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Jeremy Forrest pupil abduction: School 'failed' | Jeremy Forrest pupil abduction: School 'failed' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A serious case review has criticised a school, police and a local authority over the case of a teacher who abducted and had sex with a 15-year-old pupil. | |
Jeremy Forrest, who taught at Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne, was jailed in June after grooming the girl and taking her to France last year. | |
The review found the school "repeatedly failed to see the evidence of the 32-year-old teacher's misconduct". | |
It said there was default tendency to not think a teacher could be an abuser. | |
Terry Boatwright, the executive head teacher at Bishop Bell C of E School, said: "We are extremely sorry for these previous failings, particularly for the impact they have had on the victim, her family and friends, school students, parents and all our staff." | |
He said the school had been working hard to address the concerns highlighted by the serious case review as well as two independent reviews carried out at the school's request. | |
The school has implemented new child protection procedures, and staff and governors have received additional training, Mr Boatwright said. | |
Concerns 'repeatedly dismissed' | Concerns 'repeatedly dismissed' |
Concerns had been raised about the relationship between Forrest and the pupil following a school trip to Los Angeles in February 2012. | |
The pair had been seen holding hands on a plane, while the girl was 14 years old. | The pair had been seen holding hands on a plane, while the girl was 14 years old. |
In June 2012, the teacher and pupil began a sexual relationship, around the time of the girl's 15th birthday. | In June 2012, the teacher and pupil began a sexual relationship, around the time of the girl's 15th birthday. |
On 19 September 2012 a police officer and social worker went to the teenager's home and spoke to her mother. | |
The following day Forrest and the schoolgirl boarded a ferry to France and they eluded police until being spotted just over a week later. | |
The review by the East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board found concerns raised by other children at the school were "repeatedly dismissed". | |
"Agencies, and particularly the school, were too ready to dismiss the reports received from other children," the report concluded. | "Agencies, and particularly the school, were too ready to dismiss the reports received from other children," the report concluded. |
"There was, in the school, a sort of 'default position' of intuitively supporting a colleague with a corresponding reluctance to believe that the colleague might be an abuser." | "There was, in the school, a sort of 'default position' of intuitively supporting a colleague with a corresponding reluctance to believe that the colleague might be an abuser." |
The review said the school had also failed to talk to the schoolgirl "in a way that was supportive". | The review said the school had also failed to talk to the schoolgirl "in a way that was supportive". |
The school received further criticism for not involving her mother and so denying her the opportunity to assist her daughter. | |
'There were weaknesses' | |
Sussex Police were also criticised, with the board saying initial inquiries should have been handled by the child protection team. | |
"The subsequent interviews did not comply with procedural requirements and [the child] and her mother were not seen separately," the report said. | "The subsequent interviews did not comply with procedural requirements and [the child] and her mother were not seen separately," the report said. |
The board said: "[East Sussex County Council] children's social care services may have ended their involvement too speedily and that there were weaknesses in how agencies recorded information - in spite of guidance provided by the local authority." | |
Cathie Pattison, chairman of the safeguarding children board, said: "The purpose of any serious case review is to identify what lessons can be learned about the way professionals and organisations work individually and together to safeguard children. | |
"This review has done exactly that and provides a good basis for improving practice and processes. The lessons for the school in this case are actually lessons for all schools to take note of." | "This review has done exactly that and provides a good basis for improving practice and processes. The lessons for the school in this case are actually lessons for all schools to take note of." |
In June, Forrest was jailed for five-and-a-half years for abduction and having sex with the 15-year-old pupil. |