Laremore, who is Scotland Yard’s lead on rape and sexual offences, added: “I think it’s more widespread than private schools. And I think it’s so important that we don’t narrow our focus to private schools, because it risks making these cases seem like they’re rare or anomalies, or that these patterns of abuse can only happen in certain places. In addition, the police are contacting named schools to offer specialist support for any pupils who have experienced sexual assaults. However, particular concerns have been raised around safeguarding measures in private schools. Victor Shafiee, Ofsted’s deputy director of unregistered and independent schools, told MPs last week that the allegations made by pupils on everyonesinvited.uk do not, “on the whole”, involve independent schools inspected by Ofsted.

Source: The Guardian March 27, 2021 21:16 UTC