Female teachers at Sydney's Scots College have reported experiencing sexualized gestures, wolf-whistling, and the creation of deepfakes by students, according to allegations that have surfaced as the school faces scrutiny over its culture following charges of alleged rape against three of its pupils.
Three teenage boys, aged 13 and 14, were arrested last week in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in an alleyway in Bondi Junction last month. Two of the boys were charged with aggravated sexual assault in company and aggravated sexual touching, while a third boy faced similar charges. The school community has been significantly impacted by these arrests.
Two female teachers, speaking anonymously to The Saturday Telegraph, described incidents involving male students as young as 13. One teacher, currently employed at the school, stated that students have directed wolf-whistles, sexualised sounds, and gestures towards her within the classroom. She also reported that staff and students have been targets of deepfakes, where their photos were altered into explicit images.
This teacher further alleged that students in Years 7 to 9 were heard rating the appearance of female teachers and girls from nearby schools, using derogatory terms such as 'slut.' She believes a small group of boys are responsible for behavior that has become normalized and has a wider impact on the school environment.
The second teacher, who left the private school within the last five years, noted a difference in how some male students responded to discipline from female staff compared to male staff. She recounted instances where female teachers giving instructions were told to "calm down" or accused of being "too dramatic," while the same directions from a male teacher were met with compliance. This teacher described the experience as a daily occurrence of being undermined, talked over, and hearing comments that contributed to a negative culture.
Both educators claimed that their complaints were dismissed by school leadership, who allegedly characterized the behavior as "harmless banter."
Scots College principal Dr. Ian Lambert and chairman Glen Pather addressed the allegations in a letter to parents on August 18, stating that "sexual violence is never acceptable" and that such behavior is "entirely inconsistent with the standards and values of the College." The letter also emphasized that commentary minimizing sexual violence or blaming others is unacceptable. The school heads noted that the allegations occurred away from the college and outside school hours.
According to the letter, discussions about the matter have been held with students. All students in Year Five and above have received age-appropriate information regarding the situation, with additional support offered. Staff are reportedly monitoring students who may be unsettled, angry, or confused by the events.
Following their arrest, the three accused students were granted strict conditional bail and are scheduled to appear before a children's court on August 25. Police searches of residences connected to the investigation resulted in the seizure of electronic devices for forensic examination. Replica firearms, including a BB gun, laser pointers, and a suspected stolen license plate, were also confiscated and will undergo forensic testing.
This situation marks a significant crisis for the 133-year-old institution, known as one of the country's most expensive schools.