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Hundreds of teachers accused of sex with pupils, figures show | Hundreds of teachers accused of sex with pupils, figures show |
(about 13 hours later) | |
At least 959 teachers and school staff have been accused of having a relationship with a pupil in the past five years, the BBC has learned. | At least 959 teachers and school staff have been accused of having a relationship with a pupil in the past five years, the BBC has learned. |
In at least 254 cases, there were police charges but it is not clear how many of these led to a prosecution or a conviction. | In at least 254 cases, there were police charges but it is not clear how many of these led to a prosecution or a conviction. |
One charity said it was not surprised but unions say many claims are false. | One charity said it was not surprised but unions say many claims are false. |
A Freedom of Information request was sent by Newsbeat to more than 200 local authorities in the UK. | A Freedom of Information request was sent by Newsbeat to more than 200 local authorities in the UK. |
They were asked how many staff were suspended, disciplined, or dismissed after being accused of having some form of sexual relationship with a student. | They were asked how many staff were suspended, disciplined, or dismissed after being accused of having some form of sexual relationship with a student. |
A total of 137 councils returned figures providing the number of cases they were aware of in state schools between 2008 and 2013. | A total of 137 councils returned figures providing the number of cases they were aware of in state schools between 2008 and 2013. |
A further 42 councils said they did not hold the statistics or could not hand them over because of costs or data protection laws. | A further 42 councils said they did not hold the statistics or could not hand them over because of costs or data protection laws. |
Many of the authorities that did not have the figures said it was because schools in their area had outsourced HR provisions to private firms. | Many of the authorities that did not have the figures said it was because schools in their area had outsourced HR provisions to private firms. |
Councils also have no control over academies, which nowadays make up around 50% of all secondary schools. | Councils also have no control over academies, which nowadays make up around 50% of all secondary schools. |
Since 2001 it has been illegal for an adult in a position of trust, such as staff in schools and colleges, to have sex with an under-18 they are responsible for, even though the age of consent is 16. | Since 2001 it has been illegal for an adult in a position of trust, such as staff in schools and colleges, to have sex with an under-18 they are responsible for, even though the age of consent is 16. |
One victim, Ella, says her teacher began to offer her one-to-one lessons when she was 15. | One victim, Ella, says her teacher began to offer her one-to-one lessons when she was 15. |
"I had a crush on this guy so I was really flattered by the attention," she said. | "I had a crush on this guy so I was really flattered by the attention," she said. |
She says he kissed her in a classroom and they began to meet outside school: "Very quickly it progressed from a kiss to him starting to want more. | She says he kissed her in a classroom and they began to meet outside school: "Very quickly it progressed from a kiss to him starting to want more. |
"He would put his hand down my top and then the next time that I would go back, he would try and do it again." | "He would put his hand down my top and then the next time that I would go back, he would try and do it again." |
Ella says her teacher forced her to have sex by telling her it was how adults proved they loved each other. | Ella says her teacher forced her to have sex by telling her it was how adults proved they loved each other. |
"I said to him I'm not ready, I do not want to, I'm not comfortable, and he just sort of ignored it," she said. | "I said to him I'm not ready, I do not want to, I'm not comfortable, and he just sort of ignored it," she said. |
It was only when Ella reached her 20s that she found the confidence to go to police. During an investigation, another victim came forward. | It was only when Ella reached her 20s that she found the confidence to go to police. During an investigation, another victim came forward. |
Her teacher was given a 12-year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape, indecent assault and another serious sexual assault. | Her teacher was given a 12-year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape, indecent assault and another serious sexual assault. |
Both the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers say any teacher who abuses their position of trust should face the full force of the law. | Both the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers say any teacher who abuses their position of trust should face the full force of the law. |
But both unions say they also have serious concerns about the impact of false accusations. | But both unions say they also have serious concerns about the impact of false accusations. |
Christine Blower, the general secretary of the NUT, said: "There can be misunderstandings and malicious allegations are made, so it is critical that investigations are carried out quickly with due process." | Christine Blower, the general secretary of the NUT, said: "There can be misunderstandings and malicious allegations are made, so it is critical that investigations are carried out quickly with due process." |
The general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, Dr Mary Bousted, says too often school leaders can panic when a claim of sexual abuse is made. | The general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, Dr Mary Bousted, says too often school leaders can panic when a claim of sexual abuse is made. |
