Two St Peter’s College students face charges for filming and sharing sexually explicit material
UPDATED: The acting headmaster of St Peter’s College has written to parents outlining how the school will respond to an unfolding student sex scandal that has already resulted in criminal charges.
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THE acting headmaster of St Peter’s College has written to parents promising “firm and proportionate action” for students involved in a sex scandal that has already resulted in criminal charges.
South Australia’s most prestigious and expensive private school is embroiled in a sex scandal, with two students to face charges for filming and sharing sexually explicit material.
Police have reported the Saints students for engaging in humiliating filming and distributing an invasive image.
It is understood the explicit imagery was taken at a private party after the annual “intercol” football match against Prince Alfred College.
On Wednesday afternoon — after Advertiser.com.au broke the story late Tuesday night — St Peter’s acting headmaster Ben Hanisch sent a letter to the parents of students.
“The school is co-operating with investigations into this recent issue and we continue to progress our own enquiries,” Mr Hanisch writes.
“I and my staff take any allegation involving student behaviour very seriously. We have high expectations of our students and the ways in which they behave — whether or not they are on school grounds. We are taking firm and proportionate action to address those students who have not upheld the school’s expectations.
“All staff have been briefed on this issue and I have spoken to senior school students at muster this afternoon. I reinforced our expectations, the seriousness of this issue and the consequences for those involved.
“We have clear values, which we expect our students to uphold, and we will continue to take a firm but fair approach to those who deviate from them.”
It is believed parents in the wider school community were not informed about the alleged incident until Mr Hanisch sent out the letter on Wednesday.
One parent, who declined to be named, expressed “surprise” on Tuesday at the lack of communication.
“They should have told parents rather than let speculation run wild,” the parent said.
Another said they were “very surprised” at the allegations and had not heard anything from the school. “I’m a bit agog about this to be honest.”
Rumours have been circulating about the scandal for several days, but it was only after inquiries by The Advertiser that the school released a statement.
“St Peter’s College is aware of an incident involving current students that occurred at a private party recently,” the school statement released on Tuesday said.
“As the incident in question is currently under police investigation, it is not appropriate for us to discuss the details.
“The school takes any allegations involving students very seriously. We have already and continue to take very firm action. We are supporting the police in their investigations and we may make further comments at an appropriate future date.”
Both of the charged boys will be summonsed to appear in the Adelaide Youth Court at a later date.
Police warned young people they could be committing an offence when taking, receiving or forwarding sexual images of themselves or others under the age of 18, even if all participants are willing.
All-boys St Peter’s College is the most expensive school in the state, charging $25,855 for Year 12 this year. At this year’s prices, a Reception to Year 12 education at the Hackney institution would cost $274,500.
The latest private school scandal comes almost a year after The Advertiser revealed Year 12s at all-girls Wilderness School had created a “wall of boys” — a giant photo collage of their sexual and romantic conquests — and then “shamed” the boys online.
The girls posted non-explicit images and a slide show to social media with derogatory comments about the boys, largely from high-profile private colleges, including the hashtag #quantitynotquality.