Parent ‘petrified’ of violence at Wirreanda Secondary School, where security guards are in place until end of term because of fights

An Adelaide school has called in police and deployed security guards for the rest of the term after constant fights and brawls – with parents now speaking out.

Police have been called to an Adelaide school after “appalling” schoolyard violence that’s being filmed and posted to social media, and targeted an autistic student.

Private security guards have also been sent to Wirreanda Secondary School in Morphett Vale and police are now investigating the fights, as worried parents told 7NEWS it was just the latest in a series of incidents to occur at the school.

“I cry my eyes out now, mate. I’m genuinely petrified of sending my children to that school,” a parent said.

Fights and brawls on school grounds have become so frequent there is an Instagram account dedicated to videos of them, 7NEWS reported.

Schoolyard violence at Wirreanda Secondary School, which forced police called in and security guards deployed. Picture: 7NEWS

“It could be bruises, to being pushed over and got grazes,” said a parent of two victims aged 15.

7NEWS said the teenagers had been suspended for defending themselves. One – who suffers from autism – was recently treated for serious injuries including a black eye, suspected cheekbone fracture and swollen lips.

EXCLUSIVE: Appalling schoolyard violence in the southern suburbs has seen the police called in and security guards deployed. One fed up parent says he is too scared to send his autistic son to school after repeated attacks. https://t.co/8ftPfGh39Y@HannahFoord7#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/1LgvDiEffd

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) June 27, 2022

“I want to keep them home, because I know they are safe at home,” the parent said.

The school told 7NEWS the security guards would stay until the end of this term, but the parents said it was not enough.

Parents said that at the height of the school’s violence last month up to 10 security guards were patrolling the grounds at any one time, even inside the toilets.

A screengrab of violence at Wirreanda Secondary School, which is being filmed and posted to social media. Picture: 7NEWS

The fights at Wirreanda Secondary School has become so prevalent there is a social media account dedicated to them. Picture: 7NEWS

Wirreanda Secondary School principal Natalie Maddern said the school had a zero-tolerance policy towards violence or bullying with “the wellbeing of our students and staff at the forefront of our policies”.

“From time to time the school has become aware of social media sites which contain inappropriate material allegedly involving students from the school,” Ms Maddern said.

“When identified those items are reported to the platform involved, and we encourage students and families to also report inappropriate content.”

The Education Department said the incident occurred on May 26 and that police were called to the school to investigate.

Two days ago, The Advertiser reported SA schools were increasingly hiring private security guards to protect students and staff from violence and threatening behaviour.

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Blair Boyer said there had been “an increase in static guard use at schools in relation to issues involving violence or a threat of violence” between the second half of last year and this year to the end of May.

In May, a girl was arrested over a shocking stomping video, in which a student was attacked at Whyalla Secondary College.

The video sparked outrage and revelations schoolyard violence is worse now than before Covid, with attacks at a three-year high.