St Augustine’s College Brookvale: Police charge teacher for alleged assault on boy, 14

A teacher, 64, has been charged by police after allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old boy at a prestigious Sydney private school.

A teacher at a top Sydney northern beaches’ private school has been charged with assaulting a 14-year-old student.

Chris Hardy, 64, allegedly assaulted the year 9 boy at St Augustine’s College at Brookvale on May 24.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, alleged Mr Hardy roughly grabbed him from behind by the collar as he drank from a water tap in a school corridor.

The boy alleged the veteran English teacher, who has taught at the Catholic school for boys from years 5 to 12 for 37 years, admonished him from drinking from the tap that was only meant to be used for filling water bottles.

A still from a video reportedly showing a St Augustine's Brookvale teacher grabbing a student in May 2023. Picture: Supplied

Mr Hardy then allegedly held the boy’s left arm and had him pushed up against a wall for several moments.

Video footage of the alleged incident, captured on two students’ mobile phones, was shared with other students.

Several students advised another staff member of their concerns over the alleged incident. That teacher then advised the school principal, Jonathan Byrne.

The boy’s father told the Manly Daily that he was disappointed with how the school had handled the allegation and that he had not been given a direct explanation and apology about what allegedly happened to his son.

“The school contacted police, so we had to make a statement,” he said.

St Augustine's College, viewed from Alfred Rd at Brookvale, where a teacher allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old boy. Picture: Annika Enderborg

Principal Byrne confirmed to the father, in an email dated May 25, that police had been advised of the incident by the college.

Mr Byrne wrote in the email the alleged incident “could be a breach of the Child Safe Standards” and the college was conducting its own internal inquiries.

“As this falls into a Child Safeguarding Standards matter, the college has been working through the mandatory processes that are part of how we must report on, and investigating instances such as what has been reported that could be a breach of the Child Safe Standards,” Mr Byrne’s email stated.

“At this stage, statements have been collected from those that saw the incident, police have been advised and the college has used the mandatory reporter decision tree as part of the Child Safeguarding policy and procedures.”

A teacher at St Augustine’s College, Brookvale, will appear in Manly Local Court on July 31, charged with assaulting a 14-year-old student. (AAP IMAGE / MONIQUE HARMER)

Northern Beaches Police confirmed on Monday that they began investigating the assault allegation on May 26.

They also confirmed the alleged victim was not injured.

“Following inquiries, a 64-year-old man was served a future court attendance notice … for the offence of common assault,” a spokesman said.

Mr Hardy is due to appear at Manly Local Court on Monday, July 31.