Knox Grammar School teacher William Roberto Gulson charged with child grooming

An English teacher and former student of Knox Grammar School has been charged with one count of ‘procuring or grooming a child under 16 for unlawful sexual activity’.

Knox Grammar school teacher and former student William Gulson, who has been charged with grooming a child online.

An English teacher from an elite all-boys school on Sydney’s upper north shore has been charged with child grooming and will face court on Saturday.

Knox Grammar School teacher and former student William Roberto Gulson, 27, was ­arrested on Friday and taken to Hornsby Police Station where he was charged with one count of “procuring or grooming a child under 16 for unlawful sexual activity”.

Headmaster Scott James alerted the school community on Friday afternoon, and said Mr Gulson’s employment had been terminated “immediately”.

Mr Gulson, who is in police custody, will face Parramatta Local Court on Saturday after being refused bail.

Knox Grammar school teacher and former student William Gulson.

Police said Mr Gulson, who is also a dance coach, drama club convener and year 8 mentor, was arrested in nearby Wahroonga.

“In September, officers attached to Kuring-Gai Police Area Command commenced an investigation into allegations a man groomed a child online, a statement read.

“Following inquiries, a 27-year-old man was arrested today (Friday 6 September 2024) in Wahroonga before he was taken to Hornsby Police Station. He was charged with one count of procuring or grooming child under 16 for unlawful sexual ­activity.”

Mr James, in a note to parents, said the alleged grooming occurred online.

Knox Grammar School principal Scott James.

“I am writing to inform you that late this afternoon a senior school teacher was charged by police in relation to allegations of online grooming of a minor,” he wrote.

“When this was brought to our attention, the teacher concerned was immediately removed from the school and his employment was terminated. We are only now able to write to you because the teacher has been charged, but we remain ­restricted in what we can say ­because of the ongoing investigation by police.”

Mr James said there is “no evidence that this behaviour ­extended beyond the online environment”.

“We are informed that the ­alleged exchange occurred outside school hours and premises and did not involve any school IT equipment,” he said.

“Knox is a child safe environment and in this situation, we took immediate precautionary action and worked with Police. We will continue to provide timely and transparent communication on this matter, when possible without compromising the police and court processes.”

The school was embroiled in scandal towards the end of 2022 after racist, sexist and homo­phobic material was shared by students in a private chatroom, leading to multiple suspensions.