Bullying allegations ‘taken very seriously’

Allegations about bullying at exclusive St Peter’s School in Cambridge are being taken ‘‘incredibly seriously’’, the school says.

A note with more information about why Worksafe is investigating has been sent to parents and caregivers.

The revelations come amid questions about why executive principal Dale Burden and deputy principal Yevette Williams have not been at work this term.

Worksafe told a school trust board member about anonymous complaints in the first term, St Peter’s Trust Board chairman John Erkkila said, and the school was told Worksafe was making inquiries.

Workplace bullying ‘‘will not be tolerated, now or ever’’, Erkkila said. However, he reminded the community around the private year 7-to-13 school that investigations were still under way and the outcome couldn’t be pre-determined.

After a meeting with WorkSafe, the school board took on two independent investigators who are working out ‘‘what may or may not have occurred’’, and if there had been bullying behaviour towards staffers.

‘‘I want you to understand that this issue is being taken incredibly seriously,’’ Erkkila told parents and caregivers. ‘‘And I want to understand, if any wrongdoing is found, how that was allowed to happen and how we go about ensuring it doesn’t happen again.’’

If workplace bullying is uncovered, it will be addressed, he said.

‘‘I cannot and will not allow bullying of any kind in our workplace. Being on the receiving end of bullying behaviour is incredibly damaging to a person’s mental health and it will not be tolerated, now or ever.’’

The school community had also told the board ‘‘we haven’t told you enough and that we haven’t told you soon enough’’, Erkkila said. Legal obligations had made it difficult for the board, but he recognised the need to be as open as possible.

Stuff initially met a wall of silence when asking why Burden and Williams – a married couple – were mysteriously absent from work.

It’s understood they were last at work a few days before the recent term break.

Attempts to contact them were unsuccessful.

A former St Peter’s staff member said it was fantastic to have matters in front of Worksafe, but felt many people were too scared to speak out.

Two sources have said there was high staff turnover.

It was at a level that wasn’t normal at a school with such good standing, one said.