Former students at Santa Sabina College claim the school has a ‘history of bullying’ after 12-year-old Charlotte O’Brien tragically took her own life

The school where a 12-year-old girl tragically took her life has received a spate of complaints from former students and parents who claim the school has a ‘history of bullying and covering it up’.

Charlotte O’Brien, a Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, west of Sydney, took her own life earlier this month after a two-year ordeal in which classmates bullied her using confidential information.

Her mother Kelly and stepfather Mat told Ben Fordham on 2GB on Monday they were disappointed by the school’s response to Charlotte’s death.

Mat said the couple had not yet heard directly from Santa Sabina, despite principal Paulina Skerman defending the school’s bullying policy earlier this month.

“I have to say that I am disappointed, to say the least, with the response from the school, apart from the response from the wider community,” he said.

Fordham revealed Tuesday that it had received numerous allegations of bullying from former students at Santa Sabina since it broke the news on its program.

“We are not suggesting that this school is worse than others struggling with this growing problem. However, in order to assist Santa Sabina College, we will be sharing the records we have been keeping for the past week,” he said.

Fordham noted that most of the applications came from students who attended the school before Skerman took over as principal in 2020.

“Like Charlotte, I was bullied so much that I felt like my life wasn’t worth living,” one woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told the programme.

‘My family and I have brought this issue to school many times, asking for help, but nothing has been done,’ he continued.

‘The school seemed more intent on helping the bullies than the victims. They turned a blind eye to the torture I faced.

‘The worst part of the experience was the crushing betrayal. Children like Charlotte and me were let down by the people who were supposed to protect us.

‘It takes incredible courage to reach out and ask for help, especially when you’re in despair. When that cry for help is ignored, you feel helpless, as if your pain is invisible and doesn’t matter.’

Another former student, Ellie, said she was left feeling sick after hearing the school had an anti-bullying policy.

‘When I was bullied at Santa Sabina College, my family’s reaction to me was the same, obviously nothing has changed,’ he said.

Former pupil Maddie said bullying issues were ‘always covered up’.

‘I was bullied, my closest friends were bullied, all by students at Santa Sabina. It makes me deeply angry to learn that two years after graduating, they still don’t take the bullying seriously.’

A former parent said her daughter was bullied from seventh to 10th grades at Santa Sabina and nearly took her own life because of it.

She said her daughter is still in therapy because she is in her twenties.

“What we do doesn’t work when a 12-year-old child thinks suicide is their best option,” the mother told 2GB.

‘This poor girl’s suicide has had a profound impact on my daughter and our family.’

Another parent said she felt ‘helpless’ after being told her school trust was ‘expert’ in dealing with bullying among pupils.

“Our daughter also went to Santa and had a few bullying issues in the beginning,” another parent told Fordham.

‘We helped him get through it and he did but the school was completely hopeless and there was no help.

‘Our condolences to Charlotte’s family.’

“My friend dragged her daughter out last year,” another listener wrote.

‘The stories my friend told me were crazy.’

Another former student said the school had a ‘history of bullying and covered it up’.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Skerman regarding the new allegations.

Ms Skerman defended Santa Sabina’s stance against bullying earlier this month, saying their anti-bullying policy was on their website.

“I have been overwhelmed by the number of emails and messages from families over the past week telling me that their children feel safe and cared for at Santa Sabina College and challenging the portrayal that our College is failing to deal with issues that are causing distress among our students,” he said.

‘Our students and families are well aware of the policies and procedures for reporting and resolving matters of concern and this clearly demonstrates the College’s approach to dealing with any concerns raised promptly and appropriately.

‘As a Catholic Dominican school, the biblical values ​​of love, compassion and inclusivity are at the heart of who we are.

‘To say that there is a culture of bullying in college goes against the very fabric that holds our society together.

‘Every member of staff at our school carries your child’s care close to our hearts and this is reflected in the number of messages I have received from our families.

‘We continue to work with our children on how to communicate serious issues and develop strategies for coping with the complexities that life inevitably presents.’