This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/16/jeremy-forrest-school-chances-blow-whistle

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Jeremy Forrest: school staff 'missed repeated chances to blow whistle' Jeremy Forrest: school staff 'missed repeated chances to blow whistle'
(35 minutes later)
School staff missed repeated opportunities to blow the whistle on inappropriate conduct between the maths teacher Jeremy Forrest and the teenage schoolgirl he went on to abduct, a damning review has found.School staff missed repeated opportunities to blow the whistle on inappropriate conduct between the maths teacher Jeremy Forrest and the teenage schoolgirl he went on to abduct, a damning review has found.
Concerns raised by children about the growing closeness between married Forrest and his pupil were "repeatedly dismissed". Concerns raised by children about the growing closeness between the married Forrest and his pupil were "repeatedly dismissed".
Instead, Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne, East Sussex, adopted a default position of "intuitively supporting a colleague" in the face of evidence that he might be an abuser, according to the serious case review by the East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board. Instead, Bishop Bell C of E school in Eastbourne, East Sussex, adopted a default position of "intuitively supporting a colleague" in the face of evidence that he might be an abuser, according to the serious case review by the East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children Board.
It also revealed that school staff never spoke to the girl, who cannot be named, in a supportive way.It also revealed that school staff never spoke to the girl, who cannot be named, in a supportive way.
The school's failure to involve the girl's mother in responding to events was another cause for concern and she was denied the opportunity to assist her daughter, the report said.The school's failure to involve the girl's mother in responding to events was another cause for concern and she was denied the opportunity to assist her daughter, the report said.
Forrest, 31, was jailed for five-and-a-half years for child abduction and five charges of sexual activity with a child at Lewes crown court in June.Forrest, 31, was jailed for five-and-a-half years for child abduction and five charges of sexual activity with a child at Lewes crown court in June.
The case of Forrest and the girl, referred to in the report as Child G, attracted worldwide attention after he abducted her to France and they spent seven days on the run.The case of Forrest and the girl, referred to in the report as Child G, attracted worldwide attention after he abducted her to France and they spent seven days on the run.
They dyed their hair, gave themselves false names on CVs to try to get work, and Forrest threw his mobile phone into the English Channel to prevent its signal betraying their whereabouts. They dyed their hair, gave themselves false names on CVs to try to get work, and Forrest threw his mobile phone into the Channel to prevent its signal betraying their whereabouts.
"All the specialist and senior staff in the school seem to have reconstructed the events into misconduct by Child G," the report said."All the specialist and senior staff in the school seem to have reconstructed the events into misconduct by Child G," the report said.
"Mr K [Forrest] became the victim. Even when reporting to this review after Mr K's imprisonment, there was evidence of some school staff failing to recognise the child protection implications in some of the earlier events.""Mr K [Forrest] became the victim. Even when reporting to this review after Mr K's imprisonment, there was evidence of some school staff failing to recognise the child protection implications in some of the earlier events."
Evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Forrest and the girl first surfaced during a school trip to the US in February 2012. Two pupils approached the head of the upper school and reported rumours that the girl had had a crush on Forrest since the trip.Evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Forrest and the girl first surfaced during a school trip to the US in February 2012. Two pupils approached the head of the upper school and reported rumours that the girl had had a crush on Forrest since the trip.
Forrest denied any inappropriate relationship to senior staff and no other agency was involved, the report said.Forrest denied any inappropriate relationship to senior staff and no other agency was involved, the report said.
Some information was given to the girl's mother, who was said to be satisfied with the way the school dealt with it.Some information was given to the girl's mother, who was said to be satisfied with the way the school dealt with it.
The report said: "It is striking that it was, overwhelmingly, young people who raised concerns about this situation.The report said: "It is striking that it was, overwhelmingly, young people who raised concerns about this situation.
"Those concerns were repeatedly dismissed. Serious case reviews have often commented on agencies' failures to hear the 'voice of the child' but this has generally been a reference to the abused child."Those concerns were repeatedly dismissed. Serious case reviews have often commented on agencies' failures to hear the 'voice of the child' but this has generally been a reference to the abused child.
