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Two boys expelled from Melbourne private school over offensive spreadsheet ranking female students

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Two boys have been expelled from a private school in Melbourne's east after an offensive dossier rating female students was uncovered.

Warning: This story contains offensive language and references to sexual violence.

The students at Yarra Valley Grammar, in Ringwood, were disciplined after staff discovered a screenshot of the spreadsheet, which used offensive terms and referenced sexual violence.

The spreadsheet used terms such as "wifeys" and "cuties" to describe female students and also used the term "unrapeable".

In a letter to parents on Tuesday morning, principal Mark Merry said the position of the students was "untenable" and they would not be returning to the school.

"A number of our students had been targeted in a cruel and highly offensive online post which caused great hurt to them and their families and distress to their friends," Dr Merry said in the letter.

"I am saddened that the actions of a few individuals can cause so much harm as social media has the power to amplify the damage that can be done and the anguish inflicted."

Other students are also facing disciplinary action over the document, which Premier Jacinta Allan described as "disgraceful".

Yarra Valley Grammar Principal Mark Merry wrote to parents to tell them two boys had been expelled.(ABC News: Nico White)

Yarra Valley Grammar contacted police on Monday after the document was found.

In a statement, Victoria Police said it was "assessing the information to determine if it's a matter for police."

The school is also providing counselling to students and offers courses on gender boundaries and how to behave in respectful relationships.

In his letter to parents, Dr Merry said the behaviour offended the school's values, but showed more needed to be done.

"Whilst we need to accept that this has been an issue here at the school, to characterise this as a 'Yarra problem' would be missing the point," he said.

"Sexism and misogyny are ever-present in our society and it is the responsibility of all of us; families, teachers, the media, workmates and friends to stand up and make it clear that this is not acceptable anywhere."

Yarra Valley Grammar said its programs on respectful relationships will be reviewed.

Tom Harkin from Tomorrow Man, which runs self-development courses at the school, said tough conversations about misogyny within school environments were overdue.

"This wouldn't be a one-off experience, isolated, there'd be experiences like this across the country," he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"So, you know, it kind of makes you want to double down and make sure we have more of a systemic approach to this.

"I don't think until very recently we've been taking seriously the types of environments that are shaping views for our young men about how to behave and their relationship toward women in particular."

Posted 7 May 20247 May 2024Tue 7 May 2024 at 1:03am, updated 7 May 20247 May 2024Tue 7 May 2024 at 12:54pm

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