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| Former Cumbria Wings School pupils say abuse allegations ignored | Former Cumbria Wings School pupils say abuse allegations ignored |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Oakwood Solicitors said it was now working with almost 30 cases relating to abuse allegations at the former Wings School | Oakwood Solicitors said it was now working with almost 30 cases relating to abuse allegations at the former Wings School |
| Former pupils at a residential school caring for vulnerable young people have said they were ignored when reporting claims of abuse. | Former pupils at a residential school caring for vulnerable young people have said they were ignored when reporting claims of abuse. |
| Wings School Cumbria in Milnthorpe closed down in July after Ofsted found its physical intervention practice saw "pupils subjected to excessive force and unsafe holds". | Wings School Cumbria in Milnthorpe closed down in July after Ofsted found its physical intervention practice saw "pupils subjected to excessive force and unsafe holds". |
| Three pupils allege their complaints of abuse were not taken seriously by the authorities and said they were viewed as "troublemakers" because of their history in care. | Three pupils allege their complaints of abuse were not taken seriously by the authorities and said they were viewed as "troublemakers" because of their history in care. |
| A spokesperson for the former school said all complaints were taken seriously and "robustly investigated". | A spokesperson for the former school said all complaints were taken seriously and "robustly investigated". |
| Oakwood Solicitors said it was now dealing with about 30 cases linked to the school, almost double the number reported last month. | Oakwood Solicitors said it was now dealing with about 30 cases linked to the school, almost double the number reported last month. |
| The firm said these mainly related to "physical assaults in the form of or committed during excessive restraints, but there are a small number of allegations of abuse of a sexual nature". | The firm said these mainly related to "physical assaults in the form of or committed during excessive restraints, but there are a small number of allegations of abuse of a sexual nature". |
| In December police said officers were investigating allegations of abuse at a school in South Cumbria. | In December police said officers were investigating allegations of abuse at a school in South Cumbria. |
| Former Wings pupil Harvey Benson is petitioning for change in residential care homes | Former Wings pupil Harvey Benson is petitioning for change in residential care homes |
| Former Wings School pupil Harvey Benson alleged that during physical restraints some staff could be "forceful and violent". | Former Wings School pupil Harvey Benson alleged that during physical restraints some staff could be "forceful and violent". |
| During one, he said a staff member kneed him in the ribs and barricaded him in a classroom. | During one, he said a staff member kneed him in the ribs and barricaded him in a classroom. |
| Mr Benson said he made three reports to police in 2019, two reports to his social worker in 2019 and one report to Ofsted in 2022, detailing concerns for other pupils. | Mr Benson said he made three reports to police in 2019, two reports to his social worker in 2019 and one report to Ofsted in 2022, detailing concerns for other pupils. |
| In his first report to police, he said the officer responded: "Well that's how I treat my kids if they were misbehaving." | In his first report to police, he said the officer responded: "Well that's how I treat my kids if they were misbehaving." |
| Mr Benson, who is campaigning for CCTV in care home communal areas and bodycams for staff, said: "The police and the authorities dismissed every single one of us for years as troublemakers... that we were making up these allegations to cause trouble. | Mr Benson, who is campaigning for CCTV in care home communal areas and bodycams for staff, said: "The police and the authorities dismissed every single one of us for years as troublemakers... that we were making up these allegations to cause trouble. |
| "It's a catastrophic failure." | "It's a catastrophic failure." |
| 'Risk of harm' | 'Risk of harm' |
| An emergency Ofsted inspection in June found staff were "directed not to follow the school's safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures when they have serious concerns". | An emergency Ofsted inspection in June found staff were "directed not to follow the school's safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures when they have serious concerns". |
| Inspectors said: "This puts pupils at risk of considerable harm." | Inspectors said: "This puts pupils at risk of considerable harm." |
| Meanwhile, there were 244 reports of abuse, physical and sexual, made to Westmorland and Furness Council from 2015 to 2024, a Freedom of Information request seen by the BBC revealed. | Meanwhile, there were 244 reports of abuse, physical and sexual, made to Westmorland and Furness Council from 2015 to 2024, a Freedom of Information request seen by the BBC revealed. |
| These included pupils reporting against other pupils and staff, and staff reporting being assaulted by youngsters. | These included pupils reporting against other pupils and staff, and staff reporting being assaulted by youngsters. |
| A total of 38 complaints were substantiated. | A total of 38 complaints were substantiated. |
| Ellis Robertson said he "just wants children in care to be listened to" | Ellis Robertson said he "just wants children in care to be listened to" |
| Another former pupil, Ellis Robertson, alleged he was assaulted by a member of staff in 2014. | Another former pupil, Ellis Robertson, alleged he was assaulted by a member of staff in 2014. |
| He said he reported it to Wings School management but it got "brushed under the carpet". | He said he reported it to Wings School management but it got "brushed under the carpet". |
| "That staff member came up to me and after I made the report, started laughing and said 'do you think I've been sacked? Think again'. | "That staff member came up to me and after I made the report, started laughing and said 'do you think I've been sacked? Think again'. |
