Father considers withdrawing daughter after brawl

AUCKLAND: The father of a Rosehill College pupil fears he may have to move her to a different school to escape constant violence following a brawl at the school grounds on Thursday allegedly involving 150 people.

Yesterday, Rosehill College pupils were filing into school for the last day of the week with one notable change at the entrance to the school, two security guards.

The Herald has confirmed the security guards are not commonplace at the school.

It appeared to be a routine day as parents and caregivers dropped off pupils and others walked to school in the rain.

Thursday was a different story as the South Auckland school went into lockdown during the incident as police responded in large numbers and sickening footage of the violent brawl emerged on social media.

The fight broke out about 2pm. There were claims it involved both pupils and parents.

The man who spoke to the Herald asked to remain anonymous.

His daughter was familiar with the constant fights going on in and around the school, he said.

‘‘My own daughter was attacked here a month ago. A gang of girls broke her nose, the teachers couldn’t do anything.

‘‘It seems that the kids have control of the school.’’

‘‘It’s like a pack of animals. I’m very concerned. I don’t think they have control of these kids; something has to be done from the top.

‘‘As a parent this is not the environment you want your kids to be growing up in.’’

He had other children who would start high school next year and he did not think he would take them to Rosehill College.

Rosehill College principal Sue Blakely said in a statement sent to parents and caregivers the school went into lockdown ‘‘as a precautionary measure’’.

‘‘We went into lockdown and called for police assistance when we had some unauthorised persons on site at lunchtime. The police were satisfied there was no further concern.’’ — NZME