Shore school investigates video of violent attack on classroom
The Shore School is investigating a violent incident between students after video surfaced of a boy using a table to physically attack a classmate.
Footage of the class brawl at the prestigious North Sydney private school shows a sixth form student lifting a table and throwing it at another student’s head while surrounded by a group of classmates.
Principal John Collier said that herald The police were informed of the matter and the school investigated and imposed disciplinary measures.
“This is a serious problem and should not have happened. We need to give our guys a clear message about fighting and filming people without their permission. Appropriate disciplinary action has been taken and further action will be taken once the investigation is complete,” Collier said.
“We are striving to eradicate this behavior. We need to send our boys a clear message about fighting and privacy and that filming people without permission is not acceptable,” he said.
In a statement, a Shore spokesman said the school has spoken to the families of the affected students and will continue to update them.
“Shore condemns all forms of violence and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students in our care.”
Shore, also known as the Sydney Church of England Grammar School, has campuses in North Sydney and Northbridge and charges up to $39,960 for Year 12 students.
In July last year, Shore’s former principal, Tim Petterson, was fired after the school board said a culture review had found new leadership was needed. Collier, the former Headmaster of St Andrew’s Cathedral School who has served as Headmaster for more than 30 years, has been appointed to the position. The school has been described as one of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of the Anglican Church of Sydney.
In 2020, the school faced weeks of bad publicity after students advocated illegal and disrespectful activities in leaked Year 12 plans.
The violent classroom incident came as schools across New South Wales grappled with increasing behavior from students, with public school assaults increasing by 50 percent over the past decade. Last year, the former coalition government appointed a senior behavior consultant to work across the public, Catholic and independent school sectors to improve student behavior.