| "It made my life a living hell. It was heartbreaking because I just kept doubting myself. | "It made my life a living hell. It was heartbreaking because I just kept doubting myself. |
| "I just want kids in care to be listened to." | "I just want kids in care to be listened to." |
| Meanwhile Terrance Douglass, who was a resident at Wings School for several years, said he was sometimes attacked by other pupils but was not believed by staff when he reported it. | Meanwhile Terrance Douglass, who was a resident at Wings School for several years, said he was sometimes attacked by other pupils but was not believed by staff when he reported it. |
| Solicitor Molly Frost said her firm was looking into almost 30 claims against Wings School Cumbria | Solicitor Molly Frost said her firm was looking into almost 30 claims against Wings School Cumbria |
| Solicitor Molly Frost said the claims being pursued against Kedleston Group, which ran the school, dated from 2003 to 2024. | Solicitor Molly Frost said the claims being pursued against Kedleston Group, which ran the school, dated from 2003 to 2024. |
| "Many children who find themselves in care are there because they come from troubled backgrounds. | "Many children who find themselves in care are there because they come from troubled backgrounds. |
| "It is not uncommon for these young people to be suffering from behavioural difficulties or other psychological issues." | "It is not uncommon for these young people to be suffering from behavioural difficulties or other psychological issues." |
| 'Seen as their fault' | 'Seen as their fault' |
| Teesside University professor of psychology Nadia Wager told the BBC: "Children in care can be seen as troublesome and it tends to be that their allegations are not taken seriously. | Teesside University professor of psychology Nadia Wager told the BBC: "Children in care can be seen as troublesome and it tends to be that their allegations are not taken seriously. |
| "It means that predatory offenders know that this is a group of young people who could be targeted because nobody is going to listen to them. | "It means that predatory offenders know that this is a group of young people who could be targeted because nobody is going to listen to them. |
| "We have this culture of victim-blaming, and I would say that children in care are victims in some way: It's very much seen as it's their fault that they are there. | "We have this culture of victim-blaming, and I would say that children in care are victims in some way: It's very much seen as it's their fault that they are there. |
| "This case needs investigating by an independent body. | "This case needs investigating by an independent body. |
| "I do understand that there is a risk, as staff, of false allegations being made about you. | "I do understand that there is a risk, as staff, of false allegations being made about you. |
| "But at the same time, good staff would be part of a culture where they could recognise and appreciate there's a process to go through. | "But at the same time, good staff would be part of a culture where they could recognise and appreciate there's a process to go through. |
| Wings School Cumbria in Milnthorpe closed down in July | Wings School Cumbria in Milnthorpe closed down in July |
| Kedleston Group declined to discuss specific cases, but a spokesperson for the school said: "The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our absolute priority. | Kedleston Group declined to discuss specific cases, but a spokesperson for the school said: "The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our absolute priority. |
| "Any concerns raised are always taken very seriously. They are reported to all relevant authorities and robustly investigated. | "Any concerns raised are always taken very seriously. They are reported to all relevant authorities and robustly investigated. |
| "Should any issue be identified, positive and proactive action is taken." | "Should any issue be identified, positive and proactive action is taken." |
| An Ofsted spokesperson reiterated the organisation's comment that: "It is very upsetting to hear allegations of abuse from pupils at Wings School. | An Ofsted spokesperson reiterated the organisation's comment that: "It is very upsetting to hear allegations of abuse from pupils at Wings School. |
| "Safeguarding is central to our inspections and we take it extremely seriously. | "Safeguarding is central to our inspections and we take it extremely seriously. |
| "We will always take quick and decisive action when we uncover concerns on inspection, including suspending a setting's registration where necessary." | "We will always take quick and decisive action when we uncover concerns on inspection, including suspending a setting's registration where necessary." |
| Cumbria Police said it was "working closely with a number of partner agencies as part of the inquiry". | Cumbria Police said it was "working closely with a number of partner agencies as part of the inquiry". |
| The investigation seeks to identify anyone who is an alleged victim of abuse by employees while attending the school. | The investigation seeks to identify anyone who is an alleged victim of abuse by employees while attending the school. |
| "At this point we can't give any details about findings or specific allegations; our sole focus is ensuring any victims are being fully supported throughout this difficult time," a spokesman for the force said. | "At this point we can't give any details about findings or specific allegations; our sole focus is ensuring any victims are being fully supported throughout this difficult time," a spokesman for the force said. |
| Anyone with any information has been asked to submit details to the force's major incident public portal. | Anyone with any information has been asked to submit details to the force's major incident public portal. |
| 14 February 2025 - A previous version of this story included incorrect figures which have now been corrected. | |
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