Pembroke school tells old scholars how it plans to react to football team misogyny scandal

The school has refused to publicly reveal what action it has taken against the boys at the centre of a misogyny scandal – but it hasn’t been completely silent.

Pembroke has promised to create a new taskforce to help change “certain subcultures within the school” in response to last week’s footy fines spreadsheet scandal.

In a letter sent to old scholars – which has been obtained by The Advertiser – the school promised to take “powerful, meaningful and demonstrable actions” aimed at resetting “some years of certain norms” exhibited by particular subcultures within the school, “including sporting teams”.

“Consistent with our Student Charters, we will use this experience to foster a present-day culture driven by our young people with guidance from the Pembroke community,” the letter read.

Pembroke’s principal Mark Staker has refused to provide details about what action has been taken against those students involved in the scandal. Picture: Pembroke School

“The school is committed to learning from this matter and ensuring our students uphold and celebrate the culture and values that we stand for and expect at Pembroke”.

It comes after multiple sources told The Advertiser that some footballers at the elite private college created a spreadsheet of fineable “offences” that included “kissing a whale”, “having sloppy seconds” and “your girlfriend’s crazy”.

Another offence involved a disgraceful racist slur degrading and targeting Indigenous women.

Other fines were for teammates being “fat” or “a pedophile”.

The new taskforce – which would comprise “external expertise, staff, sporting leaders, student leaders, students involved in poor decision-making” and victims – would help the school shape its response to the scandal.

However, no details were given about when the taskforce would come into effect or how long it would operate before delivering its response.

Furthermore, Pembroke has not said what, if any, disciplinary action has been taken against the students involved in the scandal, despite being repeatedly probed on the issue by The Advertiser.

Pembroke’s Principal Mark Staker said the school was “not in a position to provide details concerning the circumstances as the wellbeing and privacy of our students and families are paramount”.

While in its letter to old scholars, the school said “we have been doing everything in our power to manage the situation in a manner that serves our ultimate imperative – to protect the welfare, privacy and dignity of all students”.

But the lack of transparency has prompted calls by Greens MLC Robert Simms for private schools to publicly disclose data on student behaviour – similar to the requirements imposed on public schools.

The proposed laws would apply to any non-government schools offering education between Reception and Year 12, but not preschools, kindergartens or childcare centres.

“Private schools should be required to provide information on behavioural issues and suspensions and expulsions within their annual reports,” Mr Simms said.

“Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”

Pembroke declined to comment.