Current and former parents of students at Oxford Area School claim a toxic culture of bullying, racism, and inaction has plagued the school for years, with serious consequences for their children’s mental wellbeing.
The issue re-emerged following an assault last Wednesday, when a 13-year-old girl was hospitalised with a concussion after being attacked by another student on school grounds, during school hours.
The girl’s mother told Chris Lynch Media her daughter was now home recovering, but would not be returning to school until her concussion symptoms ease.
“She’s still quite dizzy and has slept most of the day” the mother said. “At this stage, she won’t be returning to school until her symptoms start to improve, which could take some time.”
“I found out from my eldest daughter. When I arrived 20 minutes later, my daughter was lying on the floor, unresponsive but breathing, with emergency services on scene.” The other student involved was given a short stand-down. Police have deferred the matter to the school, she said.
The incident has reignited long-standing frustration among families who say their complaints have been ignored for years.
Chris Lynch Media has obtained written accounts from multiple parents detailing repeated incidents of bullying at the school.
One mother said her 7-year-old son was kicked, punched, and dragged across the grass late last year.
“The school didn’t call me until 2.30pm, even though it happened at lunchtime. I ended up calling an ambulance myself,” she said.
She claimed the school refused to involve police or hold the attackers accountable. “They wouldn’t show me the footage, and my son refused to go back to school. He was traumatised.”
School Board Presiding Member Aaron Campbell, who also serves as a police officer in Oxford, told chrislynchmedia.com, “Any requests for CCTV footage would be approved in line with our policy.”
The mother said both of her children, who are Māori, were repeatedly subjected to racist abuse, including being called the N-word.
Another parent said her 11-year-old son was emotionally targeted over his father’s dementia. “His dean told him, ‘It’s been four years, you should be over it.’ Girls in his class said, ‘At least my dad remembers me.’ When he finally reacted, he was punished, but the bullying girls faced no consequences.”
A mother of two daughters with special needs said the bullying at Oxford Area School became so extreme she withdrew both girls and began homeschooling. “My daughter was hit with rocks. Another boy made sexual comments and gestures constantly. When she asked a teacher for help, she was told to ‘just keep running.’ That was the final straw.”
In a face-to-face meeting, she said Principal Mike Hart claimed he had no knowledge of the bullying. “He apologised and said I’d get a follow-up plan from teachers. It came on the last day of school before I pulled them out.”
Another parent said her son was assaulted in class in front of a teacher. “He was hit in the back of the head and slammed into his desk. The teacher said she didn’t see it, so it didn’t happen. Later, another student fractured his vertebrae after a rock was thrown at him. The school didn’t call an ambulance” she said.
She accused school leadership of brushing off serious concerns. “The acting principal at the time grinned during a meeting. I was told we were the only ones with a problem. It took two years of counselling for my son to recover.”
Do you have more information? Email [email protected]
A father told Chris Lynch Media his daughter has been subjected to relentless bullying by a group of boys and girls, including one student who was eventually expelled.
“Earlier this year, my daughter was being verbally harassed by kids who told her to kill herself,” he said. “She snapped back with a comment she immediately regretted and apologised for, but one of the boys then kicked her in the back, stole her earbuds, and slammed her bag, damaging her Chromebook.”
When the father arrived at the school, he said the Dean was more concerned with how his daughter had used her phone than the assault itself.
“After I pushed back, she handed me to her superior. All they wanted to talk about was what my daughter had said. They refused to acknowledge the assault and only searched for the stolen earbuds after I demanded they pay for them.”
He said that while they were still on campus, two of the boys confronted his daughter again, this time right in front of him and Principal Mike Hart. “All Mike did was send a teacher out to shoo them away.”
Despite further meetings with school leadership and the parents of one of the bullies, he said no consequences were communicated. The bullying continued to the point where his daughter now spends her lunch breaks in the toilet.
“The school scolded her for contacting us. When the bullies were questioned, they made up excuses and the teachers tried to pin it back on her. Nothing has changed. It’s ongoing,” he said.
“The board of trustees do their best, but they can only act if the school brings matters to them – and it doesn’t.”
An Oxford resident who previously served on the school’s board of trustees said the problem is deeply entrenched.
“I have been trying to deal with bullying in this school for many years. I even did a stint on the board for 18 months purely so I could try to do something about it,” the resident said.
“I managed to get someone from outside the school to come in and assess things. Apparently, they came back saying ‘the school does not have a bullying problem.’ I had already left the board by then, and that’s the only answer I got. I couldn’t believe it.”
“They have a serious problem at this school and refuse to acknowledge it. I know many families who have left because of it. My own kids have faced bullying and racism.”
The resident also said they witnessed how the school handled official complaints. “I know for a fact that the board of trustees fob off replies from the Ministry of Education about bullying. I saw it happen in front of my face. They sweep everything under the carpet and deny, deny, deny.”