"Here the very nature of the abuse, grooming and exploitation, made it unlikely that the victim would raise concerns."Here the very nature of the abuse, grooming and exploitation, made it unlikely that the victim would raise concerns.
"Yet agencies, and particularly the school, were too ready to dismiss the reports received from other children."Yet agencies, and particularly the school, were too ready to dismiss the reports received from other children.
"That should lead those agencies to reconsider how they respond, individually and together, to concerns raised by young people.""That should lead those agencies to reconsider how they respond, individually and together, to concerns raised by young people."
A rumour that Forrest and the girl had been seen holding hands was a "very significant piece of evidence" which should have alerted the school authorities to child protection issues.A rumour that Forrest and the girl had been seen holding hands was a "very significant piece of evidence" which should have alerted the school authorities to child protection issues.
School staff were alerted by other students to evidence of an improper relationship between the pair for a fifth time on 22 May last year. Three specific comments between them on Twitter included "marriage falling apart", "separate rooms" and "miss you", it was revealed to school staff.School staff were alerted by other students to evidence of an improper relationship between the pair for a fifth time on 22 May last year. Three specific comments between them on Twitter included "marriage falling apart", "separate rooms" and "miss you", it was revealed to school staff.
But instead of Forrest becoming the focus of investigation, the girl was, with her Twitter account accessed and nothing of concern being noted.But instead of Forrest becoming the focus of investigation, the girl was, with her Twitter account accessed and nothing of concern being noted.
A sixth suggestion of a relationship between the pair came from two former pupils who visited the school to disclose their concerns, including that Forrest had picked the girl up after work experience.A sixth suggestion of a relationship between the pair came from two former pupils who visited the school to disclose their concerns, including that Forrest had picked the girl up after work experience.
Yet the report said staff, including the headteacher, appeared to have been oblivious to the possibility that the Forrest was abusing the girl. Yet the report said staff, including the headteacher, appeared to have been oblivious to the possibility that Forrest was abusing the girl.
Another child refused to be taught by Forrest, calling him a pervert, the report went on. Despite wider rumours of Forrest's behaviour circulating, that knowledge did not lead to any action.The children and families minister, Edward Timpson, has written to East Sussex county council with his concerns over the failures in safeguarding at the school.Another child refused to be taught by Forrest, calling him a pervert, the report went on. Despite wider rumours of Forrest's behaviour circulating, that knowledge did not lead to any action.The children and families minister, Edward Timpson, has written to East Sussex county council with his concerns over the failures in safeguarding at the school.
He wrote: "For a school so comprehensively to fail to protect a vulnerable teenager from a manipulative adult, who has been placed by the school in a position of trust, is an abrogation of leadership and responsibility which had terrible consequences for this child and the family.He wrote: "For a school so comprehensively to fail to protect a vulnerable teenager from a manipulative adult, who has been placed by the school in a position of trust, is an abrogation of leadership and responsibility which had terrible consequences for this child and the family.
The serious case review (SCR) "reveals systemic flaws in child protection at the school, amid a culture which repeatedly ignored inappropriate adult behaviour, while blaming the child and offering unsuitable advice to her.The serious case review (SCR) "reveals systemic flaws in child protection at the school, amid a culture which repeatedly ignored inappropriate adult behaviour, while blaming the child and offering unsuitable advice to her.
"The way that school leaders dismissed warnings made by young people about an improper relationship, and the failure to provide any effective support to the child, is inexcusable."The way that school leaders dismissed warnings made by young people about an improper relationship, and the failure to provide any effective support to the child, is inexcusable.
"I concur with the conclusion of the SCR author that 'some of the failings identified in this SCR are both significant and systemic'; a finding substantially at odds with the conclusions of a 'safeguarding review' of the school led by your own officials earlier this year."I concur with the conclusion of the SCR author that 'some of the failings identified in this SCR are both significant and systemic'; a finding substantially at odds with the conclusions of a 'safeguarding review' of the school led by your own officials earlier this year.
"I am aware that the school has begun to implement changes to tackle the failures identified in the serious case review. It is important that students and parents can be confident that those failures have been addressed and all necessary action taken.""I am aware that the school has begun to implement changes to tackle the failures identified in the serious case review. It is important that students and parents can be confident that those failures have been addressed and all necessary action taken."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.