Mums’ are fed up with bullying at Harristown State High School

Video has emerged of a sickening attack where a student rains blows on a girl while onlookers do nothing. It is the latest series of horrific bullying accusation to emerge from one of Toowoomba’s largest schools.

A teenage girl sits at home today, too scared to return to the classroom after she was savagely beaten at school.

Footage of the assault, which was filmed and shared by her attackers, has bounced around the Harristown State High School student’s peer group for the past week.

It shows a frightened teenager attempting to run from other students before she is pulled to the ground and punched in the head dozens of times.

The footage landed in her mother’s inbox this week and brought her to tears.

“It took me a few tries to watch it,” Sarah* said.

“My daughter is still deeply affected, both physically and emotionally.”

The girl doing the beating was suspended while the girl filming the incident escaped punishment.

Sarah said this was not good enough and called on the school to act. She reached out to other parents who shared harrowing tales of bullying at the Garden City’s largest school.

One mother said her son and daughter had been attacked on the same day in separate incidents.

Her autistic son was set upon by 10 boys near the school’s bus stop, allegedly in retaliation for insulting another girl.

A former Harristown High School student and his mother said the school is not safe. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Meanwhile, her daughter was strangled by a girl armed with a chain.

A third mother came forward saying vicious rumours about her young son raping up to 30 girls where spread through the school over the past two years.

“He was being called a paedophile, and he had rocks thrown at him,” Lisa* said.

“Our address was leaked on Facebook and Instagram, and we had students turning up at our house.

“We ended up moving from that address because of all the bad publicity.”

The harassment got to the point where Lisa’s son transferred to the new school after a suicide attempt, but the rumours persisted.

The mothers are fed up with what they see is a lack of action from the school and have called on HSHS to hire more security guards and expel violent students.

They also want harsher penalties for students who share bullying videos.

“This has been going on for a while at HSHS, but it is not just that school, it has become common across Toowoomba,” Sarah said.

A Queensland Education spokeswoman said violence and anti-social behaviours were not tolerated in state schools.

“Any situation that threatens the safety and wellbeing of students, staff or others in our school communities is treated extremely seriously, and dealt with as a matter of priority,” she said.

“Harristown State High School has been working with the students involved and their families. Disciplinary consequences have been applied in line with the schools’ Student Code of Conduct.

“Support staff is available for any students that may need it, including Guidance Officers and Chaplaincy services.

“The school has implemented the Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Support (SW-PBS) program and initiatives across all year levels and participates in the annual National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.

“Students and caregivers with ongoing concerns regarding bullying or misconduct are strongly encouraged to report these matters to the principal, and where appropriate the Queensland Police Service.

If this has raised concerns for you or someone you know, phone Lifeline on 131 114 or the Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

*Names changed for legal reasons.