The principal of a Canterbury high school facing 16 bullying allegations has declined to be interviewed about the claims.
More than a dozen families have come forward saying their children suffered from violence, torment and threats at Ashburton College, a secondary school around an hour south of Christchurch. Over half of those allegations relate to the last two years.
READ MORE: School bullying victims say they were ignored by Ashburton College
In the second instalment in a three part series, which aired at 6pm tonight, two families said the college had ignored their pleas for help.
One young woman said she quit the school in 2020 at the age of 15, when she began to feel unsafe.
She claimed her schoolmates had bullied her for months, after learning she’d been sexually assaulted.
But her school file only recorded bullying once.
“It got so bad to the point to where I wanted to stop living,” she said.
“I went to my counsellor and I said ‘hey this has happened, this bullying isn't stopping, and I have a plan in place to end my life’.”
Another family described being referred to truancy services, saying the school was concerned over a low attendance rate but not the bullying behind it.
It follows a story aired last night, describing the plight of a 14-year-old student who attempted suicide last month over bullying.
Ashburton College didn't respond to those allegations in their statement to 1News, but said it uses a mix of programmes, tools and strategies to address issues.
That includes the Ministry's Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework, described as a schoolwide approach which works to "build a culture of positive behaviour”. It's also planned a NetSafe session for November.
The school says it acts on the advice of a number of agencies, including the Ministry of Education, NetSafe, He Waka Tapu and the New Zealand police as appropriate, and claims to work "very hard" to address concerns appropriately.
But University of Canterbury bullying expert Dr Cara Swit believes bullying needs a more targeted response.
“I think what really needs to happen here is an intervention where it's a community approach, where the school organises some kind of hui or open forum where they openly listen,” she said.
Dr Swit is also calling on the government to mandate and fund bullying prevention and intervention programmes.
“I do feel that when teachers and schools have a choice it often gets swept under the carpet or thrown away into the too hard basket.”
Many families are calling for Ashburton College principal Ross Preece to resign, saying he doesn’t have the skills for the job.
Preece declined to sit down for an interview. 1News sent him and the school board a list of questions in writing, but they did not address many of those. Preece did not respond when asked whether he would apologise to any of the families involved.
In a letter sent to parents and caregivers at the school this month, Preece and the Board of Trustees said they were reflecting on how they can continue to strengthen and improve their systems, processes and support for students.
The letter didn’t provide any details as to how the school planned to improve.
Do you have a bullying story to share? Email Thomas.Mead@tvnz.co.nz
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