Worth concentrating on the right problem perhaps
Ampleforth College failed its latest Ofsted report after a "serious safeguarding incident" was identified during an inspection last month.
It comes just days after Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, intervened to save the leading Benedictine school from closure by overturning a ban on new pupils being admitted.
It is rare for the Government to intervene in the running of a private school and the drastic move was only taken following a series of earlier sanctions.
The £36,000-a-year boarding school, based in Yorkshire, said last week that the decision to reverse the ban came after inspectors "found many improvements in the school's safeguarding procedures".
But Ofsted's latest report, published yesterday, revealed that inspectors remain concerned about the school's ability to keen children safe.
Inspectors found two incidents where visitors had not been accompanied on the school premises, one of which resulted in a "serious safeguarding incident" and the other in a near-miss vehicle accident.
Yes, obviously, once the paperclip inspectors become involved you're doomed, doomed, I tell 'ee.
However, the problem at Ampleforth wasn't some paedo scum turning up from outside to cop a feel. Which is what the current Ofstend concern seems to be. Also, something that can and possibly will happen anywhere children are gathered.
The Ampleforth problem was people inside the school and monastery using their power over the children to cop a feel. Which is what needs to be sorted out.
Ofsted are, rather, changing the rules of the game half way through.
previousSnigger
nextSilly, silly
7 thoughts on "Worth concentrating on the right problem perhaps"
Nautical Nick April 20, 2021 at 7:54 am
IMO "keeping children safe" includes measures against indoctrination by ludicrous religion…
jgh April 20, 2021 at 8:28 am
Ampleforth? Isn't that the place where the main road and several long-distance footpaths run through the middle of the school?
Bernie G. April 20, 2021 at 8:29 am
Thankfully my primary school was staffed by nuns rather than Black Monks.
Hallowed Be April 20, 2021 at 9:03 am
I hope loincloth male S&M imagery gets a pass, for christ's sake.
Recusant April 20, 2021 at 10:33 am
The education 'blob' wants rid of religious schools and won't stop. This is just a bump in the road.
As an old boy of Ampleforth it has been easy to see this coming for a while. The last 'incident' involving a monk happened over 30 years ago. The most recent, within the last 10 years, was a lay teacher getting frisky with a female pupil – the consequences of co-education.
They have already insisted that the monks have absolutely no involvement in the school whatsoever; to the extent of banning monks from walking within the school grounds. Grounds which the monks own.
Sam Vara April 20, 2021 at 11:18 am
About 15 years ago, my son's (residential) school was criticised in an Ofsted report for a serious safeguarding issue. It turned out to be that the music teacher brought one of his army band mates in to teach the brass band. He was left on his own with a group of children, but nothing untoward happened. The teacher hadn't filled in the forms, and the bloke hadn't gone through the equivalent of the DBS check. But you'd think Jimmy Savile had taken them off on camping holidays. Ofsted are great at sniffing out breaches of procedure, less good at actually making schools any better.
DP April 20, 2021 at 11:29 am
Dear Mr Worstall
Was Eton banned from admitting new pupils after one of their teachers was jailed for sex abuse of inmates?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-55348784
@ Recusant April 20, 2021 at 10:33 am
Presumably the school occupies the land under some sort of contract. As such are they not entitled to quiet enjoyment of the land, which includes restrictions on who may enter – landlords included?
dearieme on Ooooh, Gosh!
TDK on Goddammit I hate fucking computers