Principal breaks silence after teacher charged over alleged sex with student

The head of a prestigious eastern suburbs private school rocked by charges against a teacher over his alleged sexual conduct with a former student has spoken out for the first time

Fenner, 34, will front court next month after his arrest last week.

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Days after standing down a teacher after he was charged with allegedly engaging in sexual conduct with a student, the principal of a prestigious eastern suburbs private school has spoken out for the first time about the “turbulent week”.

Reddam House biology teacher Ben Fenner, 34, is facing 11 charges of sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old student under his care after a graduate of the $32,000 a year private school made a complaint to police this month.

Fenner, who also ran the school’s Duke of Edinburgh program, was arrested at a Mascot cafe last week and has been stood down by the school.

Ben Fenner was charged yesterday after detectives began investigating the alleged incidents earlier this month.

Writing in this week’s newsletter principal Dave Pitcairn broke his silence, urging the school’s community to “have a better week”.

“I would like to thank the school community; parents, teachers and students for the way they have rallied and supported each other and myself during this turbulent week,” he said.

“The school psychologists and I remain available to students for whom the events of the week have been unsettling and feel they need further assistance in dealing with them.”

Reddam charges $32,000 a year and has campuses in Bondi and Woollahra.

Mr Pitcairn confirmed a staffing reshuffle in the wake of the charges would take effect, with Fenner’s science classes and Duke of Edinburgh roles to be covered while his matters progress through the courts.

“We are most distressed by this turn of events and want to assure parents, students and all in the school community that Reddam regards this matter extremely seriously,” the school said in a statement on Tuesday.

Fenner is set to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court next month.

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