(My child) said it got pretty nasty and students weren’t allowed to go to their lockers to collect their books because they were cleaning blood off the floor.”

Earlier on Wednesday, another graphic fight video involving students from the school emerged.

The fight, understood between two year 9 girls, was caught on video at a bus interchange on Tuesday afternoon at The Grove Shopping Centre.

The video shows the two girls confronting one another, with one telling the other, “meet me on the oval tomorrow”, before the pair come face-to-face.

Other teens surrounding the two students can be heard egging them on before one lashes out, kicking the other in the stomach.

The pair then engage in a tussle, with one of the students putting the other in a headlock before other students try to remove one of the girl’s hands from the other’s hair.

Two female students can be seen punching and kicking each other. Picture Supplied

A parent from the school who wished to remain anonymous said, despite introduced security measures and a senior principal supporting Golden Grove’s leadership, fighting roared on.

“They’re still fighting but it’s happening in The Village and bus interchange so the problem has been pushed from school grounds,” they said.

A department spokeswoman said the two female students involved in the filmed fight had been also suspended, and police were notified.

She said the school would investigate whether other students, who are nearby as the fight spills onto the road, would be suspended in line with the school’s “no bystander approach” developed in response to simmering tensions that saw a student reported by police for an alleged school assault earlier this month.

When asked about the attack on Thursday Mr Boyer said “it’s hard for us to keep track of everything that happens outside of the school”.

“It’s tricky for the schools to be responsible for incidents that occur out of school grounds and out of school hours,” he said.

That police intervention came as several fights at the school in quick succession saw Premier Peter Malinauskas and Education Minister Blair Boyer announce an experienced former principal would be called in to try and get the situation under control.

On Monday the school revealed it had enlisted the country’s leading anti-violence foundation the Sammy D foundation in a bid to stamp out bullying and brawls.

An SA Police spokesperson confirmed they were aware of four videos involving students from the school, including the latest brawl at the bus stop.

“The matter has been reported to police and inquiries are continuing,” the spokesperson said.