Sydney high school investigates teacher over classroom safety SOS

At least one teacher is being investigated at a Sydney high school after staff raised concerns about classroom safety.

At least one teacher is being investigated at a Sydney high school after members of the faculty raised concerns about classroom safety and student behaviour.

A number of teachers from a high school in Sydney’s west sent an SOS four weeks ago after braving abuse and physical attacks from students.

A generic photograph of NSW high school students. The Sunday Telegraph has not received or published any private information about parents or students.

They contacted The Saturday Telegraph to say not enough was being done to control student behaviour.

A number of teachers spoke on the proviso of anonymity and The Saturday Telegraph sighted copies of incident reports detailing violent, aggressive and abusive behaviour by students.

The incident reports were redacted and all identifying information about students was blacked out and never revealed to The Saturday Telegraph.

Several of the teachers reached out again this week to allege one of their colleagues had been suspended pending an investigation into accessing and distributing private school information.

The Education Department said no teacher had been reprimanded or suspended but one teacher had been given a letter saying the Professional and Ethical Standards unit was “looking into possible misconduct in relation to student data privacy”.

“We take the privacy of students and their confidential personal information seriously,” the department said.

One teacher said early this week that the teacher “turned up for school one morning”, was “sent home” and “hasn’t been back since”.

A generic photograph of high school students. Picture: iStock

In an initial statement, the department said: “This school is a strong comprehensive high school with one of the largest support units in NSW.

“The support unit provides an outstanding and caring learning environment for students with significant needs and disabilities.”

However, the incidents reported by the teachers were said to have occurred in mainstream classes.

The department statement says 15 staff had provided testimonials supporting the school, refuting the claims “of any staff member who may have contacted The Saturday Telegraph”.

However the statements, which are marked “not for publication”, do not refute the reported incidents, rather speak generally in support of the school community.

“There is no issue with staff raising concerns publicly about their workplace,” the statement says.

“No parent or student should expect their private information to be published outside of the school without their permission.”

The Saturday Telegraph did not receive or publish any private information about parents or students.