Complaints about the conduct of a teacher at an exclusive independent school in Perth who was eventually convicted of sex offences went almost unheeded for a decade, a royal commission has heard.

The royal commission hearing into the school, which cannot be named because of a district court suppression order, is focusing on allegations the teacher was allowed to abuse students despite warnings by staff about his behaviour.



Despite numerous complaints against the teacher, known as YJ, from fellow teachers and a parent between 1999 and 2005, the school's headmaster at the time concluded there was no basis to dismiss him.



"Further, there was an insufficient basis to report the matter to police," council assisting the commission Sophie David said in her opening statement. "Nor was any report made to the Western Australian College of Teaching (WACOT) of YJ for alleged improper conduct.



"The school did not speak with any of the students."



The former teacher is currently serving a five-year jail term after being convicted of indecently dealing with five students between 1999 and 2008.



He denied the offences but was found guilty in 2010. After a successful appeal, he was again convicted after a retrial in 2012.

The commission will also hear from former teachers who raised concerns with school administrators about YJ's conduct around particular children.



One teacher, WF, is expected to tell the commission she raised concerns about YJ's conduct in the company of two boys – two of the five students with whom he was convicted of sexual offences.

On the last day of school in 2001, she handed a letter detailing YJ's conduct to the then-head of the preparatory school, known as YK.

"The letter was extensive and as it turned out accurate," David said. "She was told YJ had received a written warning.



"However, in the years that followed until she left the school in 2004, she noticed that YJ continued to act in what she considered an inappropriate manner towards two students in particular."



The commission will hear that YJ was given a formal warning in 2004 but was allowed to continue working until 2009, when a former student reported him to police.



In the course of the hearing the response of the headmasters, relevant department heads and the school council to the concerns raised by teachers and others about the teacher's behaviour with some students, will be investigated. The commission will also examine the response of the school to the victims and their families and the wider school community after the teacher's arrest.



The school's response to and management of the victims claims for compensation will also be scrutinised as will the registration of the school under the Schools Education Act 1999 (WA) between 2009 and 2014.

