Girl stomped, slapped in schoolyard fight video as parents allege The Heights School has failed to act on serious bullying issues

Parents at The Heights school say the issue is so bad that some students fear going to school as a shocking video emerges of a student being stomped on, slapped and dragged by her hair.

A young girl is stomped on and slapped, has her hair grabbed and head dragged – as teachers hesitantly intervene – in the latest shocking case of schoolyard violence.

A video of the incident, which the Advertiser has been told took place at The Heights School at Modbury Heights in November, highlights what parents say is a serious bullying problem at the preschool to year 12 school.

It shows a student, believed to be in year 8, kicking and pinned to the ground by a year 10 girl who is yelling “hands off my f***ing sister”.

Two male teachers approach and one asks the girls to stop and step away, before the older girl starts stomping on the victim.

The older girl can be seen stomping on a fellow student, who is on the ground as teachers approach. Picture: Supplied

A girl is dragged during the fight at The Heights School at Modbury Heights. Picture: Supplied

At that point, a teacher puts his arm across the older girl to move her away, but she still manages to grab the other girl’s hair and pull her head, before slapping her head multiple times and walking away.

It is the latest in a string of violent incidents that have taken place in schools across the state, including several at nearby Golden Grove High School.

Parents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to protect their children, said bullying on the campus was so bad that victims were too fearful to attend school.

Some have been forced to spend long periods of the year away from class for their own protection.

School fight at The Heights School at Modbury Heights. Picture: Supplied

The parents have accused the school of failing to prioritise the safety of their children by not enforcing adequate punishment upon perpetrators.

Instead, victims have been told they should stay close to a yard duty teacher if they feel unsafe or threatened during recess or lunch breaks, or they should spend their breaks at student services or inside teacher’s offices.

In email correspondence seen by The Advertiser, a parent reported to the school their child had been physically attacked at Tea Tree Plaza Shopping Centre in an incident that involved another student.

The school’s student wellbeing leader replied “it is a shame that (the bullying) has continued”, but “as it occurred during the holidays and in a public space, the best advice we would give for that is to report it to centre management and SAPOL”.

Other issues that have been raised with the school include reports of students carrying weapons on campus, taunts and threats of violence, and harassment by mocking students on a TikTok account.

In a statement, Education Department chief operating officer Ben Temperly said “The Heights School has zero tolerance towards bullying and violence”.

He said the perpetrator involved in the November fight has been “excluded from school”, and four students who recorded video of the incident have been identified and suspended. Further, the victim has been supported by Education Minister Blair Boyer, the Education Department and the school.

Mr Temperly said Mr Boyer hosted a round table last month to discuss the issue of preventing violence in schools.

“The South Australian government won’t hesitate in taking any action necessary to make our schools even safer,” he said.