Family to find new school after parents, three children barred from Mabel Park State High

A family says racism is the reason they’ve been barred from one of the biggest schools on Brisbane’s southside. But the Education Department says there’s another reason. WATCH THE VIDEO

A Logan family says racism has played a part in three children and the parents being barred from one of the southside’s biggest high schools but the school says it came down to bad behaviour

Mabel Park State High School expelled two children and suspended their younger sibling after incidents at the school over the past year.

The school said one in year 8, could return to classes on March 18 after being suspended but only following a face-to-face meeting with the principal and the parents.

That meeting was not able to proceed last week, after the school also barred the children’s parents from entering the premises for 60 days from March 3, expiring on May 2.

The school issued the family three notices outlining the reasons for the students’ expulsion and suspension, which included “conduct which adversely affects or is likely to affect the good order and management of the school”.

Mabel Park State High School.

However, in a bizarre mix-up one of the notices issued for a year 9 student included details of the expulsion of another student from a different family at the school.

The children’s mother said she was shocked that she had to scramble to find a new school for two of her children, including one studying for final exams.

She said she had tried to contact the principal.

Her request to the Queensland Ombudsman to investigate her claims of bullying and how the cases were handled by the school, including racism, were refused.

Ombudsman complaints officer Andrea Damm said the Ombudsman would take no further action and the case was closed.

“You have not yet exhausted the department’s complaints management process as you have a right of internal review remaining to you,” Ms Damm wrote.

“I consider it is reasonable in the circumstances that you exhaust this process before the Ombudsman investigates.

“I have decided not to investigate … because the department should be given the opportunity to address the problem through its own complaint process, including the internal review options available, before this Office investigates.”

The mother said the complaints process was stressful, fruitless and difficult to navigate.

“I honestly cannot believe how difficult this entire process has been to lodge a complaint and to express my concerns over how it has been handled,” she said.

“This process has been nothing but frustrating and has been redirected to different departments.

“The ombudsman (Office of the Queensland Ombudsman Department of Education) did not bother to call me until after the media made inquiries and the South East Regional office of the Education Department has shown little support.

“I am all for our kids to be punished when they have done the wrong thing.

“But the way the school handled this has been completely unfair and left us with a major task on our hands to find another school at short notice.

“Mable Park State High brags about its zero tolerance for bullying but I believe there was no support for my son when he was surrounded and being bullied by others in the playground.” She said she believed some of the incidents that arose with her children were racially motivated and has raised the issues with the Education Department’s South East Regional Office.

“Because (the child) is an islander kid, they assume they can handle it.

“I am just sick of the double standards different rules for different kids.”

The school said it was unable to comment.

In a statement, Education Queensland said Mabel Park State High School continued to work with the students and their parents to promote safe and respectful interactions and a safe learning environment for everyone in the school community.

“The Department of Education is aware of concerns raised by the family in relation to claims of bullying and harassment at Mabel Park State High School,” the statement said.

“The principal and senior staff remain in contact with the family of the students involved in these incidents to monitor their concerns and continue to support the students as needed.

“No further details can be provided due to student privacy issues.”

Mabel Park State High had the seventh highest rate of expulsion in the state in 2019 when the last recorded statistics were published.

Mabel Park State High School in Slacks Creek

That year, 24 students were expelled with Pacific Pines State High School in Far North Queensland excluding 42 students and Marsden High excluding 29.

All students involved in any inappropriate behaviour are dealt with in line with the school’s Student Code of Conduct.

The school also said it would help all students who are on suspension or expulsion to access an educational program and study plans to keep them on track and learning remotely.

Mabel Park State High had the seventh highest rate of expulsion in the state in 2019 when the last recorded statistics were published.

That year, 24 students were expelled with Pacific Pines State High School in Far North Queensland excluding 42 students and Marsden High excluding 29.