Pupil coward-punched in ugly brawl at elite school

Two students from a prestigious school in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have been suspended and one is facing expulsion following an ugly playground fight where a young boy was coward-punched and kicked on the ground.

Two students from a prestigious school in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have been suspended and one is facing expulsion following an ugly playground fight where a young boy was coward-punched and kicked on the ground.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal NSW Police were called to Waverley College on Wednesday afternoon after a Year 8 student started a fight with a Year 9 student — it’s understood the fight was arranged.

Shortly after the boys started fighting, a Year 11 student — the Year 8 student’s brother — entered the fray to push the other boy.

At this point, it’s alleged the Year 8 student punched and repeatedly kicked the victim before he was dragged away by teachers while a crowd of children six-deep watched in horror.

Waverley College staff were “on the scene in five seconds” but acknowledged the incident “should never have happened”.

Waverley College is a non-selective Catholic day school for boys in the tradition of Edmund Rice for students from Years 5 to 12. Sydney NSW.

The Year 9 student was sent to hospital for a precautionary check before being given the all-clear — he will receive counselling from the school.

The brothers were immediately suspended following the incident and the Year 8 student could be forced to leave the school.

Head of Waverley College Graham Leddie will meet with their parents on Monday where he will decide if the younger boy will be expelled.

His brother will be required to undertake “restorative justice” and accountability programs for his decision to get involved in the fight.

Mr Leddie said attempts to “gain control” through physical or verbal aggression were “disgraceful and will not be left unaddressed”.

“While this fight escalated quickly, it was made up of a series of bad decisions that they are accountable for, with at least one student’s enrolment now in jeopardy,” he said.

“Waverley College condemns violence of any kind, and does not tolerate it. We addressed all Year 8 and Year 9 students the morning after the incident to remind them that we have a hands-off policy, and this policy is one they should abide by for the entirety of their lives.

“We issued immediate suspensions, not just because the conduct of these students was unacceptable and incredibly disappointing, but also because a culture of respect must be instilled in boys from their earliest days at home, and reinforced throughout their schooling.”

Mr Leddie has advised the Year 9 students’ parents that they have every right to report the incident to police.

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended the incident, adding the matter was being “handled internally by the school at this stage”.

Child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said Year 8 students have a “great deal of testosterone” and energy that needs to be expended.

“One of the unique characteristics of Year 8 boys is an inability to predict the consequences of their actions so there’s a pretty volatile mix there,” he said.

“If students are assaulted inside or outside the school gate, it’s still assault and students should be held accountable for their actions.”

Originally published as Pupil coward-punched in ugly brawl at elite school