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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/22/teacher-at-st-pauls-girls-school-in-london-resigns-after-claims-of-sex-abuse
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| Teacher at London girls' school resigns after claims of sexual abuse | Teacher at London girls' school resigns after claims of sexual abuse |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A teacher at St Paul’s girls’ school, a prestigious independent school in west London that has been at the centre of historical sexual abuse allegations, has resigned after being implicated in some of the claims. | A teacher at St Paul’s girls’ school, a prestigious independent school in west London that has been at the centre of historical sexual abuse allegations, has resigned after being implicated in some of the claims. |
| Former pupils received a letter on Wednesday from the headteacher, Sarah Fletcher, saying that several women who had been students had recently reported “troubling events” which they said had happened during their time at the school. | Former pupils received a letter on Wednesday from the headteacher, Sarah Fletcher, saying that several women who had been students had recently reported “troubling events” which they said had happened during their time at the school. |
| Some of those allegations, dating back several decades, concerned a current member of staff “who has decided to resign his position with immediate effect in the best interests of all”, she said. | Some of those allegations, dating back several decades, concerned a current member of staff “who has decided to resign his position with immediate effect in the best interests of all”, she said. |
| Staff at the school in Brook Green, Hammersmith, had contacted the police and been told there were no immediate plans to investigate the allegations, the letter said. | Staff at the school in Brook Green, Hammersmith, had contacted the police and been told there were no immediate plans to investigate the allegations, the letter said. |
| “We have, nevertheless, referred the individual to the relevant statutory authorities so that his suitability to teach and work with children may be assessed. For this reason, it would not be appropriate to name the member of staff,” the letter continued. | “We have, nevertheless, referred the individual to the relevant statutory authorities so that his suitability to teach and work with children may be assessed. For this reason, it would not be appropriate to name the member of staff,” the letter continued. |
| The allegations first emerged after the school contacted former pupils asking them to contribute to a drama project about sexual harassment inspired by the #MeToo campaign. | The allegations first emerged after the school contacted former pupils asking them to contribute to a drama project about sexual harassment inspired by the #MeToo campaign. |
| The school had hoped to interview people about experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace, but the letter prompted fury among some recipients, a number of whom raised allegations of sexual abuse while they were at the school. | The school had hoped to interview people about experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace, but the letter prompted fury among some recipients, a number of whom raised allegations of sexual abuse while they were at the school. |
| Initially, the school confirmed two women had made claims relating to personal experiences, while others had notified the school about alleged abuse described to them by friends. | Initially, the school confirmed two women had made claims relating to personal experiences, while others had notified the school about alleged abuse described to them by friends. |
| The school confirmed the resignation in a statement to the Guardian on Wednesday. | The school confirmed the resignation in a statement to the Guardian on Wednesday. |
| The latest letter from Fletcher, who is described as the school’s high mistress, gave no detail about the number of allegations that have now been made. | The latest letter from Fletcher, who is described as the school’s high mistress, gave no detail about the number of allegations that have now been made. |
| “We are treating every allegation brought to us very seriously, and are working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that appropriate action is taken,” it said. | “We are treating every allegation brought to us very seriously, and are working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that appropriate action is taken,” it said. |
| Fletcher repeated her appeal to any other former students, known as Old Paulinas, to come forward with complaints and said there would be a full independent inspection of current pastoral care and safeguarding measures at the school. | Fletcher repeated her appeal to any other former students, known as Old Paulinas, to come forward with complaints and said there would be a full independent inspection of current pastoral care and safeguarding measures at the school. |
| “I want to ensure that we have a culture here, not only of the highest standards in everything we do, but also an open culture where girls, parents, staff and Old Paulinas feel able to share any concern where they believe those high standards are not being lived up to.” | “I want to ensure that we have a culture here, not only of the highest standards in everything we do, but also an open culture where girls, parents, staff and Old Paulinas feel able to share any concern where they believe those high standards are not being lived up to.” |
| The letter was sent by email, and in a mistake likely to anger alumnae further the email addresses of all recipients were visible. A second apology email was sent out saying: “We are resending this message as we immediately became aware that, due to an error, email addresses were visible to all. The original email has been recalled where possible.” | The letter was sent by email, and in a mistake likely to anger alumnae further the email addresses of all recipients were visible. A second apology email was sent out saying: “We are resending this message as we immediately became aware that, due to an error, email addresses were visible to all. The original email has been recalled where possible.” |
| Many former pupils at the £24,000-a-year school told the Guardian they were outraged to be asked to volunteer their experiences of abuse and harassment for a school drama project. | Many former pupils at the £24,000-a-year school told the Guardian they were outraged to be asked to volunteer their experiences of abuse and harassment for a school drama project. |
| One said she had been groomed by a member of staff who then had sex with her when she was 15. She never reported it. | One said she had been groomed by a member of staff who then had sex with her when she was 15. She never reported it. |
| “The atmosphere at the school was not one of ready empathy and not one where deviations from the norm were embraced,” she said. | “The atmosphere at the school was not one of ready empathy and not one where deviations from the norm were embraced,” she said. |
| Another described the drama request email as “tone deaf” and accused St Paul’s of trying to capitalise on former pupils’ experiences of abuse and harassment when it had failed to support them adequately when they were students. | Another described the drama request email as “tone deaf” and accused St Paul’s of trying to capitalise on former pupils’ experiences of abuse and harassment when it had failed to support them adequately when they were students. |
| Laura Tully, who is now a clinical psychologist, said she welcomed recent changes at the school but said: “As students, many of us were harassed and/or assaulted at SPGS and beyond. | Laura Tully, who is now a clinical psychologist, said she welcomed recent changes at the school but said: “As students, many of us were harassed and/or assaulted at SPGS and beyond. |
| “Many of us were dismissed or denigrated for these experiences, our sexual orientations and other identities we tried to express.” | “Many of us were dismissed or denigrated for these experiences, our sexual orientations and other identities we tried to express.” |
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