A Clarendon College-appointed investigator has wrapped up an investigation into bullying allegations at the elite school, finding anonymous whistleblower claims made in late 2022 unsubstantiated.
In October last year the Herald Sun exclusively revealed an anonymous letter had alleged there was a culture of bullying at Clarendon College which caused “genuine misery” and led to teachers breaking down in front of students.
Multiple sources afterwards told the Herald Sun they said they saw and experienced the culture outlined in the letter.
The Herald Sun does not suggest any of the allegations against principal David Shepherd or senior staff or are true, only that they were made.
The school appointed an investigator – but would say not whom – who within two months made an interim finding exonerating Mr Shepherd of the claims against him.
In a letter sent to parents about the final report on Thursday, Clarendon’s Board of Directors chair Mark Patterson said “none of the allegations in the anonymous letter were found to be substantiated”.
“The independent investigator also provided recommendations in relation to specific areas of workplace improvement and remediation, which the Board welcomed,” he said.
“These have now been implemented.”
WorkSafe and the Independent Education Union began their own inquiries in the wake of the whistleblower letter.
At least one complaint looked into by WorkSafe has come to a close without any action required by Clarendon.
The Herald Sun understands another complaint might still be under investigation and the union inquiry continuing.
Mr Patterson’s statement said Mr Shepherd, for whom the investigation had been “particularly hard”, welcomed the “exonerative findings and conclusions”.
Source: Herald Sun
