Police called in as more details emerge from Ballarat Grammar ‘strapping’ scandal

Police have confirmed they are investigating assault allegations at the centre of a “strapping” scandal at a Victorian private school dating back to 2023.

It comes as Ballarat Grammar’s principal pledged the institution will “weather the media storm” after revelations 10 senior boarding students have been sent home over unofficial “justice” allegedly being meted out on younger students at the Dart House boarding facility.

Ballarat Grammar has called in police in investigate assault claims.Credit: Joe Armao

Principal Adam Heath told the annual general meeting of the school’s Old Grammarians society on Monday evening that all the students caught up in the allegations were receiving a “lot of care”.

Heath said it had been a “difficult and stressful” time, but the school community would get through it together.

“Probably the most important thing that you need to know is the young people and their families at the centre of this have been offered a lot of care,” he said. “We’re a big, old school – we will weather the media storm.”

Heath declined to speak to The Age following the meeting.

Three days after Grammar said they were working with police on the strapping allegations, the force issued a brief statement confirming their involvement.

“Ballarat police officers are investigating a report of several assaults which occurred at a school in Wendouree between 2023 and 2024,” a spokeswoman said.

“The investigation remains ongoing.”

After the strapping scandal was uncovered over the weekend, a family that previously sent their son to the school said they had warned Grammar in 2023 that he had been repeatedly targeted by older students as part of a broader culture of punishment.

Footage has emerged of the boy being physically bullied by a much larger, older student while several others look on, laughing.

The school has acknowledged, through its lawyers, the hurt caused to the younger student but did not accept that his abuse was part of a strapping culture.

A spokeswoman declined to discuss that case.

“Ballarat Grammar has a policy of not disclosing details of individual students, this is line with Australian Privacy Principles.”

Nor would the school provide any further comment on the latest set of allegations.

“As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot provide any further details,” the spokeswoman said.

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