Armadale Senior High School principal Mary Griffiths and Member for Armadale Tony Buti have leapt to the school’s defence after two videos showing Armadale students fighting recently surfaced.
One video showed a girl being pulled to the ground and repeatedly hit by another girl after school last Friday while another showed two girls brawling earlier this year.
Ms Griffiths said while any fighting was abhorrent the school was actually doing better than most other high schools to stamp out bullying and aggressive behaviour.
“Friday’s assault was an unusual incident, it occurred as students were leaving school for the day,” she said.
“Staff were immediately on the scene and the victim was given first aid and her parents contacted immediately.
“The perpetrator’s family was also contacted and the maximum level of suspension given.
The resulting media attention has been devastating for our school community.
“We have wonderful students here and many of them have been very upset by the reports.
“This year we have had five incident reports that have involved fighting.
“Two of these were not at school but in the community.
“All of these incidents have been followed up with parent consultation and support from our school-based psychologist, chaplain, adolescent health nurse and student service staff.”
Ms Griffiths said the school did not have a culture of violence.
“At Armadale SHS we treat fighting and bullying very seriously.
“We have established strong processes to deal with bullying and any form of violence in the school.
“If a student is suspended for a physical altercation, restorative justice processes are put in place once the student has returned from suspension.
“Armadale SHS works closely with external agencies to support students in an holistic manner.
“We do not ignore the necessity to educate our students in anti-bullying.
“It is timely that we are launching a new program this week called positive behaviour support in schools.
“It is a classroom and community-based program to support students to make better decisions about their behaviour.”
Dr Buti, who is on the school’s board, said the school was no more violent than any other school in Perth.
“Armadale Senior High School in my experience is no more violent than other schools that I’ve seen and visited in and out of my electorate and I don’t think it’s fair to portray it as a particularly violent school,” he said.
“No way, not even near it. It is wrong and very unfair to the students staff and parents of the school.”
