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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Sarah Lansdown

Five ACT public schools visited by WorkSafe inspectors

Kingsford Smith School was among five public schools visited by WorkSafe ACT in Term 1. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

Five Canberra public schools were visited by WorkSafe ACT inspectors in Term 1 because of safety concerns related to staff shortages.

Calwell High School, Amaroo School, Kingsford Smith School, Namadgi School and Wanniassa School caught the attention of the work safety watchdog, the Education Directorate has revealed.

Earlier on Tuesday Education Minister Yvette Berry said she was aware that WorkSafe ACT had been called in to other ACT schools but did not have names of the schools visited.

An Education Directorate spokeswoman said by and large the more than 50,000 public school students attended safe and supportive learning environments.

"The Education Directorate acknowledges the important role Worksafe ACT plays in ensuring workplaces are as safe as they can be and is committed to working with Worksafe where any opportunities for improvement are identified to ensure safe learning and work environments for all staff and students," the spokeswoman.

"The Education Directorate has formal mechanisms in place to reduce the risk of occupational violence against staff and support the work health and safety of our entire workforce and student population."

The spokeswoman said the Directorate was continuing to work with WorkSafe ACT on the prohibition and improvement notices issued to Calwell High School.

Inspectors found teachers and administration staff were being abused, sworn at, screamed at and subjected to sexualised behaviour or violence from students on a daily basis.

The school suffered from a chronic shortage of staff with classes of more than 40 students commonplace in Term 1.

A teacher was also seriously injured in a violent incident in the principal's office.

All Calwell High School students are learning remotely for the first week of term to allow teachers to undergo training. Year 9 and 10 will return to campus in week two.

Ms Berry said two executive teachers and an experienced school leader had started at Calwell High School.

"They had a particularly difficult last couple of weeks of the last term. It was very challenging with that serious incident out there.

"We want to make sure they feel supported in this first week going back. Once we've satisfied the requirements by WorkSafe then the year 7 and 8 students will be able to return."

Ms Berry said she was not aware of any further prohibition notices issued to any public schools.

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