Greater Shepparton Secondary College teachers punched by students, considering walkout

Teachers at a trouble-plagued Shepparton super school are being punched by students, who are getting away with “serious inappropriate actions”.

The new site of the Shepparton super school. Picture: Jason Edwards

Greater Shepparton Secondary College students are hitting and punching teachers as “behavioural issues” reach breaking point and staff prepare to quit.

The school will cram 2400 students from four different government secondary schools into one campus from next year.

The school has been plagued by serious allegations of bullying and racism but sources say teachers are now close to walking out the door following the attacks.

Minutes from a staff meeting last week seen by the Goulburn Valley News say teachers no longer feel safe on school grounds.

The report says there had been “several incidents” where staff had been injured at the end of last term and beginning of term three.

“Consequences for these serious actions and restorative conversations have not taken place,” the report reads.

“Staff still feel the students don’t feel there are consequences for serious inappropriate actions.”

The new campus is expected to open next year. Picture: Jason Edwards

A Department of Education spokesperson said two staff members had been injured in term two, “receiving very minor injuries in the course of their normal duties”.

“The safety and wellbeing of both students and staff is always our highest priority — and any form of violence in schools is completely unacceptable,” the spokeswoman said.

“The school applied appropriate sanctions to the students involved and supported the staff members.

“The school is implementing the well-regarded and widely used school-wide positive behaviour program to continue to develop a strong and positive school climate.”

According to the meeting’s minutes, students with behavioural issues were responding with “passive noncompliance”.

Teachers are demanding students be forced to engage with staff and say there needs to be consequences for their actions.

The school is believed to be working with some students and families behind the scenes.

“Restorative discussion is not happening due to the high volume of students being exited,” the minutes read.

One parent said she feared there would be a “teacher walkout”.

“It’s come to a head,” she said.

The school will merge Shepparton High School, Wanganui Park Secondary College, McGuire College and Mooroopna High School under a controversial Victorian government plan to lift lagging results.

The Australian Education Union was contacted for comment.