She said, “Kids from a young age walk around Oxford with knives in their pockets, because they’re that scared of being attacked.”
A mother who eventually moved her family away said the bullying was so severe her daughter refused to attend school for three months. “I sent the same text every day: ‘She won’t come to school due to bullying and your inability to protect her.’ I heard nothing back. When we finally had a meeting, Mike Hart didn’t even show up.”
A father told chrislynchmedia.com he had a meeting with Mike Hart last Friday to discuss students that have been harassing his children and threatening behaviour towards them.
“The police have been involved and I have another conversation with the Child Protection Services. “I said to him about the need to act upon these issues rather than leaving them for a month and my children being fearful of someone attacking them at school.”
He said “the perpetrators were not concerned about consequences as they know they will just get a restorative.”
A former staff member said they were “physically attacked by a student and nothing happened.”
Several parents told chrislynchmedia.com their children’s learning, social development, and emotional wellbeing were severely impacted. Several said their children ultimately refused to attend school altogether.
Concerns extended beyond students, with some families alleging bullying among staff and a school culture that discouraged speaking out.
Some families said they were forced to withdraw their children, turning to homeschooling or moving to other schools or towns. Attempts to raise concerns with the Ministry of Education or school board were reportedly met with dismissals or claims the experiences were isolated, despite years of complaints.
Another parent was so horrified by the school’s handling of the most recent incident, she’s written to the school demanding answers, and has shared the letter with Chris Lynch Media.
Letter calling for changes to school policies
The letter follows a growing wave of allegations from parents, former staff, and students, many of whom say their complaints have been ignored or dismissed for years.
The parent says the group felt compelled to speak out collectively, describing the situation not as a series of isolated incidents, but as evidence of a “deeper cultural and structural failure.”
The letter references a 2022 external review into the school’s bullying management processes, which reportedly found no concerns. That finding, the parent writes, now appears “in direct contradiction with the overwhelming accounts coming to light.”
“If the findings were accurate, the implementation has clearly failed. If the findings were inaccurate, then the process lacked integrity. Either outcome reflects a breach of NAG 5,” the letter reads, referring to the National Administration Guideline that requires school boards to ensure a safe physical and emotional environment for students.
Among the core concerns was the school’s handling of communication around serious incidents. Several families say they’ve been left in the dark about assaults, threats, or bullying — learning about events through their children rather than the school itself. The letter calls for a transparent and consistent process for informing parents when serious behavioural matters occur.
The group is also demanding a full, independent review of the school’s leadership, culture, and governance, including scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest that may be affecting how complaints are handled.
They want a detailed examination of how previous incidents were managed and whether child safety obligations were properly followed.
The letter challenges the Ministry of Education to reconsider the current framework that allows some complaints to be handled internally.
“Serious issues cannot be resolved solely ‘in house,’ especially when complaints are mishandled,” the parent writes. “NAG 5 makes it clear — a board’s primary duty is to protect students, not reputations.”
There is also a strong push for greater mental health and behavioural support within the school, including more teacher aides and trauma-informed services for students affected by ongoing harm, whether as victims, witnesses, or those showing signs of emotional distress.
A formal rewrite of the school’s bullying prevention and response policy is being called for, with an emphasis on community consultation, staff training, anonymous reporting systems, and clear, enforceable escalation protocols.
Anti-bullying protest to take place next week
Concerned parents have also organised a “peaceful protest” which will take place outside Oxford Area School next week.
“Students will remain on school property, while parents, whānau, and supporters will gather on the footpath.”
The organisers say the demonstration will be peaceful and respectful, focused entirely on demanding constructive systemic change. “There will be no swearing, no personal attacks, and no disruptive behaviour. Anyone who does not uphold these standards will be asked to leave,” the letter reads.
Parents have been given the option of keeping their children home on the day if they feel it is necessary to ensure their wellbeing.“We urge the school and Board of Trustees to treat this action not as confrontation, but as a demonstration of the deep care, concern, and commitment this community has for its children.”
The letter concludes with a call for national-level action. “This protest is not only a response to events at Oxford Area School, but a wider call for change across Aotearoa, where too many children are being hurt by a system that is under-resourced, under-regulated, and increasingly failing in its duty of care.”“We do not write this letter in anger, but in urgent, unwavering resolve. For too long, the safety of our children has been compromised by mismanagement, silence, and inadequate systems. We are standing up now — not just to demand better, but to build better.”
School Board responds to concerns
Chris Lynch Media put multiple questions to Oxford Area School Board Chair Aaron Campbell following allegations raised by parents and former staff.
Campbell said he was “not aware of any formal complaints relating to bullying or safety being received by the Board in the past three years.
“If you have any information that contradicts this, please let me know and I will double-check our records but this will not be possible until next week.”
He said the Board is responsible for the overall governance of the school and regularly reviews its policies.
“In my role as Presiding Member, I am confident that the school’s leadership follows policies and procedures.
