A music school has apologised how it handled historic allegations of sexual abuse after a new report was published.

The Purcell School, a music school in Bushey, was among 20 schools looked into the newly published report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which examined “the nature and extent” of child sexual abuse in residential schools and the responses to those allegations by schools.

The report concluded that overall, boarding schools are “ideal environment for grooming” due to how many schools handled the allegations.

It raised criticisms in the way in which The Purcell School responded to safeguarding concerns between 2007 and 2011, regarding the former headmaster Peter Crook and allegations made against two members of staff during his headship.

Mr Crook was investigated for allegations of inappropriate conversations between 2009 and 2010, particularly of him visiting the Year 9 private accommodation and having a “sexual talk” about puberty, masturbation and pornography, as well as his own sexual experiences and fantasies.

After an investigation, Mr Crook was never subject of any disciplinaries, but he resigned in November 2011 – and an independent review in 2018 said the failure to deal with complaints against the headteacher was a “misjudgement”.

Watford Observer: Allegations at The Purcell School were listed in the reportAllegations at The Purcell School were listed in the report

Another case includes a Purcell sixth-form student, 18, who claimed she was in a relationship with a staff member in January 2008.

Police said the allegation was “unfounded” and Mr Crook decided to take no disciplinary action - with “no records of the allegation or of any steps taken” kept by the school.

But in 2014 another student made similar allegations against the same staff member and showed text messages of a sexual nature – the staff resigned and the case was referred to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), with school records retained.

In May 2010, a student told a member of staff she was in a relationship with another member for some months and stated Mr Crook walked in on the staff member “digitally” penetrating the student on the school field.

Mr Crook denied witnessing sexual activity and did not report the incident at the time – and when police investigated, he told officers he believed the account was “fantasy”. The staff member was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and had a police caution.

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Discussing the overall findings from various schools, the report said “the power and influence” of “often revered and influential music teachers” made some pupils even more vulnerable to being sexually abused.

It stated: “The reputations of both the musicians and the schools were often seen as more important than their victims and potential victims when allegations were made or concerns were raised.”

What did the school say?

Principal Paul Bambrough and chair of governors Bernard Trafford released a joint statement which reads: “The school’s governing body and senior leaders deeply regret the historic failures identified in the report.

“The current governing body and principal apologise unreservedly to all former members of staff, students and parents of the school whose complaints and concerns were handled inadequately by their predecessors.”

A spokesperson added that there is a “rigorous selection process” for staff and noted the report stating when Mr Bambrough took over as headteacher in 2018, he sought to “develop the safeguarding culture and ethos of the school”.

The spokesperson told the Observer: “The reputation of the school is not, and never will be, more important than the safety of the young people in its care.”

What else did the inquiry reveal?

Inquiry chairwoman Professor Alexis Jay said “poor leadership” in many schools left unaware how to respond to sexual abuse concerns.

The professor added: “In some cases it was clear that protecting the reputation of the school was prioritised over the protection of children from sexual abuse – this is a recurring theme in very many of our reports.”