Cranbrook student attempted to extort female maths teacher for nude photos
A student at an elite private school attempted to blackmail a maths teacher for nude photos, saying he would accuse her of sexual assault.
A student at an elite Sydney boys’ school attempted to blackmail a female maths teacher, demanding she send him nude photos or he would accuse her of sexual assault, the ABC’s Four Corners reports.
The incident is one of a number of claims made on Monday night’s program about the allegedly toxic “boy’s club” culture at Cranbrook School, one of the country’s most prestigious institutions where tuition costs up to $46,000 per year.
Jasmin Hyde was a maths teacher at the independent Anglican college in Bellevue Hill when she was the subject of the blackmail attempt in June 2020.
The boy was suspended and chose to leave the school, and later wrote an apologetic letter to Ms Hyde.
“I have caused so much hurt and disappointment to you, my teachers and the wider school community, my friends and my family,” he said in the letter.
But Ms Hyde was not happy with the school’s response, and took her complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
“In my experience, Cranbrook did not have a safe, inclusive and supportive culture for me and its female teaching staff,” she told the commission in October 2023.
“That must change. It must change for my sake, and it must change for the sake of your current and future teaching staff, and the many young girls who are about to embark on their studies at Cranbrook.”
According to Ms Hyde, after the sextortion attempt she was taken to a cafe to discuss the incident with the headmaster and his deputy, but was taken aback when the deputy allegedly suggested it was no surprise she received attention from the boys because she was good-looking.
“Justifying sexual harassment empowers future abuse,” she told the commission.
“This is the standard that Cranbrook management condones, the tone from the top — that young, attractive women at your school should not only expect but tolerate sexual harassment. I wonder how the parents of your future female students would feel about this.”
Cranbrook reportedly apologised, saying in a statement the deputy never intended to offend and was “sorry if [he] has done so”.
The Human Rights Commission ultimately upheld Ms Hyde’s complaint.
The Four Corners episode, Old School, alleged other female teachers were subjected to wolf-whistling and catcalls.
A number of former staff and students raised allegations of mistreatment.
Hours after the program, Cranbrook School Council issued a statement saying it was “concerned by the allegations raised” in the program but “remains fully supportive of the headmaster and the school’s leadership”.
“Cranbrook takes all allegations of abuse, and its duty of care to its students, extremely seriously and follows relevant and mandatory reporting processes in relation to these matters,” Cranbrook School Council president Geoff Lovell said.
“We acknowledge survivors and their stories. No school is ever exempt from scrutiny or, where deserved, criticism. We offer sympathy to the grievances aired by former staff.”
Cranbrook “does acknowledge that in any large organisation there may be staff disputes from time to time and the council is confident that the school handles them with care and confidentiality”, he added.
“The Council is satisfied that the headmaster and school’s leadership have followed due processes in relation to the allegations raised in the program by some former staff,” Mr Lovell said.
“Cranbrook must always be alert to the mistakes it may make and the need for our culture to adapt over time. Our duty is to care and protect those we employ and educate, in accordance with community expectations.”
Prior to the episode going to air on Monday night, investigative journalist Louise Milligan revealed it has already attracted seven legal threats.
She said they included legal threats to herself, the ABC, people in the program and even “people not in our program”.
“Even coming from people associated with Cranbrook NOT in our story,” Milligan wrote on X. “Power and influence in Australia’s wealthiest enclave. Tune in.”
Media moguls James and Kerry Packer, billionaire tech entrepreneur Mike Cannon-Brookes, former NSW Deputy Premier Tim Bruxner and former Sydney Lord Mayor Sir David Griffin are among the notable alumni of the prestigious college, along with a host of actors, filmmakers and businessmen.
Criticism of the program was raised as early as last week, with Mr Lovell taking to Ben Fordham’s 2GB radio show to complain of the upcoming “hit job”.
Mr Lovell told Fordham on Friday that the ABC was attempting to “paint a negative picture of the culture and leadership of the school”.
He said the program had approached them for comment but he felt the process was “unfair”.
The school otherwise declined to participate in an interview.
“We did approach them about 10 days ago, and it was only three days ago they gave us some questions which were limited in nature,” he said.
“We really want to just let our community know we provide a safe and inclusive and respectful environment for the kids.”
But an ABC spokesperson said Cranbrook had been given detailed information, and ample time and opportunity to participate in the program.
“Four Corners conducts important public interest investigations,” the spokesperson said. “The public can watch the program and make up their own minds”
— with NCA NewsWire
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