A former female staff member of a prestigious school has walked from court after being handed an “extraordinarily lenient” suspended jail sentence for having sex with five male students in her care.

NSW District Court acting judge Christopher Armitage said a “toxic culture” had developed in The Armidale School boarding house in which the 25-year-old woman slept with students aged between 15 and 17 after inviting them into her room in late 2014 and 2015.

Judge Armitage said it was “difficult to see” how an immature young woman of her age and experience was chosen to sleep overnight in a boarding house with young teenage males.

The former staff member from The Armidale School outside court. Credit:Brook Mitchell

“The potential for trouble of precisely the kind that occurred was, I think, obvious,” Judge Armitage said.