MORE than 20 children have been suspended from a Queensland high school after circulating naked images of their fellow students in a schoolyard pornography ring.

The Gold Coast Bulletin can reveal the Year 9 girls and boys from Palm Beach Currumbin High School have been told to stay home for three to 20 days for being involved.

It is understood the photos are of male and female students at the school.

Last week it was revealed more than 70 Australian schools were targets of an adult website pornography ring featuring teenagers, but this incident is believed to have been just within the school.

A student’s father, who ­declined to be named, said he had received a letter saying his son had been suspended.

“I’m not happy about it because these pictures were only sent to my son — he has not forwarded them on,” he said.

“It’s mortifying to think this is going on and innocent kids are getting caught in the crossfire.

“This is going on right under our noses and there’s probably a lot more to it than we know about.

“These pictures will very easily go up online of naked 14-year-old girls — our daughters.

“It’s just disgraceful.

“I’ve had to have a good chat with my son about how careful he has to be when it comes to things like this.”

Principal Stephen Loggie said he suspended 22 students last week for sharing inappropriate images.

“Young people are confronted by unprecedented pressures in relation to their online presence,” he said.

“PBC is working with the parents of these students to ensure their young people make better decisions in the future.

“Upon their return, all students will redo the cyber safety course which will include examining case studies highlighting the dangers of this type of activity.”

Education Queensland would not confirm if other Coast schools were involved and a police spokesman said they were unaware of the schoolyard porn ring.

There are more than 3000 students at PBC.

Ohana Youth Service general manager Carmen Auer said the issue was heading out of control, especially for teens aged 13-15.

“Young people just don’t understand the consequences,” Ms Auer said.

“They’ve all got smartphones and Facebook so early and they just don’t realise when you send something like this, it doesn’t go away.”



Ms Auer said the key was early intervention and parents should talk to their kids before they started high school.

“The earlier the better,” she said.

“Parents need to be vigilant and connect with them before they’re in high school, when all this stuff becomes very peer-driven,” she said.