Teacher removed from role at NSW school after allegation

A teacher has been relieved of his duties at All Saints’ College in Maitland after a staff member and an older student were accused.

The high school principal wrote to parents over the weekend about the allegation, involving a staff member and a student, that was brought to the school board on February 1.

All Saints’ College principal Brian Lacey told parents the school had reported the allegations to the statutory child protection authorities the same day and that NSW Police are investigating the matter.

“The staff member has been relieved of his normal duties pending the completion of these investigations and no further comment can be made,” Lacey said in the letter.

All Saints’ is a co-educational grammar school and the largest Catholic school in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle with around 1370 pupils.

In a statement, NSW Police said they had received information about the behavior of a teacher in the Hunter area.

“As inquiries are in their infancy, no further comment can be made,” they said.

In his letter to parents, Lacey said that while NSW Police conduct their inquiries, the school and other diocesan authorities, including the Office of Safeguarding, have been asked not to continue their own proceedings or make any comments on the matter.

“This is typical of any situation involving a statutory authority to ensure that the efforts of the police or the Department for Communities and Justice are not hampered in any way,” Lacey said.