The South African school established by Oprah Winfrey has been hit by its second sex scandal in two years, with seven pupils suspended for displaying 'inappropriate behaviour' towards other children.
The girls were suspended last week for the alleged sexual harassment of fellow pupils at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy School For Girls in Henley-on-Clip, near Johannesburg.
According to the Afrikaans on Sunday newspaper, one 15-year-old "preyed" on a schoolmate and coerced others into lying to officials investigating the alleged incidents. Six other pupils have been excluded from the $46 million (£32 million) girls-only boarding school after being alleged to have touched each other intimately, or "intimidating others into partaking of inappropriate behaviours".
A letter sent to one of the suspended girls' parents is said to have read: "You have been found guilty of physical contact of a sexual nature with another pupil on campus, harassment, bullying other girls on campus and of being dishonest by not telling investigators the whole truth".
The girl claims the accusations are false and has blamed other girls.
A spokesman for the Academy, which was established in January 2007, confirmed the suspensions.
"It is because they contravened the school's code of conduct," said Lisa Halliday. Declining to elaborate on the circumstances behind the girls' exclusions, she added: "We regard the incident as confidential."
It is the second controversy to affect the school since its star-studded opening event - which was attended by celebrities including Mariah Carey and Spike Lee.
Just ten months after the first pupils were admitted, 15 girls claimed to be victims of sexual abuse at the hands of a matron employed by the establishment. Virginia Tiny Makgobo faced 13 charges, including indecent assault, common assault, assaulting a minor to perform an indecent act and verbal abuse of pupils. She denied the charges and is due back in court on June 1.
On the back of the assault claims, a tearful Miss Winfrey - who has spoken of being a victim of abuse herself - said: "This has been one of the most devastating experiences, if not the most devastating experience, of my life. But like all such experiences there is much to be learned".
She promised to "clean house from top to bottom", firing the headmistress and all dormitory matrons, and giving schoolgirls mobile phones with her personal number pre-programmed into the memory.
"These girls are like my children," she said at the time.
"That's not just rhetoric for me. I take their futures and the possibility for what their futures hold very seriously."
Miss Winfrey poured millions of dollars from her personal fortune into the school, which aims to educate 450 high-achieving female students a year by 2011.
Facilities at the high-security campus include a theatre, computer and science laboratories and a library, and the curriculum aims to empower students to become leaders of their society. As well as a high-level education, the TV host's academy provides free food, uniforms and learning materials for its underprivileged intake.
Miss Winfrey said: "Indiscretions resulting in disciplinary action are common in schools all over the world. Unfortunately, because of my name these common infractions place the Academy in the media spotlight.
As each of the girls enrolled, she agreed to adhere to the school’s Honor Code and Code of Conduct policy, which values personal integrity and ensures an environment of shared trust and community. I’m disappointed that several of our students chose to disregard the school’s rules. continues here
The girls were suspended last week for the alleged sexual harassment of fellow pupils at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy School For Girls in Henley-on-Clip, near Johannesburg.
According to the Afrikaans on Sunday newspaper, one 15-year-old "preyed" on a schoolmate and coerced others into lying to officials investigating the alleged incidents. Six other pupils have been excluded from the $46 million (£32 million) girls-only boarding school after being alleged to have touched each other intimately, or "intimidating others into partaking of inappropriate behaviours".
A letter sent to one of the suspended girls' parents is said to have read: "You have been found guilty of physical contact of a sexual nature with another pupil on campus, harassment, bullying other girls on campus and of being dishonest by not telling investigators the whole truth".
The girl claims the accusations are false and has blamed other girls.
A spokesman for the Academy, which was established in January 2007, confirmed the suspensions.
"It is because they contravened the school's code of conduct," said Lisa Halliday. Declining to elaborate on the circumstances behind the girls' exclusions, she added: "We regard the incident as confidential."
It is the second controversy to affect the school since its star-studded opening event - which was attended by celebrities including Mariah Carey and Spike Lee.
Just ten months after the first pupils were admitted, 15 girls claimed to be victims of sexual abuse at the hands of a matron employed by the establishment. Virginia Tiny Makgobo faced 13 charges, including indecent assault, common assault, assaulting a minor to perform an indecent act and verbal abuse of pupils. She denied the charges and is due back in court on June 1.
On the back of the assault claims, a tearful Miss Winfrey - who has spoken of being a victim of abuse herself - said: "This has been one of the most devastating experiences, if not the most devastating experience, of my life. But like all such experiences there is much to be learned".
She promised to "clean house from top to bottom", firing the headmistress and all dormitory matrons, and giving schoolgirls mobile phones with her personal number pre-programmed into the memory.
"These girls are like my children," she said at the time.
"That's not just rhetoric for me. I take their futures and the possibility for what their futures hold very seriously."
Miss Winfrey poured millions of dollars from her personal fortune into the school, which aims to educate 450 high-achieving female students a year by 2011.
Facilities at the high-security campus include a theatre, computer and science laboratories and a library, and the curriculum aims to empower students to become leaders of their society. As well as a high-level education, the TV host's academy provides free food, uniforms and learning materials for its underprivileged intake.
Miss Winfrey said: "Indiscretions resulting in disciplinary action are common in schools all over the world. Unfortunately, because of my name these common infractions place the Academy in the media spotlight.
As each of the girls enrolled, she agreed to adhere to the school’s Honor Code and Code of Conduct policy, which values personal integrity and ensures an environment of shared trust and community. I’m disappointed that several of our students chose to disregard the school’s rules. continues here
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