Sex games at primary school

Multiple government agencies were called into deal with a group of young boys caught playing sex games at a Catholic school in the Wellington region.

Oranga Tamariki responded to the ‘‘distressing’’ incident – which was described as ‘‘harmful sexualised behaviour’’ – along with the Ministry of Eduction, which sent in more teacher aides to support the students earlier this year.

However, criticism has been levelled at how the incident was dealt with by the school.

Stuff has not named the school in question in order to protect the identity of the children involved but it understands that the incidents involved one young boy as the ring leader and seven to nine other young boys in a bathroom.

The acts included encouraging masturbation, urinating in mouths, and attempts at anal sex.

A parent of one of the boys, who Stuff has chosen not to name, said the school kept crucial details from parents when one asked the school about the investigation.

Another parent raised the issue with the archdiocese and was told to keep the issue vague because it didn’t want to become culpable, a parent said.

The parent was ‘‘appalled’’ at the church’s handling of the situation.

However, the board of trustees chair for the school told Stuff that the incidents were dealt with appropriately.

‘‘The school acted immediately to address the behaviour and keep the parents informed.

‘‘As this matter involved young children, it was important that we worked through this very carefully, with sensitivity, and in line with best practice.’’

Vicar for Education for the Archdiocese of Wellington, Jenny Gordon, said the situation had been ‘‘distressing’’.

She was confident the matter was dealt with in the right way, despite the criticism.

‘‘I understand that the process

Board of trustees chair

has been thorough and transparent, and undertaken in collaboration with multiple agencies,’’ she said.

The Ministry of Education’s Coralanne Child said the department was first notified of the alleged behaviour in April.

‘‘We provided support to the school, including funding for teacher aides to support students,’’ she said.

‘‘... The school’s board of trustees has led a review of the allegations and response with the support of New Zealand School Trustees Association and the Catholic Education Office.’’

Oranga Tamariki’s Bridget Wilson said its focus was always on the welfare of children.

‘‘When there is an allegation of harm to a child, including harmful sexualised behaviour, in an education setting, Oranga Tamariki responds appropriately alongside partner agencies and support services – that has occurred in this instance.’’

‘‘The school acted immediately to address the behaviour and keep the parents informed.’’