Ex-Kardinia teacher Nicholas Frampton accused of sexual abuse of student

A former Kardinia International College teacher allegedly gave better grades to pupils who showed him their buttocks, a court has been told.

A former students has pursued Kardinia International College for damages.

A former Kardinia International College teacher accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a student allegedly gave better grades to pupils who showed him their buttocks.

Nicholas Frampton is being investigated by law firms, with one alleged victim’s case now resolved before the courts.

The application for damages was heard in the Victorian Supreme Court last week, with the former Kardinia International College student represented by Arnold Thomas and Becker.

Arnold Thomas and Becker confirmed the matter had been resolved, but declined to comment further on the case.

Kardinia International College denied the allegations in its defence filed with the court.

Earlier this year another law firm, Koffels, said it was also conducting a thorough investigation into allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mr Frampton.

“These serious claims involve grooming and sexual assault,” it said.

“The school’s response, or lack thereof, including the alleged failure to provide necessary support and counselling to affected students, is also under scrutiny.”

According to the writ filed in the Supreme Court, messages sent by Frampton in 2004 or 2005 through MSN messenger allegedly asked the former student if he “wanted to hook up” and would like to perform a sex act on him.

Kardinia International College in Bell Post Hill. Picture: Alan Barber

It’s also alleged Mr Frampton gave the student pornographic material on burnt CDs, touched his bottom in passing him in the schoolyard on at least two occasions, spoke to him about what underwear he was wearing and how often he masturbated.

According to the writ, Mr Frampton also told the victim that he had given A+ marks on a test to certain students who had shown him their buttocks.

Arnold Thomas and Becker alleges the school failed to provide counselling or debriefing.

The law firm also alleges that in a newsletter article in 2005, the school said Mr Frampton had resigned from his role due to ill health, and did not publicly censure or dismiss Mr Frampton for abuse.

The claim also states that the school did not refer Mr Frampton to appropriate authorities, including Victoria Police or the Victorian Institute of Teaching, and took no further steps to prevent Mr Frampton from teaching at various schools.

On July 7, 2006, Frampton’s teaching registration was cancelled for similar allegedoffences to a separate student at a different school.

But he continued to work and allegedly continued to abuse children before having his registration cancelled again in 2019.

According to the defence filed, Kardinia International College did not admit the allegations relating to abuse and disagreed the allegations were consistent with child abuse.

Court documents stated the school denied not providing counselling.

The school also claimed to the court it did not know that Mr Frampton continued working in the industry and denied knowing that male students were allegedly at risk of being sexually abused while he worked at the school.

Kardinia International College principal Catherine Lockhart.

Principal Catherine Lockhart told the Geelong Advertiser: “We have no tolerance for abuse or any behaviour that jeopardises the safety and wellbeing of our students.”

“The college is committed to a survivor-focused, trauma-informed approach to engaging with students who have experienced abuse,” she said.

Originally published as Ex-Kardinia teacher Nicholas Frampton accused of sexual abuse of student