St George State High School surveys parents over decision to relocate children

A Queensland high school “bleeding staff” amid claims of a toxic culture has taken an extraordinary step involving parents and their children.

St George State High School is embroiled in claims of a toxic culture.

A Queensland high school that was reviewed over toxic culture claims took an unusual step of surveying parents to ask why they’re sending children to other schools.

St George State High School was forced into a leadership shake-up last year following staff allegations of workplace bullying and sexual harassment.

But just two terms into the new leadership regime and school sources have claimed little has changed, and that staff and parents are leaving in droves.

It lead to the school taking an unusual step of asking parents in a survey as to why they were sending their children to other schools in the area, despite it being the only state high school within a 100km radius.

School sources claimed the leadership shake-up had done little to fix the toxic culture, saying it was embattled with problems from within.

They said as many as seven staff members had left the school this year – advertisements on its website said it was looking for teachers, relief teacher aides and cleaners and relief cleaners.

“The school is bleeding staff and has huge problems with leadership,” they said.

“Teachers are ignored, any suggestion is ignored.”

The sources said the school was “failing” with low attendance rates and issues of students fighting on campus.

The school asked parents to take part in the survey in May through a post shared to its social media.

“We need your help. We are conducting a survey to understand why families choose to send their children to other schools,” it read.

A Department of Education spokesman said the survey feedback would allow the school to make continuous improvements.

The issues come more than six months after a staff survey which revealed 15 per cent of staff had reported experiencing sexual harassment and about 50 per cent reported being bullied.

It triggered an urgent visit from state government executives and the leadership shake-up which included two new principal positions.

Enrolments at the school dropped from 245 in February 2022 to 220 in August of the same year, the school’s latest annual report showed.

School attendance rates also dropped to 72 per cent last year, well below the state average of 85.6 per cent.

A Department of Education spokesman staff movements at the school were comparable to any in the region and enrolments could vary due to several factors.

The spokesman said attendance rates had this year improved to 79 per cent.

Education minister Grace Grace conceded more needed to be done to improve St George State High School. Picture: John Gass

When asked if it was concerned about the school, the spokesman said there were several measures in places aimed at improving student opportunities and to strengthen ties in the community.

It included the appointment of a substantive principal and a lead principal for three years to support the leadership team.

“Together, they have been building strong local connections with the community and working

closely with industry and the Balonne Shire Council,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the school underwent a full review this term to inform improvements under a new strategic plan being developed.

Education Minister Grace Grace said she had requested her director general and regional director to address the issues as a matter of priority.

“There are now additional senior staff in place, strengthened connections with the local community, and a new strategic plan is being developed following the full school review undertaken this term,” Ms Grace said.

“While there is more work to be done – and the department and school is committed to doing it – it is encouraging to see improvements in attendance and behaviour trends at St George SHS.”