School investigating after footage of wild classroom brawl surfaces online

• Shore School in Sydney investigating after classroom brawl
• Footage shows one student throw a table at another 

Wild footage shows a boy at one of Australia’s most prestigious schools attacking one of his classmates with a table as horrified students watch.

The fight took place this week at Sydney Church of England Grammar School, also known as Shore School, with the troubling footage appearing online.

Video shows one boy dressed in a school uniform, tie and a bucket hat picking up the large wooden and metal desk and then flipping it into the head of a boy, who is seated in a plastic chair.

A group of their classmates are seen surrounding the pair, though it appears none of the boys attending the $39,960-a-year school step in to separate them.

After the boy in the chair is hit in the head by the edge of the desk, the assailant then attempts to tackle him while he is still seated, prompting a struggle.

Principal John Collier said they school was taking the matter very seriously and has launched its own investigation as well as bringing in police.

‘We need to give a clear message to our boys about fighting and about filming people without their permission,’ Mr Collier told The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘Appropriate disciplinary action has been taken, and further action will be taken on completion of the investigation.’

Mr Collier has been in the job less than 12 months, after taking over from former Principal Tim Petterson who was shown the door after an internal review found fresh leaders were needed to improve school culture. 

The school, which is attended by about 1,600 students in Years 7 to 12, has said it had spoken to the families of both boys.

‘Shore condemns any form of violence and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students in our care,’ a spokesperson said.

Between 2016 and 2022 there has been a surge in assaults at NSW schools, rising from 1,194 reported cases to nearly 2,000 last year, according to government data. 

In 2022, the former NSW coalition government announced it had appointed Emeritus Professor Donna Cross as the first NSW chief behaviour advisor.

She is tasked with establishing best practice regarding student behaviour and inclusion in NSW schools.