Victorian school says asking male students to 'apologise for their gender' in an assembly was wrong

A Victorian school has admitted it missed the mark after asking all male students to stand up in an assembly to apologise for their gender in the wake of the justice for women movement.

Schoolboys from Brauer College in Warrnambool were asked to stand in a "symbolic gesture of apology" on behalf of their gender, at a whole school assembly discussing respect for women this week.

The move sparked uproar from parents, with many slamming the gesture as "inappropriate".

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Mother Danielle Shepherd told 3AW's Neil Mitchell this morning her Year 7 son was left feeling "confused and upset" by the act.

"He said that they had to watch a video and once they watched the video, they were all asked to stand in solidarity to apologise to the female gender on behalf of their gender, which he wasn't sure 100 per cent why," she said.

"He now has this misconception that all boys are now looked at as predators."

Principal Jane Boyle in a statement said in hindsight, the gesture was "inappropriate".

"Boys were asked to stand as a symbolic gesture of apology for the behaviours of their gender that have hurt or offended girls and women," she said.

"In retrospect, while well-intended, we recognise that this part of the assembly was inappropriate.

"Today, the school is contacting parents to explain the reasons behind the assembly and to ensure that any student who requires support is aware that it is available."

Ms Shepherd said she did not believe the school had any "malice" intentions, but they had got it "wrong" on this occasion.

"It wasn't a very thought-out process, I don't think, by the school," she said.

"I understand what they were trying to promote, they've just completely gone about it the wrong way."