The publication of the report by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) into residential schools

The Head of College and Chair of Council have written to all parents and OCs as follows:

You may recall that, in 2020, the College participated in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). This was set up by the government in 2014 with over 500 ‘core participants’ from whom it gathered information to help inform its work. The main purpose of the inquiry is to make recommendations to reduce the risk of child abuse across a wide range of settings, including at residential schools, and to improve the way in which organisations respond to child protection concerns in the future.

The College was asked to take part in the Inquiry because in 2015 Jonathan Thomson-Glover, a former Clifton College teacher and Housemaster, was convicted for making, taking and possessing indecent images of pupils at the College. Following his conviction, Clifton College’s Safeguarding and Welfare Committee (SWC) commissioned Penny Jones, an independent consultant and former Deputy Director at the UK Department for Education, to undertake a full and thorough investigation into the school’s response, our safeguarding policies and procedures and our ability to make changes where necessary.  This report was published in full on our website in August 2016 and has remained there ever since. In 2019 the Inquiry announced that Clifton would be a case study for the residential schools investigation; in November 2020 it held a hearing to look at how the College had handled safeguarding matters, including Thomson-Glover and the Penny Jones report.

Today, the Inquiry has published its comprehensive report on the investigation into residential schools. We are acutely aware that this will be a painful landmark for the victims of abuse. In our evidence to the Inquiry and again today, we apologise unreservedly for what happened at Clifton College in the past. We acknowledge the failures that occurred and are truly sorry for how these impacted upon the lives of children who were placed in our care. The testimony of victims to the Inquiry was shocking to hear and we know that nothing can negate their experiences or those of their families, but we are committed to supporting those affected.  Anyone wishing for support in this regard can contact wesupport@cliftoncollege.com as a starting point for further assistance.

We are grateful to the Inquiry for the detailed and thoughtful scrutiny that it has applied to everything it has seen and heard in relation to safeguarding at Clifton College. Today’s report recognises the progress that Clifton College has made in safeguarding over the last six years but we must not forget the starting point, which fell so far short of the standards that are in place today.  The Inquiry’s investigations date back several decades and its report contains a number of concerning criticisms about actions and decisions taken by the College during that time. We can absolutely reassure you that the Inquiry’s findings and recommendations for all schools will now be very carefully considered by the College so that these can help us in our determination to make sure that the ‘golden thread’ of safeguarding remains through every aspect of College life.

This strand of the Inquiry’s investigation may now be complete but our strenuous efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every one of our pupils will continue at pace. The journey that the College has made has been profound and our commitment is unwavering. We now apply rigorous standards of safeguarding and child protection to all our processes and procedures and take a child-centred approach to every decision we make. We recognise and value the scrutiny and transparency that characterise our relationship with the Local Authority Designated Officer and other statutory partners, who play a critical role in helping us to keep our pupils safe. Above all, we know that safeguarding is a continuing journey that demands a constant search for improvement and vigilance against any sense of complacency.

If you have any concerns or would like to discuss any aspect of this further, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.