Teacher receives $1.3m dollar payout over mob attack at Marist

A Brisbane teacher who says she suffered permanent injuries after she was allegedly attacked by a mob of food-throwing private school boys has received a $1.27 million payout.

Victoria Sparrow took Marist College Ashgrove to the Supreme Court of Queensland over allegations she had been surrounded by up to 300 students in October 2023, leading to injuries she said doctors told her would stop her from working as teacher again.

In a statement on Tuesday she said she had accepted the WorkCover compensation rather than fight the school’s national organisation Marist Schools Australia and their “unlimited resources”.

“I have made that choice knowing that I need costly ongoing specialist treatment, both now and for many years ahead,” she said.

“I hope one day to return to some form of employment despite my permanent injuries preventing me from ever teaching again.”

Sparrow’s case accused the school of fostering misogyny, and sparked a review of the all-boys school’s workplace culture .

Sparrow’s barrister, Gerard Forde, said the drama teacher was supervising students on lunch when the alleged incident occurred .

In her statement, Sparrow said she was “surrounded by young men, some standing on chairs and tables, inches above her, chanting and yelling loudly”.

Forde told the Supreme Court Sparrow’s psychological injuries were due to both the incident itself and how the school treated her afterwards.

Rick Green, the barrister representing the school, argued the allegations about the culture of misogyny were irrelevant.

In a letter sent to school staff on Monday, Acting Head of College Paul Blinkoff said the payout made no finding of wrongdoing by the school.

“Throughout this process Marist College Ashgrove and Marist Schools Australia have engaged from a position of respect for Ms Sparrow and for what she said of her experience and the effect it had on her,” he wrote.

“We apologise to Ms Sparrow for her experience and its impact, and we earnestly hope that the resolution of this matter today provides her a foundation for healing and assists her recovery.”

During the court process, Marist teacher and union representative Madonna Spillane alleged the head of the college Michael Newman had said “boys will be boys” after Sparrow’s alleged attack in an affidavit.