In this investigation, the Inquiry heard evidence about incidents of child sexual abuse, harmful sexual behaviour between children and other safeguarding concerns which arose at 12 schools in England, in order to understand the effectiveness of the framework for safeguarding children in schools. Institutional responses to safeguarding issues which arose at a boarding school in North Wales were also examined, as well as information about eight schools which are no longer operating.

As set out in the investigation’s definition of scope, this investigation examined the nature and extent of incidents of child sexual abuse in residential schools, and the responses to those allegations by the schools and other organisations. The themes considered included governance and management of schools, inspection and monitoring, training and recruitment of staff, whistleblowing and reporting, school culture, and good safeguarding practice.

In the course of reviewing material provided to the Inquiry, a number of themes and issues were identified which applied equally to day schools (schools with no residential facilities for pupils, who return to their homes at the end of each school day). As a result, the investigation was widened to consider institutional responses to allegations of child sexual abuse in some day schools.

Charles Derham of Remedy Law who represents 8 Core participants believes if there was effective control over the sole proprietor and owner of Sherborne Preparatory School (Robert Lindsay), he would not have been able to continue to abuse children in his care. Concerns about the conduct of Lindsay were raised in 1974, 1982, 1985, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 before the Independent School Tribunal in 1998 found that he was a “fixated paedophile” who posed a “serious risk to children” and made an order of disqualification. Could Lindsay have been stopped if his colleagues were obligated to report him or face criminal prosecution?

A rather pertinent observation made by the Chair to Inquiry is as follows:

Many of the schools examined responded inadequately to allegations against their staff. Some school leaders were unaware or ill-informed about the national guidance that was in place at the time and so did not implement it. In some schools, staff were aware of allegations or concerns about colleagues but did not report these concerns. There was widespread reluctance to believe that colleagues could be sexually abusing children and in some cases there was a culture which discouraged reporting – cited from IICSA – Residential Schools Investigation Report

However, do the recommendations go far enough to ensure that this does not happen in the future and protect children in these institutions?

One recommendation is as follows:

Reintroduce a duty on boarding schools and residential special schools to inform the relevant inspectorate of allegations of child sexual abuse and other serious incidents, with professional or regulatory consequences for breach of this duty; if the recommendation above is implemented, residential special schools will automatically be subject to this duty – cited from IICSA – Residential Schools Investigation Report

Mandatory Reporting – It is noted that the Inquiry have specifically referred to this as a matter to be considered further and hope that this is implemented when IICSA conclude the totality of the Inquiry. We firmly believe that there ought to be criminal sanctions for those who fail to protect children and will continue to support the introduction of mandatory reporting.

A link to the full report is HERE