Peninsula Grammar launches review after linking students to porn
STUDENTS at a prestigious Mt Eliza school got a real eyeful when they opened an email from their school promoting an event.
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A PRESTIGIOUS Victorian school has mistakenly linked students to a porn website instead of promoting a school event.
Peninsula Grammar has launched a review after it emailed students in years 7 to 12 to promote an annual breakfast.
A link to buy tickets was missing a letter and redirected those who clicked to an “inappropriate adult website”.
Deputy principal Peter Ford said in a memo to staff that a typographical error was to blame.
The Herald Sun understands the email was sent to students about 2pm yesterday.
A student alerted the school to its inappropriate content about 4pm and the email was deleted from all students’ accounts by about 7.45pm.
“As soon as we became aware of this, we immediately emailed all students requesting that they do not click on the link and advising that it may infect their computer,” Mr Ford said.
“We realise the gravity of this error and are deeply remorseful.
“While this was completely unintentional, we are extremely upset that we may have exposed our students to a website of this nature as it is clearly not in line with our school values.”
The school, which charges up to $25,000 a year, has launched a review probing any potential breaches of the Victorian Child Safe Standards.
It is offering wellbeing support to any student “adversely” affected.
Principal Stuart Johnston confirmed that the school wasn’t sure how many students had opened the link.
“Most of our parents have reacted fairly positively to the fact we alerted them to it straight away,” he said.
“We are all deeply saddened but the parents were, at least, grateful that we did alerted them quickly.”
The annual Brownlow Breakfast, on September 22 this year, raises money for school upgrades.
Channel Seven newsreader Peter Mitchell will host the event, with AFL star Brendon Goddard and Steele Sidebottom, with former player Brian Lake also set to appear.
The school is charging adults $75 and students $60.
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