The Knox School in Wantirna South hit with shocking racism and cyber bullying allegations

A Victorian student says she was left “distraught” and “humiliated” after becoming the target of racist and derogatory attacks at a prestigious private school.

Year 9 student Cherise Ncube alleges she has been the target of ongoing racism by a group of boys at a prestigious school. Picture: Mark Stewart

A student has accused an elite private school in Melbourne’s outer east of shocking racism and cyber-bullying.

Year 9 student Cherise Ncube, 15, who attends The Knox School in Wantirna South, said she was “distraught” and “humiliated” after another student shouted the N-word several times in a science class in February despite being told to stop.

“He was singing a song and said the N-word. I told him not to say it and he said it repeatedly despite the fact I was telling him not to say it,” Ms Ncube said.

“When I reported it to the head of middle school, she spoke to him but he still didn’t think he had done anything wrong and that’s when he and other students began to target me. As soon as I would walk into a room they would say the ‘N-word’, ‘faggot’, ‘retard’, and ‘tranny’ around me – it was awful and they would call me a snitch, which led to me being isolated.”

Cherise Ncube. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ms Ncube, who migrated to Melbourne from South Africa, alleges she then became the target of a vile Snapchat group called “Boys 2.0”, where she was targeted by her classmates.

“I was told by another friend there was a photo of myself in the group which was taken from my personal Instagram account and there were more than 20 different comments talking about the way I looked.

“I called my mum on the phone and I couldn’t stop crying … I was devastated.”

She said she and her family were disappointed by the way the school handled the alleged incidents.

“When I was asked to recall what had happened, the principal kept asking ‘what tone’ the N-word was said in.

“The tone shouldn’t matter … it’s important to call this out,” she said.

Ms Ncube said she would be moving schools as a result of the incidents.

Principal Allan Shaw said bullying, discriminatory, misogynistic and non-inclusive behaviour and language by students was unacceptable.

Mr Shaw said the student was a highly regarded leader and “her wellbeing has always been the school’s priority”, adding that responses to Ms Ncube and her family had been timely, appropriate and thorough.

“The school’s investigation has not revealed evidence of cyber-bullying, or a hate group,” he added.

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