‘We are all concerned and disturbed by the revelations of this case’: Cranbrook Headmaster takes action over teenage rape

CRANBROOK principal Nicholas Sampson said he is “disturbed” by the alleged rape of a teenage girl and is organising an urgent meeting with neighbouring eastern suburbs schools.

Cranbrook headmaster Nicholas Sampson is organising a meeting between neighbouring eastern suburbs schools to discuss the incident. File photo: Danny Aarons.

• SCEGGS principal’s call to action
• Mate filmed attack

CRANBROOK principal Nicholas Sampson said he is “disturbed” by the alleged rape of a teenage girl while she was passed out at a party and is organising an urgent meeting with neighbouring eastern suburbs schools to discuss the matter.

The accused, who was a student at Cranbrook at the time of the assault on March 4, was excused from appearing at the Bidura Children’s Court on Monday because he has moved interstate.

The matter has been listed for mention on May 16 and July 3, when the 15-year-old will be required to attend.

In a letter to parents on April 10, Mr Sampson said the alleged sexual assault of the SCEGGS Darlinghurst student amounted to “unacceptable misconduct” which represented “a significant failure to live out our mission”.

“The school views these circumstances with great seriousness, as, quite rightly, does wider society,” he wrote.

“It doesn’t fit in with our values of responsibility, self-respect and respect for others — particularly girls and women.

“We are all concerned, and disturbed, by the revelations of this case.”

The accused was a student at Cranbrook at the time of the alleged assault, which happened at a house party at Bellevue Hill on March 4.

The assault was allegedly filmed and shared on social media.

“Technological advances are awe-inspiring but they bring a dark side.

“They create a hidden world of connection without a moral filter and, in particular, enable young people to access unsuitable material of many sorts which can warp the healthy development of full and human understanding of the world in general and of morality and sexuality in particular.

“And social media have made a new and private, even secretive, world — which young people use as a matter of course and which many adults do not comprehend.”

But Mr Sampson said this could never be an excuse for misconduct or blur the difference between right and wrong.

SCEGGS principal Jenny Allum has called for a nationwide response to tackle widespread misogyny which is fuelling assaults against women.

Mr Sampson said while Cranbrook constantly reviews its pastoral and welfare programs, they would again revisit them in consultation with the School Council in the wake of the incident.

“We will work with our staff and external agencies to try to bring more support and deeper education to all of our boys,” he said.

“We know that our concerns are shared by other local schools and a meeting has been called early (this) term to discuss ways of working more closely together and sharing resources, knowledge, contacts and approaches.”

The school would also work with the Parents’ Association to “develop further channels” of information and support to parents.

“We will also seek proactive policies which can give us a more effective manner of dealing with both the dangers that young people face and ways of minimising risks to their health and wellbeing,” Mr Sampson said.

The 15-year-old victim goes to SCEGGS at Darlinghurst, pictured.

He said the school would make further contact with parents this term about these matters.

“We must regard recent events as a catalyst for reflection and action, rather than be dispirited by what has happened.

“Any shadow cast over the school community should not conceal the vast amount of praiseworthy and impressive progress continuously being made by the vast majority of our students towards gaining a warm and humane understanding of their responsibilities.

“As ever, if the school and parents share and articulate and enact common values, then our prospects of safeguarding the young people in our care are very high indeed.”

The case of the Rose Bay Secondary College student who allegedly filmed the assault, which was shared on social media, was also adjourned to July 3.

He pleaded not guilty to three charges of filming a person in a private act without consent, producing child abuse material on his phone and disseminating that material on social media.

His bail was also continued.