Mentone Girls’ Grammar hit with string of shocking allegations

Mentone Girls’ Grammar staff say their school is in “freefall” after a series of shocking claims, including allegations that reports of inappropriate sexual behaviour by a staff member were ignored.

Mentone Girls’ Grammar staff allege claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour were not addressed.

Former and existing staff at Mentone Girls’ Grammar say their much-loved school is in “freefall” following a series of shocking claims.

They alleged to the Herald Sun the school never acted following claims from at least four female staff members about the inappropriate sexual behaviour of a senior male staff member.

The man, who has since left the school, is alleged to have made inappropriate advances to a number of female staff members at a social night in mid 2023.

He is also alleged to have shared alcohol with year 12s on the dancefloor at their formal.

But it wasn’t until he was allegedly drinking with and kissing several mothers at the school’s 125th gala event that the man left the school.

The school has strongly denied the claims.

A source inside the school said it was now “hanging on by a thread” and was in financial “freefall”.

“The person who takes over is the person who is going to close the school,” they said.

The comments come as principal Natalie Charles has been appointed principal of St Catherine’s School starting in 2025.

Complaints arose about the 125th gala dinner at Mentone Grammar.

The women, who spoke to the Herald Sun on the condition of anonymity, said they raised their allegations regarding the actions of the male staff member repeatedly with Ms Charles in a series of meetings, but the behaviour continued.

One said the man’s alleged actions at a staff trivia night in 2023 were “alarming”.

“He was the life of the party. He was all over the female staff, kissing one young teacher up and down the arm, whispering in her ear and ruffling the hair of another teacher. It made her very uncomfortable and she left,” she said.

The woman said she was urged not to speak out about the incident.

Another said the alleged behaviour continued at the year 12 formal where the male teacher “was drinking and dancing with the year 12 girls. He was drinking a bottle of wine and sharing it with them on the dancefloor but nothing was said or done about it.

“At the school’s 125th gala dinner at the NGV he behaved appallingly and parents saw it and lost it,” she claimed.

“It was shocking for the school. Staff were called in and told no one should speak about it. But it was only then that action was taken — because parents had raised the issue.”

A former staff member says the school’s enrolments are ‘at an all-time low’.

In a statement to the Herald Sun, the School Council of Mentone Girls’ Grammar said it was “deeply dismayed and disappointed by these wildly inaccurate claims, including the false allegation that a member of staff supplied alcohol to students in full view of the whole school executive, heads of department and heads of year, at the VCE Ball.

“Any suggestion that we would deny, ignore, or suppress allegations of inappropriate behaviour or harassment of any kind is entirely unfounded,” it said.

“The school doesn’t comment publicly on internal matters that are dealt with and resolved in an appropriate way. In such instances the pastoral care and welfare of staff and students is our absolute priority.

It comes as the school has lost more than 100 enrolments over the past five years and in 2023 had just 613 students.

A former staff member said: “Enrolments are at an all-time low, we are in dire straits”.

There has also been a number of high-profile resignations, including three veteran teachers in 2023.

The school’s latest financial statements show it posted a deficit of more than $2m in 2022 and a net current asset deficiency of $9,934,855.

The school, which has been buying up waterfront properties in recent years, has more than $16m in non-core property assets and $51m in core assets, including its Mentone campus.

Mentone Girls’ Grammar is also paying state payroll tax and will be receiving less federal money in coming years due to changes in funding calculations.