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News › School staff on cruelty charge
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News: School staff on cruelty charge
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Posted by sylvia on Saturday, January 17, 2004 (14:29:27)
EDP 24 UK 16/01/2004
By Cat Bartman and Richard Balls
Five members of staff from a special school in Norfolk have been charged with ill-treating children just months after county council chiefs stopped sending youngsters there.
The men formerly worked at Banham Marshalls College, near Diss, which has been the subject of a joint investigation by police and social services.
It followed an inspection by the National Care Standards Commission a year ago and resulted in six staff being suspended.
Pupils from Norfolk and Suffolk were withdrawn while the investigation was ongoing, but Suffolk Local Education Authority (LEA) sent some of their children back in the autumn term.
The offences the five have been charged with relate to cruelty and other offences against children stretching from 1976 to 2002.
George Robson, a 62-year-old former schoolmaster from Bridgham and owner of the school, has been charged with 23 offences, including conspiring to ill treat children, cruelty to children and indecent assault.
Derek Holesworth, a 47-year-old former schoolmaster from Banham, has been charged with five offences, including conspiring to ill treat children and cruelty to children.
David Clarke, a 52-year-old former care assistant from Banham, has been charged with eight offences of cruelty to children.
Anthony Robson, a 59-year-old former schoolmaster from Banham, has been charged with 12 offences of conspiring to ill treat children and cruelty to children.
Robert Wilson, a 53-year-old former schoolmaster from Ipswich, has been charged with nine offences of conspiring to ill treat children, cruelty to children and indecent assault.
Responding to the charges, Ros Vahey, head of Pupil Access and Support Service for Norfolk County Council, said that, throughout the inquiry, staff had co-operated closely and fully with the police.
"The safety and well-being of our pupils has been our top priority throughout and the difficult decision to terminate the contracts with the college was based on our overriding need to protect our children," she said.
"Our notice of termination of the contracts for 33 Norfolk children was sent to the college last July, in view of the lengthy and complex nature of the concerns, and alternative arrangements for their education were made. Throughout, we have worked closely with parents and other partners."
Gary Nethercott, Assistant Director (Learner Support) at Suffolk County
Council, said last night that the situation for them had not changed.
"We have always been mindful to ensure that young people are taught and cared for in an appropriate environment, and have visited the school regularly to monitor the current arrangements for Suffolk students who are placed there.
"We will continue to review this situation, although, as we have been assured that those staff members subject to continuing police investigation have been suspended for many months, it has not changed for Suffolk students.
"Where appropriate and in discussion with their parents, we are working with our colleagues in social care to pursue alternative school places for some of the students, who have very complex needs."
Banham Marshalls College is an independent school that caters for children with special needs, including dyslexia and emotional and behavioural difficulties.
It takes up to 120 pupils aged seven to 16 years, from local education authorities and social services departments around the country, who attend on a day or boarding basis. Since October, about 33 pupils have been at the school.
In June 1992 the Princess Royal visited the school to open a new teaching wing for children with communication problems.
In March 2003 Mr Robson, the school's former director, was honoured by Prime Minister Tony Blair when he was invited to join him and his wife at a reception at 10 Downing Street.
The event was to celebration the work of those in education who provide outstanding teaching and support for pupils with special education needs.
In May last year, Mr Robson announced he was selling the school to the Coxlease School in Hampshire, which was then running it under temporary administration.
But the sale later fell through and it is understood that discussions are still ongoing with a prospective buyer who ran a similar school on the Isle of Wight.
David Clarke has been bailed to appear at Thetford Magistrates Court at 1.30pm on Monday January 26. George Robson, Derek Holesworth, Anthony Robson and Robert Wilson have all been bailed to appear at Thetford Magistrates Court at 1.30pm on Thursday January 22.
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Posted by sylvia on Saturday, January 17, 2004 (14:29:27) (6633 reads)
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| "News: School staff on cruelty charge" | Login/Create an Account | 8 comments |
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