TSS teachers involved in controversial team building activity will not return to school

The Southport School has revealed that two teachers involved in a team building activity where year 9 students were allegedly told to remove their trousers will not be returning to their positions.

Two teachers involved in a controversial team building activity will not be returning to The Southport School. Picture: Richard Walker

TWO teachers involved in a team building activity where year 9 students were allegedly told to remove their trousers will not return to their positions at an exclusive Gold Coast boys school.

An external investigation headed by a top tier law firm was launched by The Southport State School earlier this month after allegations of inappropriate behaviour were raised by students.

The activity called the ‘blackout challenge’, which took place during an excursion in mid October, has been the subject of scrutiny by the school for a number of weeks.

It took place in a dark room and involved boys removing a shoe and/or an item of clothing, throwing it into the blackout room and then working together in the dark to retrieve the items.

Teachers supervised the activity with the use of night-vision goggles, according to the school.

It was alleged one of the teachers told students to remove their trousers during the activity.

The investigation found that while there were no grounds for reporting the incident to police. Picture: Richard Walker.

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In a statement released today the school confirmed both teachers have left the college over the incident and would not be returning.

Both individuals had been stood aside since the incident was first reported and have not undertaken teaching duties since.

The investigation found that while there were no grounds for reporting the incident to police, teachers had breached the school’s expectations with respect to conduct.

The Queensland College of Teachers, the regulatory authority, has been notified.

TSS Headmaster Greg Wain said the students involved in the activity had been right to raise their concerns.

“At TSS we aim to create an environment where our students are supported to ask questions and speak up if they have concerns, and I commend these students for doing so,” he said.

In correspondence sent to a former student the Anglican Church said it was satisfied the concerns had been addressed in the independent external investigation.

“Having considered the investigation findings, I am satisfied the incident has been addressed appropriately in compliance with the relevant Anglican Schools policies and procedures and all applicable external regulation,” the letter said.

“I am satisfied the conduct did not amount to sexual abuse, nor did it give rise to a reasonable suspicion of sexual abuse.”