“We take very seriously our responsibilities as a Board. If we receive a complaint we seek advice and guidance from the New Zealand School Boards Association to ensure that we investigate and address all complaints appropriately.”
When asked whether there was a potential conflict of interest due to his role as a police officer, Campbell said, “I consider there is no conflict of interest as I am not a member of the Oxford Police.”
He said, “for clarity, I did not seek election to the Board of Trustees as a parent representative until I left my position as a member of the Oxford Police and commenced other duties elsewhere.”
“My door is always open” Principal responds
Oxford Area School Principal Mike Hart also responded to questions from Chris Lynch Media. “It is not appropriate for us to comment on individual situations,” Hart said.
“That said, we believe it is important that you know we care deeply about the experiences of each and every child and family enrolled in our school, and strive to ensure that our school environment is happy, engaging and safe for everyone.”
Hart said the school encourages all concerns to be raised directly so they can be addressed appropriately.
“We welcome any concern, large or small, to be raised with us so that it can be addressed promptly and satisfactorily. We draw on relevant policies and procedures to guide us.
“In the course of any term, all schools will deal with many parental queries – generally these relate to small matters but there will also be more serious issues that need to be worked through,” Hart said.
“To inform our decision making and to ensure fair and appropriate outcomes, we seek to gather all of the facts and perspectives. As concerns involving more than one individual are often complex and multi-faceted, unfortunately not every situation can be resolved so that every person receives the outcome they were seeking,” Hart said.
“If a family is not happy with our response at any time, my door is always open. Additionally we have a formal complaints process that enables any concerns to be escalated to the Board for review.”
Hart said the school aims to handle issues with care and balance.
“I do ask you to be balanced and fair in your reporting as we believe it would be unfair and inaccurate to say there is a longstanding pattern of antisocial behaviours or inaction.
“Instead we strive to be proactive and responsive in this space and continue to reflect on what more can be done so we have the strongest school culture possible. I also think it is important to gently note that we are all responsible for how we communicate around matters like this, and it is important that we act with sensitivity and care when we are discussing young people as a spotlight on their individual situations can have a serious impact on their wellbeing,” Hart said.
Ministry of Education encourages parents to approach school “directly”
Chris Lynch Media also approached the Ministry of Education for comment on the concerns raised.
While the ministry did not directly respond to the questions put forward, Ministry South Leader Andrea Williams said in a statement, “We have been in contact with the school to understand what actions have been taken in response to the incident and they are following all appropriate procedures.”
Under section 127 of the Education and Training Act 2020, school boards are required to ensure that schools are physically and emotionally safe for all students and staff, uphold the rights of students as set out in the Act, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, and the Human Rights Act 1993; and take all reasonable steps to eliminate racism, stigma, bullying, and other forms of discrimination.
“We encourage any parent with concerns about their children’s safety and wellbeing to approach their school directly.
“Schools are expected to have clear policies and procedures in place for managing unacceptable behaviour or any concerns raised in the school environment. We expect schools to act promptly when concerns about safety or wellbeing arise, and to provide the necessary support to those affected,” she said.
“School Boards are expected to handle complaints in line with their school’s documented complaints policy. If parents or caregivers are not happy with the response they can contact their local Education office for guidance” Williams said.
Note: While some parents have given Chris Lynch Media permission to be identified, we have chosen not to name them in order to protect the identities and privacy of their children.
If you need to talk to someone other than emergency services or get further information about bullying, try these services:
Depression Helpline – a free 24/7 helpline. Phone: 0800 111 757
Lifeline – a telephone counselling service that provides 24 hours a day, 7 days a week counselling and support. Phone: 0800 543 354
1737 – text or talk with a trained counsellor 24 hours a day. Free service. Text or phone: 1737
The Lowdown – Straight up answers and help for when ‘life sucks’. Email [email protected] Free text 5626
Mental Health Foundation Phone: 09 623 4812
Netsafe – information on online bullying. Phone: 0508 638 723. Email [email protected]
OUTLine NZ – Provides confidential sexuality and or gender identity confidential telephone helpline support. Phone: 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE)
Rainbow Youth – Dedicated to helping young queer and gender diverse (LGBTQIA+) young people up to the ages of 27, as well as their wider communities.
Samaritans – a 24/7 helpline. Phone: 0800 726 666
Suicide Crisis Helpline – provides support, information and resources to people at risk of suicide, family / whanau, friends affected by suicide and people supporting someone with suicidal thoughts and/or suicidal behaviours. Phone: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
What’s Up – Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, 11am–10pm. Online chat is available 11am–10.30pm daily. Phone: 0800 942 8787 (for 5–19 year olds)
Youthline – Phone: 0800 376 633. Free Text 234. Email [email protected] Online chat
Youth Law – A free legal service for those under 25 yrs. Phone: 0800 884 529. Email [email protected]
