Ex-principal at Sydney Catholic school arrested at airport

The former principal at a Sydney school has been charged with historic child abuse offences after a dramatic airport arrest.

David Standen, 65, is accused of molesting five boys, all aged 12, between 1978 and 1980 when he was a teacher at St Patrick's College, Goulburn, in the NSW southern tablelands, Fairfax Media reports.

Brother Standen reportedly was the principal at St Mary's Cathedral College in the city for a decade before he retired in 2010.

Detectives began investigating him in February and made an arrest at Sydney Airport on August 19.

Yesterday Brother Standen faced Waverley Local Court charged with 11 counts of indecent assault.

He was released on bail but ordered to surrender his passport.

This will prevent him from travelling to East Timor, where he has been volunteering with an Australian NGO that supports projects relating to health, education and community development.

He will face Goulburn Local Court on September 17.