‘I was just another $25k’: Forgotten victims of toxic school bullying speak out

Eight girls from Sydney’s Santa Sabina College tell of crying in the toilets, having lockers raided by other students, belongings scattered around the grounds in a culture of “bully or be bullied”.

Current and former students at Sydney’s Santa Sabina College have spoken out about a “toxic culture” of “bully or be bullied”, shocking examples of hazing and an attitude from authorities that protecting the school’s reputation is the number one priority.

The eight students ranging in age from 15 to 19 — who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals — have shared shocking examples of being bullied, teased and ostracised, leading to depression and anxiety about going to school.

When contacted about the cases, Santa Sabina College said it was “sorry to hear about these experiences” and encouraged any current or former students to contact the school with their concerns.

One of the students said the school told her to “forgive” the girls that would tease her and pour drinks on her head. She developed “really bad anxiety and depression” and would sit in empty classrooms at lunch time.

“Teachers would sometimes walk in and tell me to get out, rather than ask why I was crying alone in a classroom. The school saw I was struggling, crying every day. I was just another $25,000. They didn’t care about my mental health.”

Charlotte’ O’Brien’s death has prompted other students to speak up about bullying. Picture: Supplied by Charlotte’s family

Others spoke of having sports bags stolen and filled with rubbish, being sent horrible texts and being teased and laughed at.

The students spoke out in the wake of the suicide death in September of Year Seven student Charlotte O’Brien, who left a note for her parents saying “tell the school” and “raise awareness”.

Santa Sabina College says it takes allegations of bullying and harassment extremely seriously.

Her story was the catalyst for the Sunday Telegraph documentary Charlotte’s Wish, which prompted the federal government to write to state and territory leaders promising to work together on a new national standard for tackling bullying.

This week, the schoolgirls said Santa Sabina College referred to bullying as “friendship issues”, leaving them feeling isolated and unsupported.

They claimed uniform rules, such as “being sent home without a blazer in winter” was more important than mental health, with one describing “the introduction of a school wellbeing dog quite comical”.

A recently graduated student said that as a result of the bullying she was doing “horribly” in her school work, constantly had tears in her eyes and experienced anxiety attacks.

“I fell into a deep depression and I stopped caring for my appearance, and that only became something the school wanted to address when my uniform or grades weren’t up to their standards.”

Another said bullies would raid her locker and “put things in there, take my belongings out and hide them around the school, leaving me to find them”.

“A teacher told me it was my fault for leaving my locker unlocked. If I locked it, they would smear things on the front, or slide things into its gap. The bullies used to tell me it was because I wasn’t rich enough to be at the school.”

One claimed that when she divulged the name of a bully to her teacher, she was told “the parents donate to the school, or something along those lines”.

One of the girls who graduated this year said: “I was still at school when Charlotte passed away, and the school immediately made it sound like PR and swept it under the rug”.

“The year groups were sat down in a meeting and handed out a piece of paper and given a talk listing all the things the school does to support students getting bullied — pretty much saying that what Charlotte said in her suicide letter was a lie, because we have this and this.

“But as someone who went through things with the school, and knowing so many girls who had experienced it, it felt so superficial and like a dig at Charlotte and her family.

“When Charlotte’s family went to the media I was so relieved because I want any parent who is thinking of sending their child to Santa should know that they would experience the most horrendous bullying possible, that is so hard to navigate and is so multifaceted.”

Another girl, who graduated in 2023, accused the school of taking the word of the bully rather than the bullied.

“They try to make everyone happy so that no one ever hears of the incidents, but by sweeping it under the rug, they allow the bullies to keep doing what they do, and take away the voice and support of the student being bullied.”

Charlotte O’Brien left a suicide note telling her parents to raise awareness about bullying. Picture: Supplied by Charlotte’s family

She said on one occasion she ran out of class crying because a girl sent her a text during class, saying that she looked “homeless, ugly and sent an image with me attached and had a snapchat filter”.

“When I returned, the teacher asked what was wrong, and I said what had happened. The teacher’s response was ‘that’s why you don’t go on your phone during class’.

“If I hadn’t left that school I don’t know if I would be here to talk to you”.

A spokeswoman for Santa Sabina College said the school took all allegations of bullying and harassment extremely seriously.

“We are sorry to hear about these experiences and we encourage any current or former

students to contact the school with their concerns.

“Our students’ safety and wellbeing are our highest priority.

“We are continuously examining our policies, procedures and programs, with support from a

range of experts.

“The college has employed an additional full-time clinical psychologist to lead the College’s team of counsellors; continues to strengthen its pastoral care program; and is engaging with a series of professionals for ongoing revision of the College’s wellbeing and safety responses.”

The spokeswoman said the NSW Education Standards Authority recently inspected all the College’s policies and procedures and found that the school has policies and procedures in relation to the provision of a safe and supportive environment for students.

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