Camberwell Girls Grammar principal responds to startling bullying accusations
The principal of Camberwell Girls Grammar has spoken out following the severe bullying claims made by a former student, which the alumnus claims fell on deaf ears. SEE THE SCHOOL’S RESPONSE.
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The principal of an elite Melbourne girls’ school at the centre of a bullying scandal has spoken out, telling parents and past students that the school “never have and never will tolerate bullying”.
“It’s completely at odds with our culture,” Camberwell Girls’ Grammar Principal Debbie Dunwoody said.
In a statement sent to school alumni, Ms Dunwoody said she understands the allegations revealed by the Herald Sun “may concern” some people.
The paper revealed yesterday a former student claims she was harassed, ridiculed and severely traumatised by a clique of mean girls for more than five years.
In court documents, the teenager claims her pleas for help from the school fell on deaf ears, despite more than a dozen official complaints by her and her parents.
“We have clear procedures which are always followed when a complaint of bullying is made to the School,” Ms Dunwoody said today, adding students had access to school counsellors.
The school said they were still yet to receive details of the allegations, which were filed in the court at the start of October.
A former Camberwell Girls Grammar student claims she was harassed, ridiculed and severely traumatised by a clique of mean girls for more than five years.
But the teenager’s pleas for help from the school fell on deaf ears, despite more than a dozen official complaints by her and her parents, court documents allege.
The now 19-year-old said the bullying was so severe her academic future and job prospects have been damaged as a result.
In court documents obtained by the Herald Sun, the student — who this paper has chosen not to name — is suing the top private school for negligence, claiming it breached its duty of care by failing to act on concerns raised.
In a damning statement of claim, the young woman claims between 2012 and 2017 she was:
TEASED at a swimming carnival for having body hair and was called a “grizzly bear” for almost a year;
CALLED “ugly” and had her birthday party boycotted;
SUBJECTED to rumours she was a lesbian and suffered from anorexia;
MOCKED for sitting alone at lunch after being excluded and ostracised by her classmates, and
THREATENED on Snapchat that if she didn’t vote for one of her bullies for Student Council she would “get it”.
It is also alleged the victim was bullied after speaking out about false rumours being spread about another student.
The teen’s parents claim they and their daughter repeatedly raised concerns with the school though emails, phone calls and several meetings with head teachers, the school principal and school counsellor.
The harassment was so severe, in 2017 the then-year 12 student applied for special consideration for her VCE studies with a doctor providing a report detailing the impact of the bullying.
The student has suffered depression, panic attacks and severe psychological disturbance as a result of her treatment at the school, court documents allege.
Leading psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said the impact of school bullying can be lifelong.
Mr Carr-Gregg said teenage girls are mostly likely subjected to “relational aggression” by peers.
“The damage is done by harming their relationship or social status,” he said.
“It is very serious.”
The author and adolescent health expert said schools have a duty of care to provide students with a safe environment.
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“When these sorts of cases do go to court it fires a warning short over the bow of all schools,” he said.
But often cases are settled outside of court, with students signing nondisclosure agreements, Mr Carr-Gregg said.
“It’s most important these types of cases are spoken about,” he said.
The former student, now studying at university, is seeking compensation for injury suffered and loss of future earning capacity.
“It is likely (her) employability has been reduced by reason of her injury,” court documents state.