Give private schools close scrutiny - MP
Current laws should be tightened to give local authorities the power to give greater protection to children educated in private schools, according to a Northampton MP.
Sally Keeble, the Labour MP for Northampton North, made the call for an overhaul in current legislation in the wake of a police inquiry and Charity Commission report into allegations relating to child protection and safeguarding practices at St Peter's Independent School in Blackthorn, Northampton.
A number of parents had made a string of complaints to Mrs Keeble about the way their children were treated at the school. Headteacher Gerald Smith, who saw the legal case against him dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, has since retired and claimed he was the victim of a "failed plot".
Mrs Keeble said: "The Charity Commission's report raises a number of points of concern and I trust that the trustees will carry out this review.
"Meanwhile the Government has conducted a review into safeguarding arrangements for private schools which shouldhelp improve the position for children nationally. However, I would like to see the law tightened further so that directors of children's services have the same powers to safeguard children in private schools as they have in state schools.
"There should be no difference in the protection the law provides to children whatever type of school they attend.
"If our own director in Northamptonshire had the legal power to intervene, these issues could have been resolved a long time ago."
Last September an Ofsted inspection made 30 recommendations on how the school was run, but found pupils were generally happy, well-behaved and enjoyed going to school.
Last week the Chronicle & Echo revealed parents had received a letter from the governors of the school informing them the legal case had been dropped.
A joint statement from Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire County Council said: "A full and extensive investigation was carried out and a file submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who took a decision not to proceed because there was no realistic prospect of conviction."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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