A former Melbourne Catholic school staffer can be unmasked for the first time after he was charged with serious child sex offences. 

Former Marymede Catholic College education sport assistant Andrew Cassar fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with sexually penetrating a child under 16.

Cassar, who was 24 at the time of his arrest, is accused of sexually violating a child on March 9. 

The allegations against Cassar sparked a storm among the tight-knit school community after sex crime detectives stormed the college’s Doreen campus on March 10 and arrested him. 

A Victoria Police Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team police swarmed the school grounds during a pupil free day and took him away.

Marymede Catholic College principal Timothy Newcomb was forced to pen a letter to concerned parents in which he confirmed Cassar had been arrested and ‘directed not to return’.

‘The arrest occurred on a professional learning day, so no students were on campus at the time,’ Mr Newcomb wrote in the letter.

Former Marymede Catholic College education sport assistant Andrew Cassar was charged with sexually penetrating a child under 16

Cassar appeared at court in person on Friday wearing a hoodie and puffer jacket and was supported by his parents

Cassar was arrested at the Marymede College Doreen campus (above) in March

‘Your child’s safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities, Victoria Police advise they have contacted impacted people.

‘However, if you have any queries about our child protection policies and procedures, or should you wish to raise any specific concerns, please contact me directly.’

It’s understood Cassar was bailed shortly after his arrest.

He appeared at court in person on Friday wearing a hoodie and puffer jacket and supported by his parents.

The court heard Cassar’s lawyers had put through an offer to resolve his matter with a guilty plea, but the prosecution indicated they required four weeks to consider the offer.

Cassar, who was ordered not to contact or go near the alleged victim, had his bail extended to front court at a later date. 

Cassar’s Working with Children Check is also expected to be revoked once the matter is finalised.

Tuition for Year 12 at the college is a touch over $8,000-a-year.