A 12-year-old year seven student was allegedly attacked by a student two years her senior at a Sydney high school.
The 14-year-old allegedly launched a brutal attack on the 12-year-old as dozens of students watched and filmed it on their phones.
“I received a distressing call from my daughter, she’s crying, she’s saying ‘Mum, I’ve been ganged up on please come help me,'” the girl’s mother told 9News.
That was a week ago, and the mother says the school’s response since has been a failure.
“Where were you guys? This was lunchtime,” she said.
“Teachers are supposed to be on duty.
“No ambulance was called to check on her, other than them just giving her some tissues to wipe her bloody nose and bloody eye.”
She also claims they refused to suspend the attacker despite it being recommended by police.
“When I tried to speak to the principal about that, I got a laugh and she said ‘we don’t do that anymore’,” the mother claims.
The girl’s mother reached out to Premier Chris Minns and Education Minister Prue Car.
Their offices today confirmed to 9News that the student did end up being suspended later that day.
Part of the mother’s concerns are also why the students were able to use their phones, to record and post the videos online during school hours.
The Department of Education says after the incident, the principal sent a reminder letter home to all students and families, reinforcing that mobile phones are banned.
“She’s not OK,” the girl’s mother told 9News.
“She’s not really eating, barely drinking, just in her room.
“She is such a bubbly, loving outspoken little girl, and I can’t see that in her anymore.”
Department of Education full statement:
Violence of any kind is completely unacceptable in NSW public schools.
Incidents of this kind are dealt with at a school level through the NSW Department of Education’s Behaviour Management Plan.
One of the students involved in the incident was suspended on the day of the incident.
One of the students was provided with first aid for a bloody nose. There was no other evidence of injury.
The school continues to support students involved.
Minister for Education and Early Learning full statement:
“Our schools have zero tolerance of violence, and the principal took swift action against the perpetrator.”
