Elite Sydney school issues 'extraordinary' apology to student in newspaper
An elite Sydney private school has publicly apologised to a student who was sexually abused by one of its teachers.
Sydney Grammar School took out an advertisement on page three of the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday to say it was "deeply sorry" and to apologise "unreservedly" to the former student and his family.
The teacher pleaded guilty in May 2017 to multiple counts of sexual intercourse with a person under her care over three months in 2016 when she worked at Sydney Grammar School.
She was sentenced to at least seven months in jail in early 2018 and has since been released from prison.
What an extraordinary apology on page 3 of the @SMH pic.twitter.com/EwKZeGlDbg
— Kate McClymont (@Kate_McClymont) 27 September 2019
In its apology, the school said that in reporting the abuse he was suffering the student had shown "enormous bravery" and that it was grateful he had found the courage in "impossible circumstances" to ensure the safety of other students.
"The abuse of male students by female teachers is just as serious, and damaging, as the abuse of female students by male teachers," it said.
"The abuse ... had, and continues to have, a profoundly harmful impact on the student."
The school said it had reviewed its policies and procedures in the wake of the crime as they failed to detect the abuse at the time.
Under the law, the student and teacher’s identity remain undisclosed.
The apology from the school has drawn praise from many who applauded administrators at Sydney Grammar.
“This should become the benchmark for apologies,” Deputy Chair at the ABC, Kirstin Ferguson, wrote on Twitter.
“A very effective example of acknowledging failings, articulating in detail why the victim was so brave & the courageous steps he took, then detailing the changes they have made. I hope it serves as a future example for others.”
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