Resolved complaint (255) about victimisation in education

About the complaint

The complainant’s 17-year-old daughter has generalised anxiety disorder with panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and a learning disability. The complainant alleged the respondent private boarding secondary school failed to make reasonable adjustments for her daughter, removed her daughter’s access to the external gym, treated her daughter poorly because she made a complaint and expelled her daughter from boarding at the school.

The school claimed it appropriately accommodated the complainant’s daughter, including in relation to disciplinary matters. The school confirmed the complainant’s daughter was unable to access the external gym at certain times as disciplinary action in response to her poor behaviour. The school said it ended the complainant’s daughter’s boarding  arrangement following an incident between her and a staff member.

The complaint was resolved by conciliation with an agreement that the school pay the complainant $80,000 and write to the complainant expressing regret for her daughter’s experiences at the school. It was also agreed that the complainant’s daughter meet with the school’s headmistress to discuss improvements the school could make to its wellbeing and learning support.

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