Tensions rise as elite college faces mass walkouts

Frustrated staff have clashed with St Kevin’s College council in a fiery meeting, just weeks after a male teacher was accused of sexual harassment.

A fiery meeting has taken place between staff and the St Kevin’s College council. Source: AAP Image/Erik Anderson

A fiery meeting between staff and the St Kevin’s College council took place last week after allegations of sexual harassment were raised publicly by staff whistle blowers.

Frustrations are also mounting among teachers about the number of senior staff leaving the school, which means student numbers in each class may have to increase next year.

The meeting, held last Wednesday, was designed to provide feedback from staff to the advisory council, led by Commonwealth Bank of Australia chairman Paul O’Malley.

The council is a volunteer parent body which is working to help reshape the school’s governance as it moves away from the leadership of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA).

St Kevin's College, Toorak, Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

As the Herald Sun reported recently, a teacher left the school after being accused of harassment by three other teachers. An anonymous dossier of 63 complaints about the school’s culture has been given to principal Deborah Barker.

One teacher said she was frustrated that the council patronised staff in the meeting and did not engage with questions and concerns.

“They are gas-lighting us and telling us how to think and feel about bullying and harassment,” the teacher said.

“We’ve moved away from the EREA but there is no path forward,” they said.

Another teacher said they had “low expectations and they certainly weren’t exceeded” at the meeting.

Teachers say the senior Heyington campus in Toorak has lost 30 staff this year and 20 last year.

Sources say St Kevin's College in Toorak is experiencing a mass walkout of teachers. Source: AAP Image/Erik Anderson

This includes six year 12 English teachers who are leaving, or already left, and four who teach English in other year levels who are leaving.

“For a school that prides itself on strong English results that is a big loss,” one teacher said.

A third teacher said the feeling was that the school was “losing better staff than normal”.

A spokesman for St Kevin’s College said the meeting “was designed to create an opportunity for staff to listen to current information and provide feedback about their experiences.

The meeting achieved that objective for the School Advisory Council and was insightful.”

He said only seven per cent of staff have resigned or retired.

“We are below industry standards and acknowledge a level of renewal is healthy for any organisation,” he said.