Cranbrook: How a teacher was extorted for nude photos at one of Australia’s most prestigious schools, as the boys’ club’s ‘toxic’ culture is exposed

A teacher at one of Australia’s most prestigious schools was the victim of an attempted blackmail by a student who demanded that she send him naked photos.

Jasmin Hyde, who taught mathematics in Cranbrook, in Sydney’s exclusive eastern suburbs, was the target of an attempted blackmail by a student in June 2020.

It is one of several accusations of a toxic culture within the elite school made in a Four Corners Documentary which aired on Monday night, in which other female teachers were allegedly subjected to catcalls and boos.

The student threatened to accuse Hyde of sexually abusing him if he did not send him nude photographs.

The boy was eventually suspended and decided to drop out of the $46,000-a-year school.

He wrote Hyde a letter of apology saying he was embarrassed and devastated by his behavior.

“I have caused a lot of pain and disappointment to you, my teachers and the school community in general, my friends and my family,” the student wrote.

But Mrs Hyde was very disappointed with the school’s response and took her complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

“In my experience, Cranbrook did not have a safe, inclusive and supportive culture for me and its female teaching staff,” she told the commission in October 2023.

‘That must change. It must change for my sake, and it must change for the sake of its current and future teaching staff, and the many young women who are about to begin their studies at Cranbrook.’

After the sextortion attempt, Hyde said she was taken to a cafe to discuss her concerns with the principal and his deputy.

But she was surprised when the agent allegedly suggested that it was no surprise that she received attention from boys given that she was pretty.

“Justifying sexual harassment empowers future abuse,” Hyde wrote to the commission.

‘This is the standard that Cranbrook management approves of, the tone from the top: that the young, attractive women at their school should not only expect but tolerate sexual harassment.

“I wonder how the parents of his future students would feel about that.”

Cranbrook said in a statement that the deputy never intended to offend and “regrets if he has done so.”

The Australian Human Rights Commission confirmed Ms Hyde’s complaints about sexual discrimination.

Cranbrook alumni include tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, two generations of the Packer gaming and media dynasty, Kerry and James, among a host of illustrious businessmen, politicians, academics and media and sports stars.

ABC investigative journalist Louise Milligan revealed seven legal threats were made ahead of her exposure at Cranbrook School on Monday night.

Daily Mail Australia has approached Cranbrook for comment.