Ballarat Grammar Boarding School BANNED from Accepting New Students Amid Shocking Allegations of Brutal Bullying and Physical Abuse
- Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority CEO Stefanie Veal has placed six interim conditions on the school’s boarding premises registration, citing a toxic cycle of violence.
- A dozen families have alleged their sons were subjected to physical punishments or groomed to inflict physical punishments on other students at the boarding school over the past three years.
- At least 10 families are engaged in separate legal action against the school over alleged abuse dating back to the 1970s.
A prestigious private school in regional Victoria has been banned from accepting new boarding students after allegations of a toxic culture of violence and bullying emerged. Ballarat Grammar, a respected institution in the area, has been accused of ignoring the pleas of families whose sons were subjected to brutal physical punishments and emotional abuse.
According to the allegations, multiple students were whipped with belts, force-fed rotten food, and stripped naked before being made to swim in Lake Wendouree in the dark. The ABC believes many of those incidents were carried out on victims who later became perpetrators, perpetuating a cycle of abuse that has left deep scars on the school community.
In a statement, Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority CEO Stefanie Veal said, “Schools and school boarding premises must ensure children are safe and feel safe.” The authority has placed six interim conditions on Ballarat Grammar’s boarding premises registration, effectively banning the school from enrolling or accepting any new students until it can prove it complies with safety standards.
The school’s board has apologised to current and past students, families, and the wider school community for the impact caused by these events. “We accept the seriousness of the findings and the impact on students, families and the wider school community,” the statement read. “The care, safety and wellbeing of students and staff is the highest priority of our school.”
As the school struggles to come to terms with the allegations, it has agreed to engage a governance specialist to conduct a full review and training. The move is part of a broader effort to strengthen governance, leadership, and community engagement at the school.
For the families affected by the alleged abuse, the road to healing will be long and arduous. The ban on new students is a small step towards accountability, but it is a crucial one. As one parent said, “It’s about time someone took responsibility for the harm caused to our children.”