Bundaberg North State High School parents fear for safety of children due to culture of violence, bullying

Parents at a Qld high school fear for the safety of their children as violence and bullying spiral out of control. It comes as footage emerges of a wild bathroom brawl. WATCH IT NOW

Parents have unloaded on the culture of a Queensland state high school they say is at “breaking point” plagued with bathroom brawls and students being bullied and bashed for “street cred”.

Several parents have demanded Bundaberg North State High School take more action in its duty of care to look after some its most vulnerable students from being “preyed upon”.

The school was this week plunged into lockdown following a violent brawl between “multiple groups” at a playground while footage of another bathroom bashing has emerged.

One mother said her daughter had been “beaten up” four times in 18 months with the most recent “attack” in August putting her in hospital.

A wild student fight in a bathroom at Bundaberg North High School.

Confronting footage of a toilet block incident, shared on social media, showed a student being hit three times in the back of the head by another student.

The video shows both students then trading blows while cries of “keep going, keep going” and “go” from other students watching on can be heard on its audio.

A Department of Education spokesman said any situation that threatened the safety and wellbeing of students and staff in school communities was treated “extremely seriously” and dealt with as a matter of priority.

Further, the department said it was aware of several videos circulating recently featuring “student behaviour incidents”.“In relation to this latest video being circulated, the school can confirm the incident took place a number of weeks ago and appropriate disciplinary action has been applied to students involved, in line with the school’s Student Code of Conduct.”

As the two female students exchange punches, other students are heard shouting “keep going”.

The mother said her daughter, previously a high achieving student, had endured “years of hell” and now suffers from depression and anxiety.

She said groups of students were known to “set upon” classmates in bid to gain “street cred” among the cohort.

“There is this trend in younger students going for street cred and rapport among the older kids, at the expense of other students,” the parent said.

“Our kids aren’t safe … these kids run the school.”

Another parent and mother-of-two said the school was at breaking point with fights almost a daily occurrence.

The fight is the latest of a series of violence incidents at the Bundaberg school.

She said both her children had been bullied and bashed in recent years with her youngest forced to leave school.

“It is getting out of hand, someone is going to get seriously hurt,” she said.

“There is a massive culture problem. It’s crazy. Girls fighting in bathrooms, not just the boys.

“There are kids carrying at the school too, armed at school.”

It comes following a “riot” at the school on Tuesday with viral videos of the incident showing punches being thrown and students piling on top of one another.

“That fight is normal,” the mother said.

The mother said cyber bullying was rife within the school community during and after class.

“They (photos) are shared like wildfire and used to ridicule and humiliate,” she said.

“Students put up these posts begging for entertainment.”

The department spokesman said the school takes the issue of bullying “very seriously” and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students.

“All such incidents are investigated, actioned and support provided to students. The school takes student safety very seriously and works to provide a safe, supportive learning environment for all students,” the spokesman said.

“It is mandatory for the Student Code of Conduct to include guidance materials on how to report bullying and what to expect following the report, including timelines for a response.”

The spokesman said it encouraged all students, parents and carers to report all cases of bullying and misconduct to the principal at the first instance.

The school has several supports in place for students to address issues including anonymous reporting platforms, guidance officers, youth support, psychologists and community education counsellors.

Originally published as Bundaberg North State High School parents fear for safety of children due to culture of violence, bullying