Today, Principal Brenda McNaughton emailed parents about today’s article and what the school is doing to prevent further incidents.

“You may have noticed that the New Zealand Herald has today published a story detailing historic allegations of sexual misconduct against our former staff member Peter Thomas,” the email said.

“These historical allegations against former staff member Peter Thomas relate to a period prior to my appointment as director, so I am currently seeking further details and clarification.

“Our primary concern should always be for the safety and well-being of our students and other members of our school community, and we are constantly reviewing our protocol to ensure it is as robust as possible for the protection of girls.”

As part of “constant review”, in term 1 this year the school board made “significant updates” to the Child Protection Policy and all teachers participated in professional development following the revised policy, she said.

In Term 2, the board then initiated an independent review of the pupil support area, “to ensure our pupils and parent community of exceptional practice in this area of ​​school wellbeing”.

“During this term, our entire staff is involved in rewriting our Code of Conduct to ensure that this also demonstrates best practice and is used by every member of our community (staff and students alike) to support the safety and well-being of our young women.” McNaughton wrote.

We all want our school and all schools to be safe places for our young people so they can thrive while at school and beyond.

“While we review this information and our procedures, we encourage any students or the wider school community with any concerns to contact us directly in confidence.”

The school and McNaughton did not respond to questions about a female student who was earlier banned from music lessons after raising concerns about Thomas.

The Herald asked EGGS if he thought he had properly investigated her previous complaint and why she was banned from the music department.

McNaughton responded with quotes similar or identical to those in her email to parents.

The Herald sent several follow-up emails but the school did not respond.

The student, Mia*, said she made her first complaint in late 2018 when she was in year 12, a keen music student who saw EGGS as a potential gateway to the music career she wanted .

In March 2019, the investigation into the complaint closed, Mia was told there was insufficient evidence to substantiate it.

Mia said she was later asked to sign a “student plan to maintain school safety” which prevented her from entering the music department.

The Herald has seen this document.

“(Mia) doesn’t have to go to the music department for any reason,” he directed.

“If (Mia) wishes to participate in a school musical event, either on-site or off-site, (she) is expected to discuss this with (the counselor) well in advance.”

“(Mia) will respect the need to keep all matters related to the allegations she made in Term 1 and the subsequent investigation private and confidential.”

“If (Mia) happens to meet Mr. Thomas by chance, she will ignore him,” the May 2019 document said.

Mia also claims the school told her she could no longer take music for her year 13 scholarship – even though she studied on her own outside the music department. The Herald could not verify this with EGGS.

“It was devastating, I remember feeling like, ‘oh yeah, my music career is definitely over,'” she told Herald.

“I feel like wasted potential… If I would have kept quiet, I could have had a career.”

Through his lawyer, Thomas said Herald he denied and still denies Mia’s allegations, “they just didn’t happen,” he said.

*Mia was under 18 when she made the allegation and her name has been changed to protect her identity.

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