St Kevin’s College tells parents they must check tutors with the school
St Kevin’s College principal has told parents they must check with the school before employing a private tutor for students. Here’s why there’s concern.
Education
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The new principal of embattled St Kevin’s has urged families to check with the school before employing private tutors who may be “unsuitable people to work with children”.
John Crowley has informed parents they must contact the school’s Child Safety Officer before hiring tutors, who may be former staff members.
The Herald Sun understands the directive is a bid to avoid any unregistered teacher or person under investigation by teaching bodies from educating boys in a private capacity.
Mr Crowley said “a number of parents” had inquired about the engagement of private tutors, which included “professionals in the community or former staff”.
“It is important that parents have robust assessments in place so they engage only the most suitable people as tutors and avoid engaging unsuitable people to work with children,” he wrote.
It comes after the school community was alerted at the weekend that the employment of two senior VCE staff had “concluded”.
Director of studies and English teacher Gary Jones and advanced maths teacher Simon Parris had not been at the school this year — the teaching watchdog is investigating one of the teachers.
Mr Parris is currently not registered by the Victorian Institute of Teaching, with his registration expiring last September.
It’s understood concern also stems from the matter of convicted child sex offender Peter Kehoe, who was a private running coach associated with the school when he groomed a student.
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In both instances, the private sessions are conducted away from school grounds.
St Kevin’s headmaster Stephen Russell and head of sport Luke Travers were removed last week over revelations they provided a court character reference for Kehoe.
Deputy head Janet Canny was also removed over a separate Federal Court filing over claims she obstructed attempts of mandatory reporting inappropriate teacher conduct towards a student.