Pack your bags, students

Parents back Pacific Pines principal’s hard line

A NO-NONSENSE Gold Coast principal is expelling on average one unruly student every week – with the backing of parents.

State Government data shows Pacific Pines State High School cancelled the enrolment of 51 students last year – more than double the number of the school with next most.

Overall, 281 students were expelled at Gold Coast public schools in 2019, 17 per cent fewer than the year before.

Pacific Pines principal Mark Peggrem said he planned to continue to engage with the school community on its high expectations for behaviour.

The value of his tough stance was reflected in soaring enrolments, he said. The school now has 1840 students.

Last month Pacific Pines announced plans to introduce weekend detention as a new disciplinary alternative, which had the support of parents.

“At our recent parent forum we had great feedback regarding our plans to increase our support for students and parents,” Mr Peggrem said.

“It is great to see that Pacific Pines State High parents, teachers and students support our strong stance towards poor behaviour.

“The community’s support

is reflected in the school’s substantial increase in enrolments over the last five years.

“Students are happier and performing at higher levels than ever before.”

A mother of two students at Pacific Pines said she backed

the school’s strong stance, and that the figures reflected an active behaviour management strategy at the school.

“Parents appreciate the hard-line approach,” she said.

“The numbers don’t reflect bad behaviour, they reflect the tolerance of teachers and they allow those who want to be there the chance to learn. It is very popular for that reason.”

A student’s enrolment may be cancelled only when in Years 11 or 12 and no longer required to attend school.

Keebra Park State High School’s 22 exclusions/cancellations for 2019 was the second highest on the Coast behind Pacific Pines. Keebra has 813 students.

Nerang State High School expelled 14 students.

More than a dozen Gold Coast primary and high schools had no expulsions.

A spokesman for the Education Department said a majority of Queensland state school students never received a disciplinary absence during their 13 years of education.

In 2019, about one in five state schools reported no disciplinary absences for the year.

“Additionally, the total number of disciplinary absences fell in 2019, after several years of annual increases,” the spokesman said.

“Only around 7 per cent of the student population is subject to disciplinary absences.

“This demonstrates that strategies and boundaries put in place by our principals and teachers are effective.”

In total, 82,944 disciplinary absences were reported in 2019.