Victoria Police called over McClelland College ranking list rating female classmates

McClelland College’s acting principal says “appropriate disciplinary action has been taken” against a student at the centre of a ranking scandal as the school liases with Victoria Police.

Victoria Police is probing a Frankston school over the derogatory list ranking female classmates.

The acting principal from a Frankston school at the centre of a rating scandal, where male pupils ranked their female classmates with an offensive list, has spoken out to address parents’ concerns.

In a letter to families, McClelland College acting principal Laura Dowdell Spence said she recognised many families had questions and concerns about the list.

“Our investigations to date confirm the offensive list was created by one student only, and no Year 9s were involved,” Ms Dowdell Spence said.

“There is also no evidence that the list was circulated beyond an individual student’s computer.

There have been concerns raised about the offensive list at a Frankston school. Picture: iStock

“I understand there will be speculation around what has occurred, who has been directly affected and who may be at fault.

“However, to protect the privacy of all involved, most particularly the potential victims, we cannot answer some of the questions our community and media have asked.”

Ms Dowdell Spence said she wanted to assure the safety and wellbeing of all students affected was paramount.

“We are working very closely with the Department of Education and Victoria Police on this matter.

“Appropriate disciplinary action has been taken and further steps may be considered.”

She added: “Our school’s leadership team is extremely grateful and proud of the students who brought this matter to our attention.

“Their actions exemplify the values of our school; community, ownership, and growth.”

Victoria Police said it is aware of an offensive list ranking female classmates at a Frankston school.

The Herald Sun has been told the list created by students at McClelland College, which rates female students by their appearance, has deeply angered the school community.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers became aware of the list being circulated at the Frankston school on May 10.

“Frankston Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team (SOCIT) detectives are aware of reports of a matter involving students from a secondary school in Frankston,” she said.

“Police have engaged with the school to assess the information and ensure students are adequately supported.

“As there have not been any formal complaints at this stage Investigators are yet to determine future involvement.”

A Department of Education spokesman said: “Misogynistic and disrespectful behaviour is entirely unacceptable in any Victorian school – and the school has rightly taken swift action.”

“More than 1950 Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools are signed up the Respectful Relationships initiative – supporting them to embed respect and gender equality across their entire school community and stamp out these vile attitudes to women.

“We all have a responsibility to teach students respect – and we’ll continue to invest in programs that promote gender equality to embed those attitudes.

“We are grateful to the students who immediately brought the matter to the attention of the school.”

It comes after two male students from Yarra Valley Grammar were expelled earlier this month after creating a cruel and misogynist spreadsheet assessing their female classmates.

The ranking categories included terms such as “wifeys”, “cuties”, “mid”, “object”, “get out” and “unrapeable”.

Yarra Valley Grammar principal Mark Merry had been under intense pressure to take action, with a petition from 118 former students calling for the expulsion of those involved.

“The past week has obviously been a difficult one for our community. A number of our students had been unfairly targeted in a cruel and highly offensive online post which caused great hurt to them and their families and distress to their friends. I am saddened that the actions of a few individuals can cause so much harm as social media has the power to amplify the damage that can be done and the anguish inflicted,” he wrote.

Sexually explicit graffiti rating girls’ appearances had previously been uncovered at Balwyn High School in 2022.

Vandalism ranking girls’ physical features such as their breasts and feet was found scrawled on a structure at the school.

Female pupils also alleged that teachers had told them to “stop making a scene” by calling out incidents of misogyny or slut-shaming, and did not act on the allegations.