Dear College community

We are writing together following the charges laid against three students and the continuing public commentary about the matter and The Scots College. The feedback received directly by the College has been overwhelmingly supportive, for which we are grateful. We also recognise that some members of our community continue to hold concerns or have questions. Those questions deserve a direct response.

We want to be very clear: sexual violence is never acceptable. Behaviour of the kind alleged is entirely inconsistent with the standards and values of the College. Commentary that minimises sexual violence, blames or targets another person or speculates about the young people involved is also unacceptable.

It is not for the College to determine what occurred or to presume the guilt of any individual. Charges have been laid, but guilt has not been determined. The College must respect that distinction so the legal process can take its course and all students are treated fairly. This does not diminish the seriousness of the charges.

The alleged incident occurred away from the College and outside school hours. The College did not witness it and does not have first-hand knowledge of what occurred. Much of the information now circulating became known to the College, as it did to the wider community, through a media statement made by the New South Wales Police Force and media reporting, so we will not speculate or present as fact information that the College cannot verify.

We will not get ahead of the legal process. Our commitment is to the safety and welfare of all students in our care, and the College will make appropriate arrangements to uphold that commitment. Your son is safe at school. We will not discuss individual arrangements publicly where doing so could identify a student or place any young person at risk.

We understand that staff and parents want to know what has been said to students, what support is available and what the College teaches about consent, dignity and relationships. All students in Year 5 and above have now been spoken to about this matter in age-appropriate ways and in settings suited to their stage of development. In every case, additional support has been offered. Staff continue to pay close attention to students who may feel unsettled, angry, confused or personally affected by what they have heard or read.

These immediate conversations are one part of a longer and continuing responsibility. Consent and respectful relationships are not addressed through a single lesson, program or visiting speaker. The College has, and continues to teach, age-appropriate consent and sexuality education from Kindergarten through to Senior School for at least 15 years.

The formation of character is cumulative, taking place through age-appropriate teaching, pastoral care, Christian education and the daily expectations governing language, relationships, online conduct and personal responsibility.

The Christian foundation of the College begins with the inherent dignity of every person. It calls each student to treat all people, including women and girls, with respect, to exercise self-control, to accept responsibility for their choices and to care for others. These are not abstract principles. They must be evident in each student’s language, decisions and conduct, including when adults are not present. They also require us to recognise the profound harm caused by sexual violence and to care for the wellbeing of those who have experienced it.

The College does not claim that education can remove every risk or guarantee every individual choice. We do, however, accept our responsibility to teach these standards clearly, consistently and over time. Parents and families have the primary and enduring role in the formation of their children, and the partnership between home and school remains essential to this work.

The College Council has been fully engaged throughout this matter and is united and resolute in its support for Dr Lambert and the entire Executive team. Dr Lambert leads the College with Council’s full authority and support. In carrying out the College’s mission and upholding its standards, he acts with Council’s mandate and backing. Council fully supports his leadership for the remainder of his tenure as Principal and shares responsibility with him and the Executive team for the decisions arising from this matter and the sound governance of The Scots College.

We thank staff for the steadiness, care and professional judgement they have shown while supporting students and one another. We also thank parents and carers for the thoughtful conversations taking place at home and for alerting the College when a student may need additional care.

We again ask every member of the community not to speculate publicly about the allegations, seek to identify or target anyone involved or share material relating to the matter without regard for the privacy and welfare of others. Online commentary can cause significant harm and may have serious consequences. Any concerning content involving students should be reported to the College and, where appropriate, to Police.

We are conscious that writing to you this plainly will generate further media speculation. That will not deter us from placing the safety and welfare of students first, upholding the law and following the directions of Police. The legal process limits what the College can responsibly say about the charges, but it does not limit our responsibility to care for students, support staff, work in partnership with parents and state clearly the standards by which we seek to live.

As a Christian community, we commit this matter to God in prayer, conscious that we are accountable to Him for the care and formation of the young people entrusted to us, and we ask you to join us in praying for all who are affected and for wisdom and compassion in the days ahead.

We may not be able to answer every question while that process continues, but we will continue to communicate directly with staff and families as the legal process allows.

Yours sincerely

Rev Glen Pather, Chairman of the College Council

Dr Ian PM Lambert, Principal, The Scots College