Altona’s Mount St. Josephs Year 7 girls caught creating online surveys to rate peers

Altona’s Mount St. Josephs Girls’ College is embroiled in a peer ranking scandal, with Google Docs used to rate students, before the information is circulated on group chats and social media.

Mount St. Joseph’s Girls’ College in Altona. Picture: Supplied

Students at a popular Catholic girls’ school in Melbourne’s west used Google Docs to rate and rank their classmates before circulating the disturbing survey results online.

In what is believed to be one of the youngest year levels to be caught up in the troubling ‘peer rankings’ trend, Year 7 students at Altona’s Mount St. Joseph’s Girls’ College created online questionnaires, then posted the results in group chats and on social media.

In an email to parents, Year 7 leader Lidia Morlin said the school had addressed the entire cohort of 12 to 13 year-olds about the incident and the potential harm for students who “have not been rated favourably”.

Year 7 students have been embroiled in a peer ranking scandal. Picture: Supplied

“We are writing to inform you of a matter that has recently come to our attention involving some students in the Year 7 cohort,” it read.

“It appears that a number of students have been creating, contributing to, or completing Google surveys that are designed to rate or rank their peers. In some cases, the results of these surveys have been shared on social media platforms or in group chats.

“We have addressed the students directly involved in the surveys and have acted accordingly. We have also spoken with the entire cohort this morning to make them aware of the seriousness of this behaviour.”

In an email to parents a Year 7 leader said the school had addressed the entire cohort of 12 to 13 year-olds about the incident. Picture: Supplied

The email went on to implore parents to discuss with their children the impact that participating in and sharing these online surveys can have on other students.

“While many students may view these surveys as harmless fun, they have not considered the impact that such activities can have on the wellbeing of others, particularly those who have not been rated favourably,” it read.

“We kindly ask for your support in discussing this matter further with your child at your earliest convenience.

“It is important that all students understand the potential consequences of these actions and the importance of treating one another with respect and kindness both in person and online.”

It is not known what specific criteria the students were using to “rank” their peers.

Similar scandals at other schools involved male students rating female students based on their attractiveness.

Just over a year ago, McClelland College in Frankston was embroiled in controversy when a list rating female students on their appearance was reported to the Frankston Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team (SOCIT).

This incident followed the expulsion of two Yarra Valley Grammar students who created a spreadsheet that ranked female classmates under terms such as “wifeys”, “cuties”, “mid”, “object”, “get out” and “unrapeable”.

Yarra Valley Grammar School was caught up in rating scandal last year that saw two students expelled. Picture: Supplied

Mount St. Joseph’s Girls’ College has been contacted for comment.