A former Nuriootpa High School student has fled after another pupil asked her a sickening question

A female former student at an embattled Barossa high school said she felt so threatened by a peer that she had to leave for her own safety.

A female former student of a troubled Barossa Valley high school allegedly felt so threatened by one of her male peers that she had to move schools.

The now 17-year-old former Nuriootpa High School student, who wished to remain unnamed, said a male peer allegedly threatened her inside and outside of school and despite her complaints, he was not prevented from visiting her classroom.

The former student completed Year 8 at the school in 2020 and two terms of Year 9 before leaving in 2021 due to alleged harassment throughout her time there.

On one occasion while on the bus in Year 9, the female former student said the boy asked her and her friends “how you would rather die?”.

“He kept asking us ‘quick or slow? Quick or slow?’ as in would you rather die quick or slow?” she said.

A female former student of a troubled Nuriootpa High School allegedly felt so threatened by one of her male peers that she had to move schools. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

After the harassment began, the boy would visit her classes with a support officer.

“They let him sit in the classes and it was just not a great experience,” the former student said.

She moved to another school in South Australia, but now resides in New South Wales.

An Education Department spokeswoman said Nuriootpa High School reported the “inappropriate behaviour by a student offsite” to the Department in 2021.

“Police were notified at the time and the student was suspended,” she said.

An SA Police spokesman said following an incident on the bus on May 25, 2021, an investigation identified the boy who allegedly made the threatening comments.

Police spoke with Nuriootpa High School’s principal, the boy involved and his parents and the investigation is now closed, he said.

This latest account comes after principal Gerri Walker announced she has taken extended leave and will not return to the school following a series of incidents that led to former teachers, parents and students expressing fears of an unsafe environment.

An independent review of the school and student behaviour is ongoing.