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The captain's speech: Head girl's parents taking elite Ravenswood school to court

A budding sports star was stripped naked and shoved into a cupboard in gross act of symptomatic bullying allegedly rife at the elite all-girl Ravenswood School in Sydney.

Two students were expelled and another suspended for the "sickening" attack on the year 8 athlete earlier this year, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The young victim has not been named but it the attack occurred as she prepared to compete in a major sporting event.

Sarah Haynes gave the scathing end of year speech at the exclusive Ravenswood School for Girls. Source: Facebook.
Sarah Haynes gave the scathing end of year speech at the exclusive Ravenswood School for Girls. Source: Facebook.


The incident is an exampled of an apparent bullying culture at the school alluded to by its outgoing head girl in an end of year assembly that went viral earlier this week.

Sarah Haynes called out her school for being "financially motivated" and placing its reputation above its students' welfare.

The 18-year-old accused the school she loved of presenting unrealistic ideals of perfection, in part prompted by a dispute between her parents and the school's administration over the treatment of her sister.


Blasting the school in front of crowds filled with teachers, fellow students and parents. Source: YouTube.
Blasting the school in front of crowds filled with teachers, fellow students and parents. Source: YouTube.

Sarah's sister apparently left the school but it is not known whether she was expelled or asked to leave.

Parents Christopher and Robyn Haynes have reportedly lodged a statement of claim to be heard before the NSW Supreme Court next week.

The Haynes are the only complainants to file with the court, the newspaper reports.


In her speech that ended with a standing ovation, Sarah said she felt "betrayed" by the "Ravo" school she adored so much.

“About halfway through this year at a time when my family and I needed Ravo the most, it let us down,” she said.

“I know that there have been rumours and gossip about my sister leaving the school and I’d rather not add fuel to the fire, but would prefer to say that people who I trusted and respected made an unjustified, cruel and incorrect decision."

It costs up to $28,000 a year to be enrolled at the elite Uniting Church school. Source: Supplied.
It costs up to $28,000 a year to be enrolled at the elite Uniting Church school. Source: Supplied.

Sarah said teachers and staff had "censored" her speeches in the past.

A number of people associated with the school have said online Sarah Haynes' speech smacked of a vendetta.

Mark Webb, chairman of the school owned by the Uniting Church of Australia, said in a letter to the school community the school captain's speech related to "an incident of alleged bullying".

“As this related to a matter before the courts it is not possible for us to comment on the specifics, other than to say this related to a disagreement about disciplinary action take against a number of students following an incident of alleged bullying," the letter read.