In one video a young boy is taunted to the point of tears and mocked when he attempts to fight back in front of a group of students.

Footage of another incident shows two boys swinging punches at each other and wrestling on the ground before a female student moves in to break up the fight.

In a third video, which appears to take place on the school oval, a boy was walking away from a group when another student ran at him and kicked him in the back. He then fell to the ground and was punched repeatedly to the head.

The three videos were posted to the BHS.fights page on Instagram over the past two weeks before the page was taken down about 3pm on Tuesday, soon after The Courier made the school aware of its existence.

Watch the videos here. They have been edited to protect the identity of the victims involved.

The emergence of the violent and distressing footage comes amid debate around the state government's ban on mobile phones in schools, which comes in to effect next year, and whether it will help reduce cyber bullying among adolescents.

More than 140 people had followed the BHS.fights page on Instagram.

One parent said she had shown senior BHS staff the page on Monday but nothing was done, and complained about a culture of bullying at the school.

"Until we understand we are not in a position to comment," said Ballarat High School principal Gary Palmer.

The videos come as anti-bullying charity the Alannah and Madeline Foundation warns that one in five children experience cyber bullying, with regional students at more risk of online bullying than their city peers.

"The trauma bullying causes victims, their families, schools and the community is significant and is felt both immediately and long after victims have completed school," said Alannah and Madeline Foundation chief executive Lesley Podesta.

Child psychologist and National Centre Against Bullying member, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, said he had seen the lasting damage bullying causes to young people's confidence and sense of worth.

"Ensuring young people feel included, valued and respected for who they are is essential to keeping them happy and safe, and to allow them to grow up strong and resilient."

The state government announced in June that from the first day of school next year, all Victorian government school students would have to turn their phones off from the first bell of the day until they are dismissed at the end of the day.

Education minister James Merlino said the ban would help reduce distraction and bullying while improving social interactions and learning outcomes for students.

"Banning mobile phones during school hours will not only mean students focus more on learning, it will also help kids interact more in the school yard and reduce cyber bullying," Mr Merlino said.

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The Australian Education Union in Victoria has previously said the move to ban mobile phones in public schools was a significant step which will have ramifications in every classroom.

"We know that mobile phones can be used by some students to bully other students and removing them from the school environment can make it easier for teachers and principals to ensure a safe environment for all," said AEU Victoria deputy president Justin Mullaly.

"Mobile phones are ubiquitous, and their misuse and over use are issues which go further than schools. Teachers have a role in ensuring students have the knowledge and skills to use technology in a safe and responsible way, as do parents," Mr Mullaly said.

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