"Suspension is meant to be a neutral act, but that is not how it is perceived by other staff at the school, and indeed by the pupils," she said. | "Suspension is meant to be a neutral act, but that is not how it is perceived by other staff at the school, and indeed by the pupils," she said. |
"We've had cases where teachers have been suspended, when a quick investigation would have found that the teacher was not in school on the day of the alleged abuse." | "We've had cases where teachers have been suspended, when a quick investigation would have found that the teacher was not in school on the day of the alleged abuse." |
The general secretary of the NASUWT, Chris Keates, says she shares the concerns of the other teaching unions. | |
She said: "Whilst every allegation must be investigated and action taken where there is found to be a case to answer, it is entirely wrong and irresponsible to present statistics, as commentators do all too often, that imply that abuse by school staff is widespread." | |
David was falsely accused of groping a number of girls at the school where he was a teacher. He says his school sought to protect its reputation before investigating the claims. | David was falsely accused of groping a number of girls at the school where he was a teacher. He says his school sought to protect its reputation before investigating the claims. |
"I was suspended straight away. The school didn't undertake its own investigation, they left the majority to the police," he said. | "I was suspended straight away. The school didn't undertake its own investigation, they left the majority to the police," he said. |
He was charged and the case went to court, where he was cleared of all six counts against him. | He was charged and the case went to court, where he was cleared of all six counts against him. |
David said: "The complainants themselves provided sufficient evidence for the court to see that there had been collusion between those complainants. | David said: "The complainants themselves provided sufficient evidence for the court to see that there had been collusion between those complainants. |
"Financially, I've lost my home, I've been homeless for a while. I have had suicidal thoughts, but the medication I was put on by the doctor eventually took some of them away, and luckily I'm still here." | "Financially, I've lost my home, I've been homeless for a while. I have had suicidal thoughts, but the medication I was put on by the doctor eventually took some of them away, and luckily I'm still here." |
Even after David was acquitted, his employer sought to dismiss him from his job. He says it has taken him 10 years to get back into teaching. | Even after David was acquitted, his employer sought to dismiss him from his job. He says it has taken him 10 years to get back into teaching. |
"There is a massive problem in education of the support in the workplace for the professional. They are lone workers virtually from day one," he said. | "There is a massive problem in education of the support in the workplace for the professional. They are lone workers virtually from day one," he said. |
"It's very difficult to suggest that there is any solution that is not cost-dependent. They need to put in experienced support for trainee teachers, and they need to improve teacher training, even if they make it two years not one," he added. | "It's very difficult to suggest that there is any solution that is not cost-dependent. They need to put in experienced support for trainee teachers, and they need to improve teacher training, even if they make it two years not one," he added. |
Donald Findlater, a child abuse expert with the charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, agrees false claims ruin careers, but says research for the Department for Education suggests only 2% of accusations against teachers are malicious. | Donald Findlater, a child abuse expert with the charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, agrees false claims ruin careers, but says research for the Department for Education suggests only 2% of accusations against teachers are malicious. |
He said: "If a child develops the courage to say something, we have to take it seriously. | He said: "If a child develops the courage to say something, we have to take it seriously. |
"That does not mean we have to assume it is absolutely true, but we have to take it seriously and investigate it." | "That does not mean we have to assume it is absolutely true, but we have to take it seriously and investigate it." |
In June last year, Jeremy Forrest, a 30-year-old maths teacher was jailed for more than five years for abducting and having sex with a 15-year-old girl. | In June last year, Jeremy Forrest, a 30-year-old maths teacher was jailed for more than five years for abducting and having sex with a 15-year-old girl. |
Last month a report found school staff had missed repeated opportunities to prevent sexual misconduct. | Last month a report found school staff had missed repeated opportunities to prevent sexual misconduct. |
Ella says rumours spread around her school at the time she was in a relationship with a teacher but she was never properly questioned. | Ella says rumours spread around her school at the time she was in a relationship with a teacher but she was never properly questioned. |
She says she still finds it difficult to deal with what she went through: "It's had a huge impact on my family, who will never get over it. My parents will never forgive themselves even though I am desperate for them to be able to." | She says she still finds it difficult to deal with what she went through: "It's had a huge impact on my family, who will never get over it. My parents will never forgive themselves even though I am desperate for them to be able to." |
Some names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals. | Some names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals. |
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter | Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter |
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