Ten Ballarat Grammar boarders sent home amid strapping scandal

Ten senior boarders at Ballarat Grammar have been sent home as investigations continue into an alleged punishment ring operating at one of the prestigious school’s boarding houses.

Although the school’s principal said no one has yet been punished over claims that boys as young as year 7 level were targeted for unofficial “justice” at the Dart House boarding facility, Grammar has confirmed that 10 students have left the boarding house while the allegations are investigated.

Ballarat Grammar suspects at least 10 senior students were targeting younger students. Credit: Joe Armao

The school says it is unclear how long the so-called boarding house punishments were being meted out, and the alleged offending came to light early this month when a parent approached the school to report their child had said they had been hit with a strap.

Police in Ballarat had been aware of the allegations since early February, according to the school, but it remained unclear on Monday whether the force was officially investigating the claims.

After the strapping scandal came to light 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.

At a committee meeting of former Grammar students on Monday night, headmaster Adam 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.

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