State regulator investigating private school strapping scandal

Victoria’s education regulator is investigating claims of a “punishment ring” at a private school that saw senior boarding students repeatedly assaulting younger students with straps.

Ten senior boarders at Ballarat Grammar have been sent home and local police are investigating assault allegations, some dating back to 2023, as concerns mount of a “strapping culture” in at least one of the school’s boarding houses.

The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), which regulates education and training providers and manages the registration and review of independent schools, confirmed on Wednesday that it was examining the claims.

“All Victorian schools and school boarding premises must meet the minimum standards and other requirements for registration, including the Child Safe Standards,” a spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

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The authority has the power to impose mandatory conditions, bar a school from enrolling new students, and, in the most serious cases, suspend or cancel a school’s registration, if an institution fails to uphold child safety standards.

The move comes after The Age revealed last week police were investigating “horrendous” claims about a punishment ring among students at the boarding school.

Ballarat Grammar is co-educational, but its boarding houses are boys-only.

Ballarat Grammar declined to comment when contacted on Wednesday, citing ongoing inquiries.