Somerset College, The Southport School and Emmanuel College involved in schoolgirl lists scandal

Two more elite Gold Coast schools have become embroiled in a vulgar schoolgirl rankings list scandal which has so far seen four students expelled and police investigating. Read the update

Somerset College, The Southport School and Emmanuel College involved in serious incident involving "rape list".

Two more elite Gold Coast schools have become embroiled in a scandal involving vulgar schoolgirl ranking lists which has so far seen four students expelled.

On Monday morning, a “serious incident” involving ranking lists came to light after Emmanuel College principal Daniel Brown addressed Year 10 students.

That same afternoon Mr Brown shared an email updating parents that three Year 10 boys had been expelled due to their involvement.

On Wednesday, it was revealed students from The Southport School (TSS) and Somerset College in Mudgeeraba were also facing scrutiny over the lists.

It is understood it all started off with students ranking girls’ “best bums” on a shared notes app between friends before allegedly at some point taking on more sinister tones including a “rape list” aspect. It is not clear at what stage the expelled students were involved in the list, with one mother saying her child was not involved with developing it into a “rape list”.

A Queensland Police statement said the Gold Coast Child Protection and Investigation Unit was “aware of this incident and has engaged with the schools concerned”.

Somerset College headmaster Craig Bassingthwaighte said they had expelled one student.

“Somerset College were made aware of a serious incident of misconduct involving one student and extremely inappropriate online behaviour,” Mr Bassingthwaighte said.

“Upon notification of the issue, an investigation immediately commenced.

“The actions of the individual concerned were found to be a significant breach of the college’s code of conduct, which resulted in the immediate cessation of the student’s enrolment.”

Mr Bassingthwaighte said they notified the Queensland Police and are continuing to co-operate with their inquiries.

“All students deserve a safe and respectful learning environment and this behaviour will not be tolerated,” he said.

“We are taking steps to address this issue with the cohort, as well as continuing counselling and pastoral care services.”

Somerset College, Gold Coast. Photo: Google Maps

On Tuesday afternoon, a Somerset College parent said she was “frustrated, angry and disgusted” the school had not told the cohort and parents about the scandal and expulsion earlier.

She said the headmaster had communicated to the school community at 1pm on Wednesday when the student had been expelled.

“I believe they need to at least inform us of the incident and what they are doing about it.”

The parent said they found out about the list from her son, a week ago.

“I for one did not appreciate hearing my son come home even talking about such a horrific list when the school is supposed to be teaching our kids how to be gentlemen,” she said.

“The school is more focused on keeping up its image of being prestigious rather than owning such behaviours.”

TSS Headmaster Andrew Hawkins said: “Given the nature of the investigation at Emmanuel College, this student has been requested to attend a show cause meeting this week with his parents.

“This process allows a forum for a student to respond and following the show cause meeting a decision on the student’s enrolment will be made.”

Mr Hawkins said TSS “proactively promotes and reinforces respectful relationships and online safety throughout all our year groups and takes a zero tolerance to disrespectful behaviour”.

The Southport School, Gold Coast

Separately on Tuesday, the mother of one of the boys expelled from Emmanuel College claimed her son was only involved in an initial list rating girls’ “best bums”.

She said he was “mortified” when it “escalated” into a “rape list”.

“I don’t want people to think we condone any of this behaviour, however it’s been misconstrued.”

She said she did not agree with her son’s punishment and said Emmanuel College “overreacted”.

“But because my son had some part in starting the list – the bottoms list, not the serious one – they were all expelled.

“It started as a silly thing – boys were rating girls, girls were on there rating boys. They are all mates.

“He put in a very fighting case at the school (to not be expelled),” she said.

“I don’t believe my son should have been expelled.”

She added her son was apologising in writing to the girls involved.

“We really do feel terrible for them.”

Some parents expressed disagreement with the mother’s comments

“Rating girls’ bums is gross, those are our daughters and our children’s friends.

“The girls were not ‘all mates’ with the boys and were not involved in a list. They felt incredibly uncomfortable and disrespected. This parent should know better and do better.”

Police have not laid any charges.

Emmanuel College in Carrara on the Gold Coast. Photo: Ashleigh Jansen,

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Originally published as Somerset College, The Southport School and Emmanuel College involved in schoolgirl lists scandal